EPHA Press Releases

EPHA launches its briefing on ‘Fiscal measures applied to food policy’. Food taxation offers governments a two pronged arrow to deal with two of the most pertinent issues they face: not only offering important action to tackle the obesity epidemic, the revenues produced can also boost austerity-stricken budgets. The briefing makes the case for taxing unhealthy food as well as subsidising healthier foods. News Release 24 November 2011, Brussels ’Fat taxes’: answer (...)

On 09 November 2011, the European Commission outlined its future priorities in the field of health for 2014-2020. EPHA reacts to the proposal. Press release For Immediate Release 09 November 2011, Brussels ‘Health for growth: going beyond the promotion of economic growth to prioritising people`s health? On 09 November 2011, the European Commission outlined its future priorities in the field of health for 2014-2020. The Health for Growth Programme as proposed by the European (...)

Brussels, 11 October 2011 – The European Commission released today its revised proposal on ‘Information to Patients’ which looks at different ways of providing information on prescribed medicines and the role of the pharmaceutical industry in providing such information on their products directly to people. The public health community cautiously welcomes this controversial and long awaited proposal. Press Release ***For immediate release*** 11 October 2011 Finally: real (...)

On Friday 21 October 2011, the French Parliament adopted a tax on sweetened drinks, as discussed at the end of the Summer. In an unexpected move, the scope of the proposal was broadened to include artificially sweetened sodas which represents a great first step in the fight against overweight, obesity and diet-related diseases. EPHA Press Release on this move is available below. Communiqué de presse en FR ***For immediate release*** 26 October 2011 France stands up to bullying big (...)

Brussels, 14 October 2011 – The UK Government has released plans to work with the food industry to try to reduce the number of calories in the food people eat. In doing so, they have shown themselves to be out of touch with measures being taken elsewhere in Europe. “The UK simply cannot afford to keep tip-toeing around the food industry and avoiding the elephant in the room. It has some of the worst adult obesity levels in the whole of Europe and yet is coming a poor second in (...)

EPHA Press Release on the European Parliament Resolution on the UN high-level meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs. ***For Immediate Release*** 15 September 2011, Brussels EPHA welcomes this initiative from the European Parliament calling for action to be taken to combat Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The resolution comes at a vital moment; on 19 and 20 September representatives of all UN member countries will join together in New York for a High Level Meeting on Non (...)

The EC presented the new "Health for Growth" programme in its Communication "A Budget for Europe 2020." Press release ***For Immediate Release*** 30 June 2011, Brussels EU spending on health: 11 cents per year per person – is that really enough? On 29 June 2011, the European Commission set out its financial priorities for 2014-2020, as well as the financial mechanisms that will be used to finance the EU activities during seven years. EPHA – the European Public Health (...)

Under the framework of the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer, (EPAAC 2011-2013), the European Week Against Cancer (EWAC) (25 -31 May) has been relaunched by the Assocation of European Cancer Leagues, and will focus on on cancer prevention and healthy lifestyles: . diet, physical activity, alcohol moderation, sun safety and tobacco control. Press release ***For Immediate Release*** 25 May 2011 Prevention is the most cost-effective response to cancer, a leading cause of (...)

On the 24-25 May 2011, the OECD releases its Better Life Initiative with the Better Life Index, which uses ‘beyond GDP’ indicators to measure well-being. EPHA welcomes the inclusion of indicators that measure wellbeing and health, and EPHA Secretary General, Monika Kosinska will be a pannelist at eh 2011 OECD Forum Press Release ***For immediate release*** 24 May 2011 Call to all EU Member States: Health and well being - future golden standard to measure progress On the (...)

EPHA submitted a consultation response to the EC Green Paper on Research and Innovation Funding, arguing for more money to be spent on public health research on the determinates of health and for greater involvement of civil society organisations in the next research programme. Press release ***For Immediate Release*** 20 May 2011 Who will get funding from the future Research programme? Public and private health interests? The European Commission closes today a consultation on the EU (...)