Food and Nutrition Law Being Discussed

Food and Nutrition Law Being Discussed
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 2/17/2013

Representatives from the Chamber of Deputies, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the UN Fund for Food and Agriculture (FAO) and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources met on Monday to discuss mechanisms and the feasibility of approving the Food Security Law and Nutrition in the Dominican Republic.

They agreed on emphasizing the relevance of a law of this type in an effort to guarantee the country’s food security.

They agreed on emphasizing the relevance of a law of this type in an effort to guarantee the country’s food security.

The meeting was held in the office of Environment Minister Bautista Rojas Gómez and was attended by Deputies Guadalupe Valdez, national representative; Ricardo Contreras, of Monte Plata and MaríaFernández, of MonseñorNouel. Other participants included Andrés Cedano, an expert from the FAO; Roberto Gálvez and Sergio Novas from the UNDP.

Deputy Valdez explained that the new law would have a huge impact on the country over the medium and long term and therefore would need to be discussed fully.

Rojas Gómez said his Ministry is seeking approval for the project and showed interest in collaborating in all that is necessary to reach these ends.

Minister Rojas Gómez indicated that the Environment Ministry would play a fundamental role in this issue, especially with respect to water production for human consumption as well as agricultural needs. He also stressed the importance of appropriately dealing with solid waste products.

The Environment Minister took the opportunity to reiterate his ministry’s approach to promote all projects and challenges the Dominican Republic faces today.

“Along with a variety of institutions, we will present initiatives along these lines because they will contribute to health improvements for the Dominican people and fulfill the laws that protect the environment and natural resources,” said the Minister.

Regarding solid waste, he said that it has become a problem in the Dominican Republic and added that there is an inability among the majority of local governments to adequately deal with it.