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Description: The General Assembly of the United Nations,

RECOGNIZING the role of proper nutrition in maintaining the physical and psychological well-being of all persons;

FURTHER RECOGNIZING the importance of proper nutrition in the growth and development of children;

NOTING the need of all peoples to have adequate supplies of good quality, healthy food;

DEFINES "food" as the appropriate and healthy substance(s) that a person uses or can use as a primary source of energy.

HEREBY

1. ENCOURAGES the sale and/or transfer of food products between UN nations;

2. ENCOURAGES all nations to institute health and nutritional education programs within their school systems;

3. REQUIRES the gradual reduction, in stages, of all protectionist mechanisms in the trade of food including, but not limited to, Tariffs, Duties, Farm Subsidies and Subventions. Exception will be made for protectionist mechanisms which are based upon legitimate Religious, Cultural, Medical, or Ecological concerns;

4. ESTABLISHES the following schedule for reducing protectionist mechanisms:

Years 1 thru 6: 36% cut over six years (6% per year)
Years 7 thru 11: 50% cut over five years (10% per year)
Year 12: 14% cut (total elimination of protectionist mechanisms)

5. EMPHASIZES that UN member nations reserve the right to employ retaliatory tariffs towards non-UN nations to prevent price dumping;

6. ESTABLISHES the United Nations Free Trade Commission (UNFTC) to arbitrate trade disputes and pass rulings on exceptions claimed under Article 3;

7. ENCOURAGES STRONGLY the removal of all sales taxes levied on food;

8. CALLS UPON UN member nations to, except in cases where private entities already conduct such research, advance research into new and improved methods of food production and distribution as a priority within their research budgets insofar as is necessary and possible given their circumstance(s).

Votes For: 9,207
Votes Against: 5,172

Implemented: Wed Nov 16 2005