Development of the Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) System for Promoting Healthy Diet in the Philippines (Албания - Тендер #40988022)

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to enter into a contractual agreement with a successful bidder and select a suitable contractor to carry out the following work: to Provide Technical Assistance in the Development of the System and Design for Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) System for Promoting Healthy Diet in the Philippines under Agreement in Performance of Work (APW)

BACKGROUND

Halting the rise in obesity is essential to combat the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCD) and to improve health and wellbeing for all. Stopping the growing obesity epidemic is one of the 2025 Global Nutrition Targets (for children under 5) and one of the global targets for NCD reduction (for adolescents and adults). Without addressing obesity, it will not be possible to achieve the 30% reduction of premature mortality from NCDs by 2030, one of the key targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the Philippines, 40% of adults are either overweight or obese as per the 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (DOST-FNRI, 2021). Prevalence of overweight and obesity is rapidly rising across all age groups especially among Filipino school-age children and adolescents. To address obesity, we need public health tools that enable health-supportive environments that can help in preventing obesity, fiscal and regulatory measures to make healthy foods more accessible and affordable, and clinical tools to ensure quality health services for people with obesity.

Front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) is an important policy tool for countries to help consumers and the broader population to make healthier food choices and in turn contribute to preventing obesity. It provides convenient, relevant, and readily understood nutrition information or guidance on food packs, to assist all consumers to make informed food purchases and healthier eating choices. FOPL can also stimulate reformulation or favourable compositional changes to food products, helping to make healthier food options become more available in the market. In the Philippines, there is an existing policy on mandatory nutrient declaration, but a policy is yet to be developed for FOPL in the country.