“The Nordic model is based on the effective prevention and control of food-borne diseases and zoonoses, i.e. diseases transmitted between animals and humans. One of the ways this is achieved is by looking at food production as a holistic process "from the farm to the table". All links in the production chain are monitored and all the stakeholders are included in the discussion," said Henrik Wegener, Director of the National Food Institute in Denmark (DTU-Food) and a member of the expert group on sustainable health set up by the Nordic Council.

The agenda for the annual Session includes a proposal for an action plan for an inter-sectoral approach to fighting disease, promoting health and putting the Nordic model on the global agenda. The panel also agreed that international preventive measures and controls are needed if the high level of protection that exists in the Nordic Region at present is to be maintained..

"There is no shortage of methods out there. What is lacking is co-operation and political support. Inter-sectoral co-operation may be considered a natural way to work in the Nordic Region bit it is not necessarily as widespread in other parts of the world," he added.

"You have to build consensus by deploying facts, facts and more facts ... Just telling people how good we are in the Nordic Region is no use," replied Marit Paulsen MEP (Swedish Liberal Party), who is Vice-chair of the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

Professor Björn Olsen of the Centre for Infection Ecology and Epidemiology (IEE) explained that more people die of antibiotic resistance today than of malaria.

"Antibiotics should be prioritised as a risk factor for health and the environment on a par with cadmium and mercury," he said.

According to Martin Kolberg, Vice-chairperson of the Nordic Council Citizens' and Consumer Rights Committee, the situation in the Region is still better than in many other countries.

"We can still afford to develop solutions, and politics and policy play major roles in the Region. The market is not in a position to control the use medicine. Political decisions and medical criteria must contunue to govern developments. Coping with the challenges faced will, however, call for slower economic growth. We can't go on consuming for ever," he said.

Mette Gjerskov, the Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries pointed out that the Nordic model of co-operation in the ONE HEALTH concept will be high on the agenda of the Danish EU in 2012.

"The problem is global. By identifying global solutions and acting now, we will save lives and money in the future," she said.

Heidi Orava
Phone +45 33 96 04 60
Email heor@norden.org

Jenny Pentler
Phone +45 33 96 0445
Email jepe@norden.org