1. Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity related Health Issues: The Platform for action on diet Physical activity and Health as part of an EU integrated approach European Conference on Diet, Physical Activity and Health Budapest, 19 novembre 2007 Philippe Roux Deputy Head of Unit European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection « Health Determinants » Unit

2. Part 1: The EU Institutions and the role of the Commission Part 2: A strategic Framework Part 3: The EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health

3. Part 1 The EU Institutions and the role of the Commission

4. European Commission Council of the EU European Parliament Economic & Social Committee Committee of the Regions European Council European Court of Justice European Court of Auditors Institutional Triangle: Decision Makers Advisory Committees European Institutions Part 1

5. The Role of the Commission The European Commission Initiate & negotiate draft legislation Ensure implementation of EU policies Apply European Union laws Represent the European Union on the world stage

6. Health and Consumer Protection DG DG SANCO Food safety Public Health Consumer Affairs Priorities Protecting and improving Public health Ensuring food is safe Promoting EU food safety Standards worldwide Protecting the health of animals & plants Promoting the humane treatment of animals

7. Our Structure DG SANCO

8. Public Health “Enabling good health for all” Deliver a high level of health protection Promote healthier lifestyles Respond to disease outbreaks Encourage member state co-operation on health Provide accurate health information and data Invest to tackle health inequalities Combat smoking through legislation and campaigns Deliver quality standards for blood, tissues, and cells SANCO’s Core Activities Public Health

9. Health Determinant Unit: Mission Improve the health of European citizens and reduce health inequalities through actions to address health determinants. In particular to:  Promote health through measures to address lifestyle (nutrition and physical activity, sexual health, mental health), addictions (tobacco, alcohol, drugs), socio- economic and environmental determinants.  Take forward work under the health determinants strand of the public health programme and anti- smoking activities of the Tobacco Funds.  Coordinate work with stakeholders related to public health policies and actions.  Develop and implement initiatives to prevent accidents and injuries and diseases with a major impact on the health of people in Europe including cardiovascular diseases, asthma/allergies, diabetes),

10. Part 2: A strategic Framework

11. Overweight and Obesity in the EU: Scene setter Obesity levels in the EU have risen by between 10-40% over the past decade. Range of obesity prevalence in EU countries is from 10% to 27% in men and up to 38% in women. Number of EU children affected by overweight (BMI >25) and obesity (BMI >30) is estimated to be rising by more than 400,000 a year. Across the entire EU25, overweight affects almost 1 in 4 children. Obesity accounts for up to 7% of health care costs. In the EU, 9.6% of disability-adjusted life-years are lost due to poor nutrition, obesity and physical inactivity (compared with 9% due to smoking). Obesity is a risk factor for many serious illnesses, including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease, arthritis and certain types of cancer.

12. White Paper: Marshalling Community actions towards Better informing the consumer, such as through better labelling on food products Making the healthy option available, such as making fruits and vegetables available to schools Encouraging physical activity, such as by encouraging community initiatives or by raising awareness of Community funds to develop the physical environment to encourage walking/cycling and other forms of activity Focus on priority groups and settings, such as children and schools Developing the evidence base to support policy making, such as by carrying out research into behaviour change in relation to food and nutrition Developing monitoring systems, such as by working with the WHO to identify effective local actions

13. Challenges to private actors … Product reformulation Strengthen restrictions on advertising of HFSS foods to children Sports organisations can develop campaigns Healthy workplaces Clinical groups develop guidelines to health professions Civil society organisations support collection of evidence of what works But with support from the Commission (facilitation, policies, specific studies) and…in the context of a stronger partnership framework

14. EU Partnerships

15. Progress report in 2010 Identify efforts made in each area Commission will need support from actors to demonstrate the progress that has been made An opportunity to reorient our approach An opportunity to keep high profile of the issue

16. Part 3:

17. Committee on Nutrition 33 members / Observers WHO, EFSA, EP, Presidencies and Member States

18. Actions underway Promotion healthy lifestyles Labelling Advertising and marketing Dissemination Research and survey Product development Policy development To date more than 200 Commitments http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/nutrition/platform/docs/ synopsis_commitments.pdf

19. Actions underway RAND Europe produced the Second Monitoring Progress Report for the Platform published in March 2007: Commitments represent more than 600 hundred initiatives implemented at local, regional and national levels. An overwhelming part of the activities (37%) relates to Promoting a healthy lifestyle/Education on nutrition and/or physical activity. Other main areas are ‘Nutrition labelling/Nutrition information’ (17% of the activities) and ‘Advertising/Marketing’ (11%). http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants /life_style/http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants /life_style/nutrition/platform/docs “Monitoring Framework” adopted in 2006

20. Actions underway: examples Nutrition labelling” by CIAA: Introduce VOLUNTARY measures to improve the nutritional information provided to consumers on food & drink packages across all 27 EU member states by end 2009 EMRA (Mac Donald) nutrition scheme with by end 2007 over 30,000 restaurants world-wide plan

21. Actions underway: examples UNESDA (nine major soft drink companies including Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Cadbury Schweppes) : no advertising to children under 12 in printed media, on websites or during broadcast programmes specifically aimed at children. no direct commercial activity in primary schools in the EU. ensure that in secondary schools a full range of beverages - including water, juices and others - in both regular and low-calorie/calorie-free versions and in a range of serving sizes - are available in unbranded vending machines. Irish Food Board Food Dude Healthy Eating educational project to improve children’s long-term consumption of fruit and vegetables. Children are given free fruit and vegetables at school for 16 days, along with peer modelling videos and rewards based on the “Food Dude” characters.

22. Actions underway: examples World Federation of Advertisers: agreement to implement the EACA self regulation charter among its members. Ferrero (CIAA): Tailoring portion sizes, namely those for Kinder chocolate, to children consumption; Reducing the levels of trans fatty acids and salt; Eliminating all hydrogenated fats contained in Ferrero products by 2006. European health and fitness Associations (EHFA): Cooperation with schools to offer multi-sport activity for teenage girls (15/16 years old).

24. Ensure relevance of the initiatives against the objectives of the Platform. Ensure the emergence of initiatives that can contribute to the increase of the levels of physical activity of citizens. Create conditions that facilitate debates among the different stakeholders on individual initiatives. Be clear on the fact that Self-regulation is not an alternative to law. On the contrary it works best within a clear legal framework that allows non-legislative approaches but also backs them up. Create conditions for easy reporting on progress. Building one year work programmes” is usefull. Improving dialogue with the national authorities (i.e.: via the EU Nutrition and Physical Activity Network and/or the future High Level group on Nutrition and Physical Activity) and with national Platforms is desirable. Key issues

25. Monitoring Review of the outcomes of codes of conducts for advertising and other voluntary approaches. Solid monitoring framework and a transparent reporting process and actors should: be specific when setting objectives and reporting on actions, focus on relevant information when monitoring, devise appropriate methods of measuring results, communicate information clearly, state the Platform’s contribution to a commitment, dedicate sufficient resources to allow effective monitoring.

26. Link to background documents on White Paper & Platform www.ec.europa.eu/health/index_en.htm Heath Portal: http://ec.europa.eu/health-u/index_fr.htm Thanks Food safetyPublic HealthConsumer Affairs