Patna Declaration: Civil Society Recommendations for the Manifesto of Political Parties in the General Election 2024

 

Patna Declaration:

Civil Society Recommendations for the Manifesto of Political Parties in the General Election 2024 

In pursuit of safeguarding the health and well-being of millions of Indian children, youths, and women from the escalating risks of obesity and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, liver dysfunction, kidney dysfunction, and various cardiovascular ailments, we, the undersigned civil society organizations, advocate the following recommendations for inclusion in the manifesto of political parties: 

 1.Implementation of Strong, Science-Based Front-of-Pack Label (FOPL) Regulation:

 A robust FOPL regulation, grounded in scientific principles and effectively enforceable, incorporating a Warning Label as its design, shall be declared, notified, and executed. This measure aims to empower consumers in making informed choices and protecting public health. 

  2. Identification of Unhealthy Processed Foods:

   The regulation should facilitate the identification of unhealthy processed and ultra-processed packaged foods, allowing consumers to discern and choose products that are genuinely healthful in nature. 

3. Regulation of Negative Nutrients:

  The regulation must address the levels of negative nutrients such as salts, sugar, and fat in processed and ultra-processed packaged foods. Warning labels should be applied if these nutrients breach specified thresholds. Positive nutrient inclusion for rating product healthiness should be avoided to prevent consumer confusion. 

 4. Scientific Basis and Global Best Practices:

    The determination of negative nutrient thresholds should be rooted in rigorous scientific evidence and align with global best practices. Reference should be sought from Nutrition guidelines and the Nutrition Profile Model suggested by esteemed institutions such as the World Health Organization, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), or other reputable national nutrition institutions. The development of the Nutrition Profile Model (NPM) should involve consultation with health, medical services, and public nutrition experts. 

   5. Mandatory FOPL for Relevant Foods:

    The FOPL regulation should be mandatory for all processed and ultra-processed foods containing any or all of the three negative nutrients—salt, sugar, and fat. A reasonable time frame, determined in consultation with health, medical services, and public nutrition experts, shall be provided to the food and beverage industry to align its products with the regulatory requirements. 

   6. Affirmative Action and Incentivization for Healthier Products:

    The regulation must not only serve as a protective measure for public health but also encourage the production and manufacturing of healthy processed and ultra-processed packaged foods. Incentives, particularly fiscal instruments, should be extended to small and medium-sized food manufacturers to promote the formulation of healthier products. 

We advocate for the integration of these recommendations into the electoral manifestos of political parties for the General Election 2024. By doing so, we collectively commit to fostering a healthier and more informed society. 

Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Patna Bihar                                            07.02.2024