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European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
The European Union and Nutrition
Presentation at European Health Forum,
Gastein26 September 2002Camilla Sandvik
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
1. Nutrition in the EU, background and introduction
2. The Commission’s work within nutrition
3. Nutrition and the way forward
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Unhealthy Diets & Sedentary Life Styles
Responsible for:• 30-40 % of the cases of cancers• At least one third of premature deaths due to
cardiovascular disease in Europe• Important determinants for the prevalence of
obesity
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Nutritional imbalance accounts for more than one hundred times
more premature deaths than food-borne infections in Europe
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Nutrition and public health - EU trends
– The consumption of fruit and vegetables is still lower than recommended, especially in the northern part of the Community and in socially disadvantaged grops
– The dietary intake of fat, especially of saturated fat, is too high in almost all Member States
– Obesity is an increasing problem among the population of the EU, particularly amoung children and adolescents
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
– The intake of cereals has fallen by 25 % since 1960 for Europe as a whole
– Consumption of meat has increased, in some countries dramatically, but is now declining. Lasting trend or short-term change?
– Micronutrient deficiency: in particular iron, iodine and folate at levels of public health concern
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
The mission of DG "Health and Consumer protection" is:
• To implement the responsibilities entrusted to it by the Treaty and derived legislation;
• To ensure that a high level of human health and consumer protection is attained throughout the EU
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Public health - aims and objectives
• To ensure a high level of human health protection in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities
• The Community shall take actions to improve public health in the European Union, to prevent human illness and diseases and to obviate sources of danger to human health
Amsterdam Treaty - Article 152
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Background for action in the field of nutrition
• Article 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty• The ”French initiative” - 2000• Eurodiet (1998-2000)• The White Paper on Food Safety- 2000• WHO action plan for food and nutrition
policy for the European Region - 2000
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Public Health Nutrition - recent developments
• Development of a nutrition policy – status report on nutrition as a first step
• The establishment of an Ad Hoc Group on Nutrition within the Commission
• Publishing of Eurodiet core report on the web• Development of web pages on nutrition• Projects on obesity and breastfeeding
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Development of an EU nutrition policy
Overall objective:
“Improve the health and the quality of life of the population at all stages in life, and reduce the risk of diseases by promoting healthy diets
and lifestyle”
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Objectives of an EU nutrition policy
To enable the citizens of the European Union to make healthy and well-informed choices as regards nutrition
To make the healthy choices available, affordable and attractive
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Nutrition and the CAP
• Agriculture participated in the action plan/ status report process and in the ad hoc group
• Regular meetings between AGRI and public health• Public health/ nutrition consulted on all AGRI
campaigns on food• Nutrition comments on CAP reform, reference to
article 152
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
III. Nutrition under the new public health action
programme
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
The new public health programme
One program, three strands:
• Improving health information by developing a health information system
• Rapid reaction towards major health threats
• tackling health determinants
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
The new public health programme
1- Improving health information:Health monitoring Health monitoring
- - Indicators, data collection, databasesIndicators, data collection, databases
- transfer and sharing of data- transfer and sharing of data
• Mechanisms for analysis and reportingMechanisms for analysis and reporting
• Consultation, information and dissemination of reports and Consultation, information and dissemination of reports and other materialother material to authorities, professionals and the publicto authorities, professionals and the public
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
The new public health programme
3- Addressing health determinants:Strategies and measures on lifestyle-related health Strategies and measures on lifestyle-related health
determinants ( tobacco, alcohol, drug dependence, determinants ( tobacco, alcohol, drug dependence, nutrition, physical activity, sexual behavior, mental health)nutrition, physical activity, sexual behavior, mental health)
Strategies and measures on socio-economic health Strategies and measures on socio-economic health determinants (health inequalities, health insurance and determinants (health inequalities, health insurance and health service arrangements, access across borders)health service arrangements, access across borders)
Strategies and measures related to the environmentStrategies and measures related to the environment
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Nutrition and the new programme
• Nutrition as key lifestyle factor/ health determinant
• Actions especially targeted at young people
• Improve the effectiveness of health interventions, information on major trends, support innovative projects, evaluate new technology, drawing up ”guidelines of good practice”.
• Information about diet, nutritional value of foods, to encourage people to make healthy choices.
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Nutrition in the 2003 work programme
• Development of a strategy to tackle obesity?
• Establishment of a Network of Member States Expert Institutes in nutrition (and physical activity)?
• Further work on the action plan/ nutrition policy?
• Conferences on nutrition under Greek/ Italian precidency?
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
Possible barriers
• Human and financial resources
• Political will
• Conflicting interests and other priorities
European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3
More information
The European Union on-line:
http://europa.eu.int/
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm