A global webinar titled “Cross-Regional Learning: Lessons from the Latin America and African Experiences in Advocating for and Implementing Front-of-Pack Labeling (FOPL) Regulations” brought together experts from Latin America, Africa, and Asia to share strategies and challenges in promoting healthier diets through effective labeling policies.
Organized under the Global RECAP initiative by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the session emphasized that FOPL is not only a public health measure but also a human rights obligation ensuring consumers’ right to information and health.
Key presentations featured Mexico’s legal victories against industry opposition, Kenya’s adoption of a national nutrient profile model, Colombia’s regulatory resilience, and Bangladesh’s emerging policy framework for FOPL integration. Experts, including Kate Robertson (WHO), Valentina Castagnari (O’Neill Institute), and Dr. Farzana Dorin (WHO Bangladesh), underscored the importance of legal preparedness, civil society advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration.
Participants—representing civil society, academia, and government agencies from over 10 countries—identified joint priorities: strengthening legal frameworks, countering misinformation, promoting judicial awareness, and fostering South-South cooperation to scale up FOPL implementation.
The webinar concluded that rights-based, evidence-driven advocacy and cross-regional solidarity are key to overcoming industry resistance and ensuring effective food labeling policies that protect public health worldwide.