A European Commission proposal for a regulation of the European parliament and of the council on nutrition and health claims made on foods - COM (2003) 424 final - 2003/0165 (COD).

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The World Health Organisation is to be congratulated on the publication of its expert report on diet and chronic disease. The report sets out recommendations for diets low in energy-dense foods - those which are high in fat, salt and sugar - and high in fruit and vegetable intake. These are based on the latest scientific evidence of the role that a poor diet plays in developing avoidable chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some cancers and obesity.

The WHO report attributes the huge rise in chronic disease to the greater consumerisation of lifestyles where diets are increasingly high in fat, salt and sugar, and low in fruit and vegetables and where there are low levels of physical activity. The report apportions some of the blame to the manufacturers of snacks, processed foods and drinks.

Paul Lincoln, NHF Chief Executive, welcomed the WHO/FAO expert report as "a refreshing breakthrough to tackle the anti-health forces which influence our diets."

Heart disease is the biggest killer in UK, and as this reports highlights, the evidence of the major risk factors or poor diet and lack of physical activity is a serious cause of concern especially among children. The NHF's major initiative young@heart - policy action for children's and young people's health and well-being warns that unless we take action to prevent the growing levels of obesity, inadequate diet and low levels of physical activity in our children we will fail to prevent an epidemic of coronary heart disease as well as stroke, cancer and diabetes.

The publication of this joint WHO/FAO expert report and the announcement that the WHO are consulting on a global strategy on diet and physical activity is heartening news. This offers a further impetus and support to the policy initiatives beginning to be undertaken to tackle the growing rates of chronic disease across Europe.

During the summer of 2003, the European Commission launched a review of the Television Without Frontiers directive (TVWF) - which governs the rules and regulations for broadcasting for the whole of the European Union. Part of the review looked at how the directive might be strengthened to protect health - particularly children's health. For more information and to viewresponses to the consultation see: http://europa.eu.int/comm/avpolicy/regul/review-twf2003/contribution.htm

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During the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in August, representatives from governments, industry, academia, NGOs, charitable foundations and health professionals agreed a joint declaration on food, nutrition, health and sustainable development. The Indaba declaration was formed under the auspices of the Stakeholder Forum for our common future (an international multi-stakeholder forum).

Louise Sarch from the National Heart Forum (NHF) assisted the stakeholder forum in setting up the nutrition workshop at this conference. Her participation was generously supported by a study/travel grant from the Nuffield Trust. A copy of the declaration can be downloaded below. For further information contact Louise Sarch at NHF.

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The European Commission announced in December 2000 that it will support phase 2 of the European Heart Health Initiative (EHHI).

Phase 2 will build on the aims and achievements of EHHI phase 1 with funding of up to 700,000 Euro (around £443,000). Funding will be backdated to July 2000 and continue until December 2001.

Phase 2 of the EHHI has five main objectives:
• to increase the hours of physical activity in primary and secondary schools’ curricula;
• to provide high quality information and data through a quarterly newsletter for distribution to policy-makers and health professionals and among alliances and other health networks;
• to consolidate and, where appropriate, expand the alliances ­ both nationally and European-wide ­ launched under phase 1;
• to maintain a network of national coordinators representing national heart foundations and non-governmental organisations throughout the European Union and the European Economic Area; and
• to expand the EHHI involvement of EU candidate members Estonia, Hungary and Slovenia in order to strengthen cardiovascular disease prevention initiatives in Eastern and Central Europe.

Measures to strengthen health warnings on tobacco products, ban misleading labels and limit the tar yield in cigarettes were agreed in February. Under the Directive, tobacco manufacturers will have to submit a list of all ingredients contained in tobacco products to their governments, who will make the information available to consumers.

The Directive reflects compromises agreed via a conciliation process between the European Parliament and Council including a longer lead-in period in which to implement the maximum yield requirements for cigarettes manufactured for export outside the EU.

The Directive comes into effect in September 2002.