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Roadmaps for the future: Helpful PRC nutrition policy documents |
K. MCNUTT, Consumer Choices, Inc., 191 Old Up Yonder Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95065-9746 and K. Ge, Institute of Nutrition & Food Hygiene, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, 29 Nanwei Rd., Beijing, 100050, China. Two important documents offer helpful direction to companies that hope to market their products successfully in the People's Republic of China (PRC). Together, they outline current dietary patterns, advice to the Chinese people regarding how their diets should be improved and the PRC's broad plan of action related to nutrition and health. The Dietary Guidelines and Food Guide Pagoda for Chinese Residents is a single publication approved by the Standing Board of the Chinese Nutrition Society and released in April 1997. This document serves as the foundation of public and school nutrition education and of health and agricultural planning for the PRC. The National Plan of Action for Nutrition for China, approved in late 1997 by the General Office of the State Council was formulated by 11 government branches and is being implemented by 18 government units. The Ministry of Health coordinates management and the State Consultation Committee on Food and Nutrition provides recommendations to relevant sectors for accomplishing the Plan. A critical distinction, compared to the U.S., is that China must prevent, before it happens, high incidence of diet-related diseases which the U.S. is now trying to reverse. Furthermore, the Chinese are still dealing with iodine and vitamin A deficiency, and lack of sufficient food for some people. China is concerned about low calcium intakes and seems more committed than is the U.S. to reducing iron and trace element deficiencies. The Plan's 11 specific objectives address intake of calories, protein and fat; iron deficiency anemia; nutrition related chronic diseases; and other topics. Targets are set for agricultural production and increasing processed food production. Other objectives relate to micronutrient-rich cereal products, nutrition-fortified foods and iodized salt. The principles and policies section is followed by nine strategies and measures, each with several subparts, which establish detailed actions for implementing the Plan.
Session 17, Business opportunity in post-China WTO: Part 1: Current status and perspectives
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