Virtual High-level Event: Fourth Progress Report on Global Trans Fat Elimination

On 23 January 2023, WHO will launch the fourth progress report on Global trans fat elimination 2022 at a virtual high-level event.

Elimination of industrially produced trans fat by 2023 is a priority target of WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work which was approved by the 71st World Health Assembly in resolution WHA71.1 on 25 May 2018.  In May 2018, WHO also released the REPLACE action framework to serve as a roadmap for countries to implement the prompt, complete and sustained elimination of industrially produced trans fat from the food supply. In May 2019, WHO released six REPLACE modules (https://www.who.int/teams/nutrition-and-food-safety/replace-trans-fat) with practical, step-by-step implementation guidance to support governments.

The fourth progress report describes the current global, regional and national situations and progress made over the past year in countries; and discusses challenges and opportunities for future action. This year’s report shows that policies limiting the use of industrial trans fat have been implemented in 60 countries for almost 3.4 billion people around the world, accounting for 43% of the world’s population. Of these, 43 countries have implemented best-practice policies to eliminate industrial trans fat. Member States have made steady progress; however, with less than one year remaining until the target year of 2023, many more member states still need to act.

The main objectives of the event are to:

• highlight the progress made in the past year by countries in different Regions in tackling industrially produced trans fat; and
• further motivate countries to accelerate actions in achieving the 2023 trans fat elimination target.

The event language will be English, with interpretation provided to the official WHO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish). 

Programme