IFBA Statement on FENSA

The International Food & Beverage Alliance Statement on the Adoption of the World Health Organization’s Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors at the 69th World Health Assembly

28 May 2016. We commend Member States on the adoption of the World Health Organization’s Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), a major element of the organization’s governance reform. We share WHO’s view that the organization’s engagement with non-State actors, including the private sector, can bring important benefits to global public health. We believe that FENSA will enable WHO to enhance its ability to collaborate with constructive non-State actors – a critical step if we are to make progress on advancing the goals of public health – while protecting WHO’s independent normative function and safeguarding the organization from conflicts of interest and undue influence. IFBA has made a set of global commitments to WHO, which have been the basis for constructive discussions with WHO and other State and non-State actors to date. We welcome the adoption of FENSA and look forward to building on the work already underway and to additional opportunities for engagement.