Every year over 1.9 million people die from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the European Union. Over 180 000 deaths from CVD are caused by smoking. In order to reduce effectively the risk of CVD from the use of tobacco and nicotine products, such use must be eliminated completely.

European Heart Network’s response to the European Commission’s Consultation Paper on the structure and rates of excise duty applied on cigarettes and other manufactured tobacco.

Five leading Health NGOs (the European Heart Network, the European Public Health Alliance, Eurocare, the Pharmaceutical group of the EU and the European Respiratory Society) have developed a common position paper on the Commission proposal for Directive on Audivisual Media Services (revision of the Television Without Frontiers directive).

According to the World Bank, high taxes on tobacco are the single most effective intervention to prevent smoking.

European Heart Network position on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, The Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on Healthier, safer, more confident citizens: a Health and Consumer protection Strategy and the proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and the Council establishing a Programme of Community action in the field of Health and Consumer protection 2007-2013.

In this paper, EHN sets out its position on the European Commission's proposal for a Regulation on nutrition and health claims. EHN welcomes the restriction of claims to foods that have a specific nutrient profile but finds that the Commission's proposal does not consider the promotion of public health sufficiently.

Please find here EHN's comments in respect of the World Health Organization's (WHO) initiative to develop a global strategy on diet, physical activity and health.

'Nutrition' claims are messages on food packaging or advertising that draw attention to the nutritional composition of products. 'Health' claims draw attention to their possible health benefits. In this paper EHN suggests a legal framework in which EU legislation on 'nutrition' and 'health' claims could work to promote public health.