ICESCR concluding observations 2025, paragraph 49
Plain English recommendation
In line with UN advice on the right to food, and the Voluntary Guidelines to support Progressive Realisation of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security, Government should:
(a) Work quickly to develop and implement a national strategy on the right to food, in consultation with relevant people. This strategy should tackle food insecurity and result in less food bank use. It should set clear, time-bound targets and establish assessment processes;
(b) Take steps to address the three main issues resulting from malnutrition (under-nutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and overweight/obesity);
(c) Ensure that social protection programmes target those most in need;
(d) Promote balanced diets through communications strategies that result in social and behaviour change, as well as making a wide variety of food types more affordable;
(e) Increase taxes on junk food and sugary drinks and make marketing regulations stronger.
Original UN recommendation
The Committee recalls its general comment No. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food and the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security and recommends that the State Party, along with the devolved governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales:
(a) Expedite the adoption of a comprehensive national strategy for the protection and promotion of the right to adequate food, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, to address food insecurity and reduce reliance on food banks, setting clear, time-bound targets and establishing appropriate mechanisms to assess progress;
(b) Take measures to address the triple burden of malnutrition (under-nutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and overweight/obesity);
(c) Ensure that social protection programmes target those most in need;
(d) Promote balanced diets through effective social and behavioural change communication strategies and ensure the affordability of diversified diets;
(e) Introduce higher taxes on junk food and sugary drinks and strengthen regulations on the marketing of such products.
Date of UN examination
12/03/2025
Original UN document
Download the original ICESCR concluding observations 2025 on the UN website.
Last updated on 21/08/2025