My friend Tom Frieden,
Dear colleagues and friends,
In the past 20 years, the world has made remarkable progress against many infectious diseases.
But in the same period, the global burden of noncommunicable diseases has ballooned, and is now the leading cause of premature mortality in countries at all income levels.
NCDs kill more than 40 million people every year, and cardiovascular disease is the world’s leading cause of death, accounting for almost one in three of all reported deaths globally.
Preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases could not be more important.
The COVID-19 pandemic has given this added urgency, as people living with NCDs are particularly vulnerable to becoming severely ill from the virus.
Eliminating industrially-produced trans fat will be a major step forward in our fight against NCDs.
This low-cost, feasible intervention can prevent heart attacks, save hundreds of thousands of lives, reduce health inequalities and reduce pressure on already over-stretched health systems.
WHO’s target is to eliminate industrially-produced trans fat from the global food supply by 2023, as Francesco indicated earlier.
Thanks to the commitment of many Member States, we are seeing real progress.
During the past year, 26 additional countries are now implementing best-practice trans fat elimination policies, bringing the total to 40 countries, protecting 1.4 billion people from this harmful and unnecessary compound.
This year, best practice policies came into effect in Brazil, Peru, Singapore, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
In recent months, six more countries – Bangladesh, India, Paraguay, Philippines, Ukraine and Uruguay – have also passed best-practice trans fat elimination policies, which will come into force in the next few years, and cover an additional 1.7 billion people.
Last year, a historic agreement was reached between WHO and the International Food and Beverage Association, which has committed to eliminate industrially-produced trans-fats from the global food supply by 2023.
We are monitoring the implementation of this commitment very closely.
But much of the progress has been in high- and middle-income countries; no low-income countries have moved forward.
Many of the countries with the most trans fat in their food supply have yet to pass these critical policies.
Of the fifteen countries with the highest burden of trans fats, ten have not yet take actions towards elimination.
WHO is ready to support all countries to develop regulatory measures and monitoring mechanisms in this effort.
WHO plans to validate countries that achieve trans fat elimination.
The recent UN Food Systems Summit highlighted the need for transforming food systems. Trans Fat elimination will contribute greatly to this goal.
The Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit taking place today is a further opportunity for countries to renew their commitment to transform food systems and promote safe and healthy diets for all.
I would also like to acknowledge the commitments made by food producers to support WHO’s efforts in eliminating industrially-produced Trans Fats.
Let me leave you with three priorities.
First, we urge all countries to accelerate action to achieve the global 2023 trans fat elimination target, by setting trans fat limits or banning partially hydrogenated oils.
Second, we urge those countries with the highest burden of trans fats need to urgently adopt best-practice policies and establish strong monitoring and enforcement systems. WHO stands ready to support these countries.
Third, we must all work with industry to eliminate industrially-produced trans fats, by removing them from the global food supply.
That means working with major suppliers of oils and fats to remove industrially-produced trans fat from the products they sell to food manufacturers.
It also means that they stop producing partially hydrogenated oils and make healthier fats and oils available as a replacement.
Eliminating trans fat from the global food supply would mark the first global elimination of a risk factor for NCDs.
It is within our reach. My thanks again to my good friend Dr Tom Frieden and our friends at Resolve to Save Lives for your support and partnership.
We look forward to our continued work together to make food a source of health, not a cause of disease, for people everywhere.
I thank you.