Product Policy Archives

USCIB Leads Business Interests in UNEP Chemicals Program

Published on April 10, 2015

Test_tubesUSCIB lead a multi-industry association effort urging the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to make its Chemicals in Products (CiP) program initiative attractive to business.

“Many global industry sectors have well-established systems for suppliers to communicate relevant information on chemicals in products that they place on the market,” USCIB and other business associations said in a statement. “It is recognized that such systems, however, may not yet be fully realized or internalized in many developing nations. This poses the biggest challenge to standardizing global approaches on chemicals.”

Central to the modern economy, chemicals are traded widely across borders and are used in the production of thousands of different products, from pharmaceuticals to computer microchips.

The International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) is an inter-governmental ministerial that convenes UN member delegates and stakeholders for discussions on chemicals management. Adopted by ICCM in 2006, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a policy framework aimed to foster the safe and sound management of chemicals. SAICM’s Chemicals in Products (CiP) program a voluntary initiative designed to give guidance on how to share relevant information on chemicals in products along the supply chain and throughout their life cycle.

In a letter submitted to UNEP, USCIB and nine other industry associations noted that in order for the Chemicals in Products (CiP) to achieve its objectives, it should acknowledge the array of existing company, industry and regional systems and programs for communicating reliable, relevant information on chemicals contained in products that are placed on the market.

USCIB will continue to monitor work on SAICM and provide regular updates to members. Medina will attend the fourth International Conference on Chemicals Management in September 2015.

USCIB Cautions Against WHO Motion to Ban Chemicals

Published on February 27, 2015

chemicals_globe_lo-resThe World Health Organization recently urged the United Nations Commission on Narcotic drugs to ban two chemical substances commonly found in electronics, telecommunications and other products following findings that these substances can be used for illicit purposes.

USCIB and its membership appreciate the WHO’s concern regarding the misuse of these two chemicals, 1,4-butanedio (BDO) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). However, in a submission last week to the Federal Register Notice to help inform the U.S. government on the issue, USCIB urged the FDA to consider the potential adverse economic impact of banning the use or restricting the manufacturing of those substances.

“GBL and BDO are high-volume industrial chemicals with multiple uses that touch nearly every part of the economy,” USCIB wrote in a statement. “The chemical industry takes significant steps to educate its customers and coordinate with regulators and law enforcement authorities to help prevent diversion and misuse of its products.”

Furthermore, the industries that manufacture and use BDO and GBL have adopted product stewardship programs that supplement the requirements of existing laws.

Banning these substances entirely would hurt a wide range of U.S. industries. Given the critical importance of GBL and BDO to the U.S. economy, the product stewardship programs that are in place to help prevent the misuses of these substances and the potentially devastating impacts of listing under the Psychotropic Convention, USCIB urges the U.S. Government to oppose listing these chemicals under the Convention.

 

USCIB Adds Business Voice in Fight Against NCDs

Published on February 11, 2015

WHO_hq_lo-resUSCIB submitted comments to the World Health Organization (WHO) on February 6 stressing the role business plays in combating malnutrition and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are responsible for over 60 percent of the world’s premature deaths, according to the WHO.

Last year the WHO established the Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, an intergovernmental body designed to coordinate activities and multi-stakeholder engagement across sectors as the WHO works toward implementing an Action Plan on NCDs.

“We believe that the private sector has a legitimate role to play in working with the WHO, its Members States and civil society to curb NCDs,” wrote Helen Medina, USCIB’s senior director for product policy and innovation in a submission co-signed by the International Organization of Employers, “and it wants to be part of the solution.”

The submission noted that all companies have an interest in ensuring they have a healthy and resilient workforce, and for that reason the private sector must be included in policy discussions about how to best address NCDs. USCIB reiterated its messages that self-regulation can play a constructive role, public-private partnerships are an effective response to global health challenges and taxes on various foods and beverages have negative, unintended consequences, especially for societies’ poorest consumers.

The submission also included examples from USCIB member companies of business initiatives aimed at improving global health, such as The Coca-Cola Company’s support of the “Exercise is Medicine” program, which encourages doctors to include exercise when designing treatment plans for patients. Also, Nestlé’s Healthy Kids Global Program is a partnership initiative aimed at raising nutrition knowledge and promoting physical activity among school-age children. The program reached almost seven million children in 68 countries at the end of 2013. And Pfizer has supported a pilot project in China called “Healthy Heart – New Life,” focused on developing work-related healthcare services to address chronic disease.

 

USCIB Looks Ahead to Int’l Conference on Chemicals Management

Published on January 10, 2015
Helen Medina (USCIB) speaks at the second meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of ICCM in Geneva on December 16. (Credit: International Institute for Sustainable Development)
Helen Medina (USCIB) speaks at the second meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of ICCM in Geneva on December 16. (Credit: International Institute for Sustainable Development)

Central to the modern economy, chemicals are traded widely across borders and are used in the production of thousands of different products, from pharmaceuticals to computer microchips.

The International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) is an inter-governmental ministerial that convenes UN member delegates and stakeholders for discussions on chemicals management. Adopted by the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in 2006, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a policy framework aimed to foster the safe and sound management of chemicals.

In December, Helen Medina, USCIB’s senior director for product policy and innovation, attended the Second Open-Ended Working Group of ICCM in Geneva to represent American business interests in the lead-up to the next ICCM ministerial, scheduled to take place in late September 2015.

Approximately 335 delegates attended the working group, representing 105 governments, five UN agencies, 12 intergovernmental organizations, and 38 non-governmental and industry organizations. At the meeting USCIB shared its concerns about SAICM’s Chemicals in Products program (CiP), a voluntary initiative designed to give guidance on how to share relevant information on chemicals in products along the supply chain and throughout their life cycle. Industry representatives argued that elements of the CiP draft text were too prescriptive, and that efforts should be made to make the document more attractive to business.

USCIB will continue to monitor work on SAICM and provide regular updates to members. Medina will attend the fourth International Conference on Chemicals Management in September 2015.

Full House ICC Conference Elucidates New EU Rules on Genetic Resources

Published on January 8, 2015

4926_image002The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) hosted a conference in Paris on November 24 and 25 which shed light on the new European Union (EU) regulation regarding Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS). ABS refers to the way in which genetic resources such as plant and animal products may be legally accessed, and how users and providers reach agreement on the fair sharing of the benefits that arise from the use of these products.

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity concluded the Nagoya Protocol in 2010, which provides an international framework for establishing national regimes on ABS.

Featuring a panel of high-level speakers representing government agencies and the private sector, ICC’s sold-out event brought together executives and policymakers to discuss how the new regulation affects their daily operations. The two-day conference convened over 120 participants from 16 countries representing a wide variety of sectors including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, plant and animal breeding, collections and museums, as well as government representatives.

“It is very important to get to know better the new EU regulation as it may affect any professional involved in the manufacturing, development and distribution of genetic resources,” said Alicja Kozlowska, ABS policy officer of the European Commission.“The conference was a unique opportunity to throw some light on the scope of the obligations flowing from the regulation.”

The first day of the event featured an overview of the new EU ABS regulation covering topics such as scope and due diligence requirements under national and international regimes.The second day featured a program of technical workshops on tools to facilitate compliance, as well as commercialization and transactions with customers and licensees inside and outside the EU. Afternoon sessions highlighted industry best practices with panelists who shared their best practices.

ICC played an active role coordinating business participation in the Nagoya Protocol negotiations and continues to coordinate business input in the process of national implementation of the protocol.

 

Business Fully Engaged at 2nd International Nutrition Conference

Published on November 21, 2014

ICN2_BannerThe Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) wrapped up on Friday, ending an inter-governmental conference aimed at addressing the twin global threats of malnutrition and obesity as governments pledged to align national policies with nutrition objectives.

USCIB attended the conference, organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization at the FAO headquarters in Rome from November 19 to 21, as part of a private sector delegation of over 90 people from more than 20 countries. USCIB and member companies were on the ground in Rome to make the case for the positive role the private sector plays in nutrition and agriculture.

USCIB, along with the International Agri-Food Network, developed a list of key private sector messages that were delivered during the ICN2 plenary:

Private Sector Key Messages

Nutrition & ICN2 meeting 19-21 November 2014

Addressing Nutrition Globally

  • Furthering nutritional goals depends on agricultural production and access, particularly to address the needs of women, children and the most vulnerable.
  • Good nutrition promotes broad-based, diverse diets and provides consumer choice.
  • Innovation, research, and education are essential to accelerating nutritional improvements.

Taking Action

  • The private sector is necessary to increase the scope of financial and human resources in order to tackle nutritional challenges on a large scale.
  • Expanding trade raises the standard of living in developing countries and improves the performance of national economies, which are necessary for combating global hunger.
  • Empowering women is crucial for improving nutrition, so governments should promote policies that help women become farmers, traders and entrepreneurs.

Private Sector Engagement is Essential

  • At ICN2, the private sector delegation included 90 private sector representatives from 24 countries.
  • The private sector appreciates the support of member-states in encouraging the participation of non-state actors in ICN2 and encourages future plans to engage them in action plans.
  • The private sector is committed to public-private partnerships that support public health strategies.
The Second International Conference on Nutrition took place at the FAO headquarters in Rome from November 19 to 21
The Second International Conference on Nutrition took place at the FAO headquarters in Rome from November 19 to 21

“The private sector is an important ally in fighting hunger and malnutrition, therefore the FAO is committed to strengthening its partnership with private sector,” said FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva. “There is a need for improved nutrition and coordination across sectors. This needs to be done in dialogue with non-state actors including the private sector.”

On November 18, Helen Medina, USCIB’s senior director for product policy and innovation, chaired a side-meeting with government officials – Kevin Concannon, undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture; Ambassador Peter McGovern, Canada’s ambassador to Italy; and Lois Brown, Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation.

“The meeting was friendly,” Medina said. “The private sector shared its main messages while government officials reiterated how pleased they were to see a big private sector delegation at ICN2.”

Throughout the conference Medina and other private sector representatives engaged with delegates to promote business’s positive role in the nutrition space. Many governments supported business’s engagement in the dialogue.

During the plenary, discussion was intense over how the agriculture and food systems should address obesity. Speakers stressed the importance of reducing salt, sugar and fat in people’s diets, as well as reducing processed foods. Malnutrition received less attention.

The conference ended with participants agreeing that there is a clear need for a whole of government approach to nutrition. In particular, ICN2 has underscored that it is crucial to have policy coherence the health and agriculture agencies to deliver action on the nutritional challenges of each nation. Thus far, there has been a no coordinated approach on nutrition.

Looking ahead, there will be a push to include more nutritional targets in the UN’s Post-2015 Development Agenda and in the Sustainable Development Goals. USCIB will continue to work with the International Agri-Food Network to ensure that its members can engage with the FAO and relevant UN agencies as the ICN2 recommendations move forward.

Improving nutrition is a collective business (FAO)

Staff contacts: Helen Medina

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USCIB Represents Business at International Conference on Nutrition

Published on November 13, 2014

FAO BuildingsMore than half the world’s population suffers from malnutrition. The Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), jointly organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization, will convene government officials to craft a policy framework for addressing the world’s nutrition challenges. Held at the FAO headquarters in Rome from November 19 to 21, ICN2 hopes to keep nutrition high on the international development agenda.

USCIB will be part of a private-sector delegation of nearly 100 people attending the conference, during which member country representatives will pledge to develop national strategies to address malnutrition.

USCIB member companies will also send representatives to Rome for ICN2, including the Coca-Cola Company, Dupont, McDonalds, Meade Johnson, Monsanto, Nestle and Pepsi. Helen Medina, USCIB’s senior director for product policy and innovation, will be part of the private sector delegation in Rome.

ICN2 provides an important opportunity for business to showcase its strong support for nutrition and food security. Business plays an important role throughout the entire agriculture supply chain, from seeds, to food processing, to all the products farmers need to grow and distribute food.

Companies help educate consumers about healthy lifestyles through nutrition programs, labeling and responsible marketing,” Medina said. “They have an interest in promoting healthy societies in which their workers can prosper.”

Medina will be on the ground in Rome as a voice for the following U.S. business messages in the nutrition and agriculture space.

  • The private sector plays a positive role in addressing nutritional issues and food security
  • Free trade and investment negotiations hold the potential to increase the standard of living in developing countries and distribute more food to more people
  • Empowering women is crucial for improving nutrition, and any global nutrition plan must include policies that help women become farmers, traders and business owners
  • While tax incentives for healthy diets might seem like a good idea, fiscal policy often has unintended consequences, and taxing food actually winds up hurting low-income individuals the most
  • Sound nutrition policy must employ knowledge and evidence-based programs rather than be held captive by parochial interests.
  • Read the ICN2 provisional agenda and outcome documents.

Staff contacts: Helen Medina

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USCIB Observes Nutrition Conference Negotiations

Published on October 13, 2014
4854_image002
L-R: Katy Lee (Private Sector Mechanism), Ann Steensland (Global Harvest Initiative), Nico Belzen (International Dairy Federation), and Helen Medina (USCIB)

The United Nations and World Health Organization will convene the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) next month to address the persistently high twin threats of hunger and malnutrition around the world.

In the lead-up to ICN2, member states met in Rome at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) from October 10 to 12 to negotiate the final outcome documents for ICN2 – the political declaration and the framework for action. The meeting was a continuation of negotiations in Geneva last September where member states made progress finalizing the political declaration.

The ICN2 outcome documents will provide key priorities and technical assistance to governments and other stakeholders for improving people’s nutrition.

During the Rome meeting, USCIB partnered with the Global Harvest Initiative to represent U.S. business interests at the negotiations. USCIB’s Helen Medina, senior director for product policy and innovation, attended the meeting. Watch her summarize the meeting’s key takeaways for business.

Prior to the negotiations, private sector representatives were concerned with outstanding issues in the political declaration for ICN2. The document contained some language on “culturally acceptable food” that might have produced negative trade implications. Business believes that the document should focus on nutrition and leave discussions about trade policy to the World Trade Organization. Private sector representatives sought to eliminate language that could create potential trade barriers.

Business also paid attention to other areas of concern in the Framework for Action, including policies that deal with food pricing incentives, marketing and labeling regulations, language the puts a pejorative spin on processed food, and policies that are not inclusive of the entire agriculture industry.

“There are some good winds for the private sector,” Medina said at the end of the meeting. Negotiators deleted language in the political declaration that would have had a negative impact on trade. However issues remain with the Framework for Action, which recommends policies in international trade and investment that would be problematic for business. The U.S. government has reserved its position on the framework’s paragraphs about recommended trade and investment action, and USCIB is planning a follow-up meeting with USG to learn about any remaining issues with the framework before ICN2.

ICN2 will take place in Rome from November 19 to 21.

Staff contact: Helen Medina

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USCIB Represents American Business During the ICN2 Outcome Documents Negotiations

Published on September 22, 2014

4839_image001Global hunger and malnutrition remain stubbornly high, with over two billion people suffering from nutrient deficiencies. To address the worldwide double threat of undernourishment and obesity, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) spearheaded the International Nutrition Conference in 1992, aimed at alleviating hunger and malnutrition while encouraging countries to develop national strategies to address unhealthy diets, obesity and other nutrition-related diseases. Although progress has been made, more needs to be done to combat global hunger and malnutrition.

To reach that goal, the Second International Nutrition Conference (ICN2) will take place this November, and in the lead-up to the conference the FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) have organized an Open Ended Working Group on September 22-23, hosted at the WHO in Geneva, to approve the final drafts of the ICN2 Political Declaration and a Framework for Action, documents that are meant to provide key priorities to governments and other stakeholders for improving people’s nutrition in a sustainable way.

Helen Medina, USCIB’s senior director for product policy and innovation is currently attending the working group, along with other non-state actor representatives and Member State delegations. USCIB was among two U.S.-based associations representing American business interests at the working group. The meeting marked the first time USCIB has been invited to attend a negotiating session at the WHO.

Last month, USCIB submitted comments to the FAO consultation on the framework identifying several problems with the draft’s language, particularly clauses that either ignored or downplayed industry’s contributions to alleviating malnutrition. As USCIB’s comments were taken into consideration, Medina is attending the working group negotiations to ensure that stakeholders acknowledge that the private sector plays a positive role in addressing nutritional issues.

“We want to make sure that the discussion acknowledges that the private sector is part of the solution,” Medina said.

USCIB maintains that increased trade in agriculture and food increases the standard of living in developing countries and improves the performance of national economies. Given the positive role industry plays in combating malnutrition, it is important that the FAO’s framework support policies that do not inhibit international trade and investment.

During the working group meeting, USCIB working with other private sector representatives will have the opportunity to engage with U.S. and foreign government officials to further the following messages:

  • Industry has a positive role in addressing nutritional issues;
  • It is important to employ “knowledge and evidence-based programs” to combat global hunger and nutrition-related diseases;
  • Any roles and responsibilities given to the various multilateral organizations involved in addressing global malnutrition should be clearly defined;
  • Increased trade, particularly in agriculture and food, increases the standard of living in developing countries and improves the performance of national economies;
  • Empowering women is crucial for improving nutrition, and therefore promotes policies that help women become farmers, traders and business owners;
  • Fiscal policy is complex and often has unintended consequences, therefore taxes should not be used as incentives for healthy diets; and
  • It is essential that all stakeholders work together to develop holistic, impactful, and sustainable solutions.

The political outcome document and the framework for action are supposed to be finalized during the working group meeting with the view of being adopted at ICN2 in November.

Watch Helen Medina summarize key business takeaways from the ICN2 negotiations in Geneva.

Staff contact: Helen Medina

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USCIB Provides Industry Input to UN FAO Nutrition Action Plan

Published on August 19, 2014

4816_image001Global hunger and malnutrition remain stubbornly high, with over two billion people suffering from nutrient deficiencies. To address worldwide undernourishment, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) spearheaded the 1992 International Nutrition Conference aimed at alleviating hunger and malnutrition while encouraging countries to develop national strategies to address unhealthy diets, obesity and other nutrition-related diseases.

The Second International Nutrition Conference (ICN2) will take place this November, and in the lead-up to the conference the FAO released a draft of its Framework for Action, a 10-year plan of action meant to provide key priorities to governments and other stakeholders for improving people’s nutrition in a sustainable way.

USCIB has participated in the FAO consultation on the framework, and on Monday released comments responding to the framework’s language which will be the basis for adopting major policy guidelines and strategies and for developing and updating national plans of action and investments to improve nutrition.

“USCIB appreciates the opportunity to provide input to the FAO consultation and believes it is essential that all stakeholders work together to develop a global food system to further improve people’s nutrition in a sustainable way,” said Helen Medina, USCIB’s senior director of product policy and innovation.

However, USCIB identified several problems with the draft’s language, particularly clauses that either ignore or downplay industry’s contributions to alleviating malnutrition, no definitions about vague terms such as “nutrition justice” and “highly processed foods of minimal nutritional value,” a tone that implies that trade and investment is bad for developing countries, and a failure to recognize that self-regulation with regard to the food and beverage industry has been beneficial.

Acknowledge Industry’s Role in Addressing Global Malnutrition

USCIB found that the framework draft in general contained limited language that acknowledged the food industry’s importance and the need for multilateral organizations to engage industry as a full partner in deciding strategies and common goals for addressing malnutrition. Industry is also keen on underscoring the importance of employing “knowledge and evidence-based programs” to combat global hunger and nutrition-related diseases.

Define Vague Terms

USCIB noted that the phrase “nutrition justice” isn’t defined and that the boundaries of the concept are unclear. USCIB recommends removing the term and instead focus the document on the action steps required to achieve explicit nutrition targets. The same critique was made of the term “highly processed foods of minimal nutritional value.” Medina wrote “The lack of either a definition or an evidence base linked to those definitions, should dictate that this statement is not appropriate for inclusion in the WHO/FAO Framework For Action document.”

Similarly, USCIB took issue with the framework’s priority actions for nutrition governance, arguing that there is a lack of clarity “as to how all these platforms, mechanisms, processes and reporting relate to similar activities either in place or proposed by WHO and the UN” and that “There appears to be significant potential for redundant, duplicative and overly burdensome processes that could present significant obstacles to achieving real progress.” USCIB noted that the framework should spell out what the roles and responsibilities among the various multi-lateral organizations involved in addressing global malnutrition.

Be Wary of Tax Incentives

Because fiscal policy is complex and often has unintended consequences, USCIB expressed caution with regard to plans to use taxes as incentives for healthy diets. USCIB argued tax rates should be kept low on food, especially for low-income individuals who spend a larger portion of their paycheck on food.

International Trade and Investment Isn’t Bad

Regarding the framework’s language on trade and investment in agriculture, Medina wrote, “There appears to be a presumption underlying this section that the impact of trade and investment is primarily negative, despite the fact that no evidence is offered to support this presumption and despite significant evidence to the contrary, including FAO and WTO reports, indicating that increased trade, particularly in agriculture and food, increases the standard of living in developing countries and improves the performance of national economies.  This section continues this presumption with respect to trade and nutrition specifically, not by providing any evidence of harm, but by implication simply constructing each proposition in the negative.  Without any science or evidence basis, this entire section should be reconsidered.”

Support Nutrition Education and the Role of Women

USCIB agrees with the framework that nutrition education is key to addressing global malnutrition, and that all stakeholders must work together to effectively educate consumers through labeling and nutrition programs on food.

USCIB also agrees that empowering women is crucial for improving nutrition, and therefore promotes policies that help women become farmers, traders and business owners.

“The private sector believes it is essential that all stakeholders work together to develop holistic, impactful and sustainable solutions,” said Medina. “We are committed to public-private partnerships that support public health strategies.”

Staff contact: Helen Medina

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