Brunei Darussalam National Multisectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (BruMAP - NCD).

This Multisectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Contro of Noncommunicable Diseases is a 5-year nationwide sectoral document aiming at achieving an 18% relative reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2018. The Action Plan is fully aligned with the WHO’s Global Action Plan for NCD Prevention and Control. The four predominant diseases are cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, due basically to changes in traditional lifestyle and risk factors that are modifiable and include tobacco use, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. The document calls for a whole-of-society approach that requires efforts from all relevant members of society, including individuals, families, communities, intergovernmental organizations and religious institutions, civil society, academia, media, voluntary associations, and the private sector and industry. The National Multisectoral Action Plan comprises 5 key strategic actions towards (1) reducing tobacco use; (2) promoting a balanced and healthy diet; (3) increasing physical activity; (4) effective identification and management of people at high risk of NCDs; (5) improving the quality of care and outcome of NCDs management.
In particular, regarding the promotion of a balanced and healthy diet, the Plan recommends the following actions for the Ministry of Health (i) ensure compliance with the National Dietary Guidelines; (ii) develop and implement policies that limit salt, sugar, and saturated fat and eliminate partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (PHVO) in processed foods; (iii) develop and implement policies to reduce the impact of marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages high in sugar, salt and fat to children; (iv) develop and implement mandatory food labeling for all domestic and imported food products including consumer-friendly labeling to identify healthier food products; (v) ensure healthier dietary options in schools, workplaces and where children gather; (vi) conduct sustained mass media campaigns to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables; (vii) develop and implement guidance to interact with the food industry for implementing policies. Further measures are recommended for other ministries, i.e. (i) endorse a Code of Conduct for marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children; (ii) use existing fiscal mechanisms to improve consumption of healthy food and restriction unhealthy food and beverages; (iii) promote the importation of healthier food products; (iv) incorporate community fruit and vegetables gardens/plots in housing development projects; (v) promote a healthy diet among the general public through social media; (vi) incorporate aspects of healthier food (low in sugar, salt and fat) within the existing food security policy.