ICESCR concluding observations 2016, paragraph 54
Plain English recommendation
Government should:
Develop a national strategy on the right to adequate food. Promote healthy diets, including supporting breastfeeding. Introduce higher taxes on junk foods and sugary drinks. Consider strictly regulating the marketing of these products, while ensuring better access to healthy diets.
Consider UN advice on the right to adequate food, the UN Guidelines on this right in the context of national food security, and the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
Original UN recommendation
The Committee recommends that the State party develop a comprehensive national strategy for the protection and promotion of the right to adequate food in order to address food insecurity in all jurisdictions of the State party and to promote healthier diets. This should include policies in support of breastfeeding in accordance with the resolutions of the World Health Assembly, including breastfeeding breaks or breastfeeding facilities in educational institutions and workplaces. The Committee also recommends that the State party introduce higher taxes on junk foods and sugary drinks and consider adopting strict regulations on the marketing of such products, while ensuring improved access to healthy diets. The Committee refers the State party to 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 adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as well as to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
Date of UN examination
16/06/2016
UN article number
11 (adequate standard of living)
Original UN document
Download the ICESCR concluding observations 2016 on the UN website