In its first ever engagement with the Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences (IAMS), the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) advocated that the resolution of the food safety and nutrition challenges faced in the Islamic Republic of Iran cannot be achieved without a consolidated and concerted strategy.

Underscoring that multi-sectoral collaboration at the country and regional levels are of prime importance, Mr. Serge Nakouzi, FAO Representative to the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated today (4 May 2015) following the outcome of the 27th Session of the IAMS Health & International Cooperation Group held in Tehran on 30 April 2015 that "joint programmes between FAO, WHO, UNICEF, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Jihad-e Agriculture and the Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences will contribute to further strengthen advocacy on the responsibility of various sectors with respect to nutrition, healthy diets and food safety as well as enhance a critical multidisciplinary approach and inter-sectoral collaboration in this process". Mr. Nakouzi concluded by stressing that addressing effectively food safety problems could not be achieved without an integrated and concerted strategy amongst all stakeholders concerned, including notably community-based organisations and consumer groups.

Given its global mandate in ensuring food security and raising levels of nutrition, FAO has been leading international efforts together with the World Health Organization (WHO) to address the multiple challenges of malnutrition in the quest to achieve inclusive and sustainable development as well as health. FAO and WHO have also jointly provided a framework for fostering greater cooperation and dialogue at the global, regional and country levels for building effective food safety systems.

Dr. Jihane Tawilah, Representative of the World Health Organization to the country, reaffirmed that WHO and FAO are committed to joint activities at disposal of the national Programmes to assist the authorities in improving conditions of food safety and nutrition and promote healthy diets as part of a coordinated programme aimed at addressing in a comprehensive manner the health issues faced in the country.

The 27th Session of the IAMS Health & International Cooperation Group held in Tehran on 30 April 2015 conducted its discussions on "Nutrition and Health – Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) Recommendations and Implications on Iran". Senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Jihad-e Agriculture participated in the meeting, along with a broad range of national nutrition experts as well as delegates from FAO, WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR and UNDP.

Dr Fatima Hachem, a Senior Nutrition and Food Safety Officer from the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, participated in the discussions and briefed the meeting on the key recommendations emanating from ICN2 of importance to Iran.

The Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) was a high-level intergovernmental conference convened at FAO headquarters in Rome from 19 to 21 November to focus the global community's attention on the challenges presently faced from malnutrition in all its forms and to identify opportunities for tackling them in the upcoming decades. Over 2,200 participants attended the conference, including Heads of State and Government as well as Ministers and senior-level representatives from more than 170 countries, over 150 representatives from civil society and nearly 100 from the business community. The Rome Declaration on Nutrition and the Framework for Action adopted by the conference committed world leaders to establishing national policies aimed at eradicating malnutrition and transforming food systems to make nutritious diets available to all.