P.L. 101-445 was enacted to establish a comprehensive, coordinated programme for nutrition monitoring and related research to improve the assessment of the health and nutrition of the U.S. population. The Act required: a programme to achieve coordination of federal nutrition monitoring efforts within 10 years and assist states and local governments in participating in a nutrition monitoring network; an interagency board to develop and implement the program; and, an advisory council to provide scientific and technical advice and evaluate programme effectiveness. The Act also required that dietary guidelines be issued every five years, and that any dietary guidance issued by the federal government for the general public be reviewed by the Secretaries of both Agriculture, and Health and Human Services.