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FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS KEPT OUT OF WHO Concerns about Ensuring Access of Public Interest NGOs Remain For Immediate Release: Contacts: GENEVA--Two trade associations of the food industry today have given up their attempt to gain access to the World Health Organization (WHO) as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The International Council of Grocery Manufacturers Associations (ICGMA), parent of the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA), and the Confederation of Food and Drink Industries of the EU (known by its French abbreviation, CIAA), whose applications had been deferred since last January, requested an indefinite postponement of consideration for admission into official relations with the world's pre-eminent health body. The WHO's Executive Board, which is meeting in Geneva from 17 to 25 January, oversees relations with NGOs. ICGMA and CIAA, which represent the interests of food and beverage corporations, sought recognition as NGOs in order to engage with WHO on implementation of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2004. Concerns had been raised about the mandate to insulate the Strategy from potential conflicts of interest, as well as the failure of the ICGMA and CIAA to meet WHO's criteria for admission as NGOs and their ties to the tobacco industry. Philip Morris/Altria, the world's largest and most profitable tobacco transnational, is a member of the GMA and the CIAA, through its Kraft Foods subsidiary. "Keeping these two food industry associations from cloaking themselves as NGOs at WHO is a major victory for public interest NGOs, and for countries that are committed to protecting international health policy from interference by commercial interests," said Kathryn Mulvey, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability International (formerly Infact). "However, we must not let down our guard. Transnational corporations like Philip Morris/Altria, Coke and Cargill are attempting to set the agenda at WHO and other UN agencies--and they are being aided and abetted by the most corporate-friendly US administration in history," Mulvey continued. Corporate Accountability International, which played a leading role in the development of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and continues to campaign for its ratification and implementation around the world, now faces hurdles in the renewal of its status with WHO. The US-based NGO, which is Secretariat of the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT), was one of two NGOs admitted into official relations with WHO through a fast-track process designed to strengthen the FCTC. During today's debate at the Executive Board meeting, several Member States cited the valuable contributions of Corporate Accountability International to the FCTC. Documents distributed to the Executive Board and made public on the internet included an unsubstantiated allegation made by one Member State of inappropriate behaviour by representatives of Corporate Accountability International. Questions about this allegation raised by a Member State today went unanswered. Another Member State drew attention to the unfair treatment of Corporate Accountability International in comparison to other NGOs working on the FCTC. "Corporate Accountability International is apparently being targeted for the pro-health positions it took during the FCTC negotiations. This is naked intimidation. If one country is allowed to bully an NGO that has responsibly advanced WHO's initiatives, it will set a dangerous precedent that will have a chilling effect on NGO participation at WHO and in other UN bodies," noted Daniel Magraw, Jr., President of the Center for International Environmental Law. --30-- Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, is a membership organization that protects people by waging and winning campaigns challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. For over 25 years, we've forced corporations--like Nestlé, General Electric and Philip Morris/Altria--to stop abusive actions. Corporate Accountability International is an NGO in Official Relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). For more information visit www.stopcorporateabuse.org.
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