promotion

EPHA and Public Health NGOs call for an updated EU Tobacco Products Directive

On 18 June EPHA, together with eight public health organisations, co-signed a public statement on the proposal for a revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). The signatories urge European leaders to ensure that the TPD is speedily reviewed and updated. The letter reads as follows: As representatives of leading health, medical and non-governmental organisations we urge European leaders to ensure that the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive is speedily reviewed and updated. (...)

[EPT] Tobacco - Directive (Revision) - European Commission Proposal Revision of The Tobacco Products Directive (10 June 2013)

European Commission Proposal Revision of The Tobacco Products Directive. The Tobacco Products Directive (2001/37/EC) regulates the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products in the EU 27 Member States. This notably covers the use of health warnings on packs, the prohibition of descriptions such as ’mild’ or ’light’, the maximum tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide yields, and the prohibition of the sale of tobacco for oral use. In February 2012, the (...)

[EPHA media reaction] Ireland’s move to implement tobacco plain packaging must resonate in Brussels

Brussels, 28 May 2013 – Today, the Irish government has approved, with not a single vote against, the drafting of legislation for generic packaging for tobacco. The legislation will be drafted by the autumn and is expected to come into force by early next year. Ireland will become the first EU Member State, and the second country in the world after Australia, to remove branding from tobacco product packaging (1). “There is a strong body of evidence (2), backed by wide popular (...)

[EPHA position paper] Revision of the Tobacco Products Directive

The new EU Tobacco Products Directive is an essential piece of legislation and can play a key role in achieving the objectives of “Europe 2020 – Europe’s Growth Strategy”: to keep people healthy and active longer, to help people prevent avoidable diseases and premature death and to have a positive impact on productivity and thus competitiveness. With this Directive, the EU has the possibility of changing the burden of disease for the new generation; by restricting (...)

[Event digest] Calling Time on Europe’s Alcohol Problem - Using pricing policies to protect public health in Europe

On 24 April, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP London), together with EPHA and the support of Eurocare, gathered members of the public health community, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and representatives from the EU member states to exchange views on the way forward in alcohol policy. Prompted by the growing influence of the tobacco industry in drafting tobacco-related legislation at a European level and the pressing need to protect Europe’s population from alcohol (...)

[European Network for Workplace Health Promotion] Guide to good practices on chronically ill employees

The European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP) has released its European Guide to Good Practice on chronically ill employees. Chronic illness poses a major challenge for public health - it is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Europe, and has a major impact not only on the life expectancy but also in the years of good health lived. In addition, there is reasonable evidence that chronic disease affects earnings, the ability to work, job turnover and disability. (...)

Unremitting smoking rates among people with mental health conditions in the UK

According to "Smoking and Health", the latest report published by the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, smoking in mental health patients is being neglected by the UK National Health Service, which results in a deterioration of the patients’ quality of life and in a substantial increase of healthcare costs. The joint report produced by the Royal College of Physicians, an EPHA member, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists on Smoking and Mental (...)

EPHA Report on the Impact of the Crisis on the Population Mental Health

Economic crises such as the one Europe has been going through since late 2007 have a considerable impact on the society as a whole. Sky-rocking unemployment, the use and abuse of unhealthy substances, and mental illnesses are just some of the areas EPHA looked at in its just-released "Report on the impact of the crisis on the population mental health". “The economic crisis should not turn into a health crisis”, John Dalli, ex EU Commissioner in charge of health and consumer (...)

Women and cervical cancer in the EU

On the occasion of the European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, the European Institute of Women’s Health (EIWH), an EPHA member, presented its policy brief "Women and cervical cancer in the EU: promoting cervical cancer prevention" emphasising the need to reach a consensus across the European Union to put an end to the existing disparities between Member States. With 31 300 women developing the disease and 13 600 dying of it every year in the EU, cervical cancer remains the second (...)

[Press Release] The revised Tobacco Directive - the beginning of the end of tobacco industry led policy-making?

19 December, Brussels – EPHA welcomes today’s release of the revised Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) by Health Commissioner Borg. With stronger measures on e-cigarettes, tobacco flavouring and the shape of cigarettes and packs, this proposal is good news for the further protection of people’s health across Europe. Among other proposals, the Directive recommends pictorial health warnings that cover 75% of cigarette packs. Whilst it is to be applauded as a great move to (...)