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76.
The Seventh Session of the Codex Coordinating Committee for Asia, which took place in Thailand, in February 1990 reviewed: i) the benefits, trade implications and problems accrued to member countries by acceptance of Codex Standards & Codex MRLs; ii) existing food control infrastructures in the Region; iii) regional and national control of mycotoxins; iv) street food activities, etc.
Nutrition Planning, Assessment and Evaluation
77. A sub-regional food and nutrition policy and planning project covering five countries of the Pacific (federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu) which began in 1985 was completed in 1988. Assistance was provided to help establish food and nutrition committees, provide inputs into national development plans, and hold food and nutrition policy workshops. Assistance in food and nutrition policy planning has been provided to Bangldesh, China and Viet Nam for incorporating food and nutrition objectives into the governments' agricultural plans.
78.
The Asian Network for Food and Nutrition (ANFN) was established in 1988 to promote technical cooperation amongst countries of the region. Member countries are Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Two expert consultations have been held under the auspices of the ANFN; the first in 1988 examined food production and agricultural planning in the context of nutritional adequacy, and the second in 1989 discussed nutrition and urbanization. As part of an FAO/UNFPA inter-regional project studies were also carried out in Manila and Jakarta on urbanization and food demand and the implications for agricultural development. Four country workshops on the formulation of dietary guidelines for food and agricultural planning were held in China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
79.
A training package for planners on "Incorporating Nutrition Objectives into Agricultural and Rural Development Projects" was developed and field tested in the Philippines and Indonesia, and is now available for use in other countries in the Region. The FAO methodology upon which the training package is based has also been adapted for use in fisheries and forestry projects. A nutrition in forestry workshop was held in October 1988 for 25 foresters and nutritionists from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand and Viet Nam to incorporate nutrition objectives into forestry activities and, based on FAQ's methodology, project proposals for each country were prepared.
80.
As part of its collaboration with the global Inter-Agency Food and Nutrition Surveillance Programme (IFNS), FAO supported a Regional IFNS Workshop held in Indonesia. Direct assistance was also provided to China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Viet Nam for developing their nutrition surveillance capabilities. Efforts to provide comprehensive overviews of the food and nutrition situations in each country were also advanced during the biennium by the finalization of ten FAO Nutrition Country Profiles, with an additional six in preparation.
Nutrition Intervention and Training Programmes
81.
During the biennium, Bangladesh, Viet Nam and Nepal have been assisted in the framework of the Vitamin A Programme through the formulation of national projects aiming to increase production and consumption of carotene-rich foods in order to reduce the prevalence of the deficiency.