Towards a healthier, more sustainable Common Agriculture Policy

Source: European Public Health and Agriculture Consortium

June 29 2010

This week's Open Health Forum agreed that public health should be included as one of the objectives of the Common Agriculture Policy.

The Health Forum, which was hosted by the European Commission in Brussels, brought together civil society stakeholders, food policy expert Professor Tim Lang of City University London and Commission representatives from agriculture and health in a working group to discuss how public health can be integrated into the Common Agriculture Policy.

All present, including representatives of the Commission, academics, and public health advocates agreed that there is room for improvement. CAP can do more to promote healthy diets and relevant instruments should be explored. To do this public health and nutrition should be included as one of the objectives of the post – 2013 CAP.

As well as posing a threat to European citizen's health, non-communicable diseases are a major barrier to sustainable and inclusive economic growth. “Cardiovascular diseases alone cost the EU economy more than € 192 billion, and with increasing rates of obesity and overweight across Europe, the situation will only deteriorate further”, said Susanne Løgstrup, Chair of European Public Health and Agriculture Consortium (EPHAC).

The Common Agriculture Policy represents approximately 40% of EU expenditure and determines to a great extent how food is produced, distributed and consumed in Europe. At the meeting Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy, City University London, argued that meeting the challenges of chronic disease, feeding a growing population adequately and climate change requires joined up policy “to meet these challenges, the Common Agriculture Policy needs to be changed to a Common Sustainable Food Policy”

The working group was organized by the European Public Health and Agriculture Consortium (EPHAC) and the European Heart Network (EHN), a member of the Open Health Forum Steering Group.

EPHAC is European Public Health and Agriculture Consortium

49 – 51 rue de Trèves, Boite 6, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel +32 2 230 3056
Fax +32 2 233 3880
Email: info@healthyagriculture.eu
Web-site : www.healthyagriculture.eu

Press Release For immediate release Date: 02 July 2010 a Brussels based alliance of public health organisations advocating for a healthier, more sustainable Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).

EPHAC members are EuroHealthNet, European Public Health Alliance, European Heart Network, Heart of Mersey, National Heart Forum, North West Health Brussels Office.

To view The European Agriculture and Public Health Consortiums position paper, “Towards a healthier, more sustainable CAP” online please go to:
http://healthyagriculture.eu.linux8.wannafindserver.dk/docs/5_PositionPaperwSummaryFinal.pdf

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The Open Health Forum's aim was to increase the profile of health in all policies through discussion between EU policy makers and stakeholders on pressing public health issues and their impacts on the Community. Presentations can be viewed at:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/interest_groups/eu_health_forum/open_forum/2010/programme_en.htm#fullwidth