Trade and Health

One death every six seconds due to tobacco - WHO global report 2012

The World Health Organisation published a report providing information on the proportion of adult deaths due to tobacco. It shows that five million people died because of tobacco in 2004: one person every six seconds. It estimates that one billion people are projected to die during the 21st century unless strong actions are taken. WHO global report: mortality attributable to tobacco builds on the WHO’s 2009 report "Global health risks: mortality and burden of disease attributable to (...)

Getting drugs online: Illegal online pharmacies target young people

The International Narcotics Control Board published its Annual report 2011 in which it warns that an increasing number of illegal Internet pharmacies in the world target young audiences via social media - increasing risks of long-term addiction to medicines. The International Narcotics Control Board has chosen to highlight this new trend as national and international regulations find it difficult to address the issue so far. The Annual report 2011 points out that illicit drugs or (...)

Food For Everyone: Towards a Global Deal

On the 23rd of May the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a conference on global food security under the title “Food for Everyone: Towards a Global Deal”. The purpose of the event was to explore and understand the issue of food security and propose solutions supporting the achievement of the MGDs. With close to one billion people worldwide suffering from hunger1, and a much higher number from malnutrition, food security is again placed high on the political (...)

EPHA position on the modernisation of EU public procurement policy

EPHA has submitted its response to the EC consultation on the Green Paper on the modernisation of EU public procurement policy - Towards a more efficient European procurement market. EPHA’s response argues that public procurement rules must be more flexible where public health and social objectives are concerned so that they can be considered at all successive stages of the process. EPHA response to the Consultation on the modernisation of EU public procurement policy - Towards a (...)

EPHA and EPHAC analysis of the EP reports on the Common Agriculture Policy

The European Parliament works on its position on the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP). Based on its position on the reform of the CAP, EPHA and EPHAC (the European Public Health and Agriculture Consortium) have made an analysis of the draft reports of the European Parliament The EP draft report on the CAP towards 2020 was pubished by the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development on Febuary 15. The draft report was prepared by Albert Dess MEP (Germany, EPP). The main (...)

Smoke Free Partnership launches Call for Applications for training in tobacco taxation and smuggling issues

EPHA partner the Smoke Free Partnership is currently looking for people from the public health and tobacco control communities interested in receiving training on taxation and smuggling issues. Training will take place in the context of the TobTaxy Project. It will be given by renowned international tobacco taxation experts in five separate workshops taking place across Europe. The first workshop is in Paris, France (on 6-8 June 2011) and will focus specifically on training individuals on (...)

The great success of the "Operation Sirocco"

Operation Sirocco, an anti-fraud operation, was jointly organised by the EU and countries from the Union for the Mediterranean in June 2010. A considerable quantity of counterfeit products has been seized during the successful operation. The anti-fraud operation, "Operation Sirocco" was jointly conducted in June 2010 by the European Union and 11 countries from the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) under the coordination of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). The objective was to (...)

EPHA position on Trade: health cannot be treated like any other business in the EU Trade Policy

Following the ’Europe 2020’ Strategy endorsed by Heads of States in March and June 2010, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the future direction of EU trade policy. EPHA contributed to it by highlighting that health cannot be treated like any other business in the EU Trade Policy. EPHA response to the Trade consultation First and foremost, EPHA considers that the EU Trade Policy should complement and reinforce all dimensions of the Europe 2020 (...)

How to combat obesity and raise public revenue - Denmark increases taxes on alcopops and ‘junk food’

Denmark has today taken further steps towards improving the health of its citizens through a series of tax reforms designed to make "junk food" more expensive. It also goes beyond the European established minimum levels of taxation of products such as alcohol and tobacco. *** Press release - For Immediate Release *** Brussels, 01 July 2010 Today, Denmark increases by 25% taxes on ice cream, chocolate and sweets, as well as increases taxes on soft drinks, tobacco and alcohol products. A (...)

How does European trade policy impact on public health?

Belgian organisation "Action Platform for Health and Solidarity" organised a conference in the Belgian Senate to debate the impact of European trade policy on public health from a global perspective. This intervenes in a context in which the free trade agreements the European Union is negotiating with countries in the South can threaten the right to health. The Belgian Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence organised a conference on the impact of European trade policy on (...)