Mr Chairman/Madam Chairwoman,

GAIN aims to make healthier diets accessible and sustainable for all. The WHO global strategy for food safety is to be commended for effectively linking food safety, nutrition, and smart development in food systems. GAIN supports this approach.

Each year, 1 in 10 people become ill from foodborne disease. 45% of deaths among children under 5 in the poorest settings are linked to undernutrition, fuelled by diarrhoea or poor food intake. To ensure healthier diets and to save lives, GAIN has integrated food safety as a cross-cutting theme for all its global activities.

On the policy side, GAIN utilized its work in traditional markets in Nigeria and Ethiopia to contribute to the development of food safety Guidelines for traditional markets, which hopefully will be adopted by the Codex Commission later this year.

GAIN remains committed to implementing the WHO global strategy and call upon governments to show leadership and to re-commit to food safety everywhere.