european commission camilla sandvik dg sanco / g/ 3 the european union and nutrition presentation at...

European Commission Camilla SANDVIK DG SANCO / G/ 3

The European Union and Nutrition

Presentation at European Health Forum,

Gastein26 September 2002Camilla Sandvik


1. Nutrition in the EU, background and introduction

2. The Commission’s work within nutrition

3. Nutrition and the way forward


I. Nutrition in the EU - introduction


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


Nutritional imbalance accounts for more than one hundred times

more premature deaths than food-borne infections in Europe


Common nutritional trends in the European Union


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


– 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


II. The Commission’s work within nutrition


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


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


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


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


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”


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


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


III. Nutrition under the new public health action

programme


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



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



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


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.


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?


Possible barriers

• Human and financial resources

• Political will

• Conflicting interests and other priorities


More information

The European Union on-line:

http://europa.eu.int/

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm


Thank you for your attention!

european commission camilla sandvik dg sanco / g/ 3 the european union and nutrition presentation at...

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