Evaluating impact and shaping the way forward: ACT teams meet in Bangkok

The "Action to support implementation of Codex AMR Texts" (ACT) project is a FAO initiative funded by the Republic of Korea, to tackle foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by applying Codex AMR texts. The ACT project, which began in 2021 and currently runs until June 2026, is active in six countries across Asia and Latin America: Cambodia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Bolivia, and Colombia. With the project nearing the end of its lifecycle, assessing progress and shaping the way forward is now crucial.

This week, the project held its Asian regional meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, from 8–11 September 2025. This critical gathering brings together the ACT country teams and government counterparts to review achievements, identify synergies with other regional initiatives and explore new opportunities such as the pandemic fund.

"The ACT project has helped countries establish a strong foundation for managing foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR)," said Myoengsin Choi, ACT Global Project Coordinator. "This includes raising awareness, developing laboratory and surveillance capacity, and strengthening governance. As the project nears its conclusion, it's essential to sustain the groundwork we've built and foster new collaborations. I am truly pleased that ACT has catalyzed activities where governments are taking ownership and connecting with new resources. By bringing our teams together, we can share experiences and collaboratively prepare a forward-looking plan that will strengthen our fight against foodborne AMR."

The meeting objectives were to comprehensively review the 2025 workplan and prepare the 2026 one, explore opportunities for joint implementation with other projects, while also reflecting on strategies for the future beyond ACT. A key highlight was the site visit to the FAO Reference Centre for AMR in Thailand based at the Chulalongkorn University. The Centre has been collaborating with ACT to provide AMR testing training and proficiency testing activities (PTAST), further strengthening technical capacity in the region.   

Farid ElHaffar, Technical Officer at the Codex Secretariat, added, "The work of the ACT project in supporting the implementation of Codex texts is vital. This meeting provides a critical opportunity to ensure our collective efforts are aligned and optimized for maximum impact in combating this global public health threat".

The meeting concluded with an agreed workplan, and participating countries committed to developing ideas that link ACT activities with their National Action Plans, ensuring sustainability and building synergies with potential resources.

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The ACT project