Council of Europe – committee of ministers

Citation

(2004), "Council of Europe – committee of ministers", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 34 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2004.01734bab.003

Council of Europe – committee of ministers

Resolution ResAP (2003)3 on food and nutritional care in hospitals was adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 12 November 2003 at the 860th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies.

1. 1.

   The committee of ministers, in its composition restricted to the Representatives of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, member states of the partial agreement in the Social and Public Health Field.

2. 2.

   Recalling Resolution (59) 23 of 16 November 1959 on the extension of the activities of the Council of Europe in the social and cultural fields.

3. 3.

   Having regard to Resolution (96) 35 of 2 October 1996, whereby it revised the structures of the partial agreement and resolved to continue, on the basis of revised rules replacing those set out in Resolution (59) 23, the activities hitherto carried out and developed by virtue of that resolution; these being particularly aimed at the following.

4. 4.
   • •

     Raising the level of health protection of consumers in its widest sense, including a constant contribution to harmonising – in the field of products having a direct or indirect impact on the human food chain as well as in the field of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics – legislation, regulations and practice governing, on the one hand, quality, efficiency and safety controls for products and, on the other hand, the safe use of toxic or noxious products.

   • •

     Integrating people with disabilities into the community: defining and contributing to the implementation at European level of a model of coherent policy for people with disabilities taking into account the principles of full citizenship and of independent living; contributing to the elimination of all barriers to integration, whether psychological, educational, family-related, cultural, social, professional, financial or architectural.

5. 5.

   Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe is to achieve a greater unity between its members for the purpose of facilitating their economic and social progress.

6. 6.

   Considering that access to a safe and healthy variety of foods is a fundamental human right.

7. 7.

   Bearing in mind the beneficial effects of proper food service and nutritional care in hospitals on the recovery of patients and their quality of life.

8. 8.

   Bearing in mind the unacceptable number of undernourished hospital patients in Europe.

9. 9.

   Bearing in mind the fact that undernutrition among hospital patients leads to extended hospital stays, prolonged rehabilitation, diminished quality of life and unnecessary costs to health care.

10. 10.

    Bearing in mind the Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1244 (1994) on food and health.

11. 11.

    Having regard to the First Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Policy of the WHO European Region (2000-2005).

12. 12.

    Recommends that the governments of the member states of the partial agreement in the Social and Public Health Field, having due regard to their specific constitutional structures, national, regional or local circumstances, as well as economic, social and technical conditions.

13. 13.
    • •

      Draw up and implement national recommendations on food and nutritional care in hospitals based on the principles and measures set out in the appendix to this resolution.

    • •

      Promote the implementation and take steps towards the application of the principles and measures contained in the appendix, in fields where these are not the direct responsibility of governments but where public authorities have a certain power or play a role.

    • •

      Ensure the widest possible dissemination of this resolution among all parties concerned, particularly public authorities, hospital staff, primary health care sector, patients, researchers and non-governmental organisations active in this field.