Canwebeseriousnow

The Filtered Project

The main goal of the FILTERED Project (From sILos To synErgies to pRevEnt ncDs) is to stimulate collaborative advocacy, health promotion, action and accountability at European and national level, including in Ukraine, for the prevention of NCDs among civil society organisations specialised in advocacy linked to the reduction of alcohol-related harm, tobacco control and the reduction of the consumption of unhealthy foods and drinks.

The FILTERED project will strengthen cooperation between all Partners and other stakeholders to foster a co-creative approach and mutually beneficial partnerships, coalitions and strategic alliances in a culture of mutual learning, enrichment and respect to address the complex problems related to an integrated approach to tackling the main risk factors of NCDs (alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy foods and drinks).

All the activities of this project are based on transversal actions suggested in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and its implementation road map and the EU “Healthier Together” NCD initiative, as well as the WHO Best Buys and other WHO recommended policy interventions to address non communicable diseases (NCDs).

This project pays particular attention to the EU’s main policy interventions to address some of the main risk factors for NCDs (specifically tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods and drinks) and their impact on key NCDs, including cardio vascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. By tackling NCDs risk factors in a joined-upway, the unique and innovative character of this project includes new evidence for working together, peer-to-peer connections, capacity building capacity programmes, national debates and high-impact events.

FACT: Health must be protected from industry interference

Every year, four products—tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy foods and beverages, and fossil fuels—cause 2.7 million deaths in Europe. This is equivalent to losing the entire population of Lithuania annually.

Governments know how to reduce this burden. However, industries’ lobbying and interference in policymaking lead to blocked, weakened, or delayed policies, allowing unhealthy products to continue being sold at levels that fuel the growing burden of NCDs.

This is a clear conflict of interest.

Health-harming industries representatives are not public health stakeholders.

When dealing with health-harming industries or those working to further their interests, policy-makers should make sure these interactions are accountable and transparent.

It’s time to prioritise people’s health over corporate profits.

FACT : Prevention pays out

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 90% of deaths in Europe and hurt both health and the economy. Without action, their financial burden will be increasing, destabilising EU Member States.

In EU Member States, less than 3% of health spending goes to prevention of NCDs, yet research shows a 14:1 return for every euro invested in prevention.

Effective strategies to prevent avoidable NCDs create healthier environments for everyone. The WHO NCD Best Buys offer cost-effective solutions, including:

Increasing excise taxes and prices on unhealthy products;
Banning or restricting advertising of unhealthy products;
Limiting physical availability of unhealthy products, especially to vulnerable groups such as children and youth;
Educating the public on health risks through clear and effective labelling and communication campaigns.

Recommendations for Policy-makers

These recommendations are intended for EU policy-makers, as well as government officials, representatives and employees of any national, state, provincial, municipal, local or other institution or body within the jurisdiction of a country, and for any person acting on their behalf. All branches of government (executive, legislative, and judiciary) responsible for setting and implementing public health policies, and protecting those policies from health-harming interests, should be held accountable.

1. Establish measures to limit interactions with health-harming industries and ensure the transparency of those interactions that occur.

1. 1. 1. 1. Where interactions with heath harming industry representatives take place, ensure that such interactions are conducted transparently and that public records are published.
      2. Interact with health-harming industries only when strictly necessary to regulate their products effectively, and never when public health measures are discussed.

2. Formulate, adopt and implement a code of conduct describing the standards for dealing with the health-harming industries.

1. 1. 1. Refuse payments, gifts and services, monetary or in-kind, and research funding offered by the health-harming industries.
    2. Policy-makers involved in public health policy development and implementation should avoid revolving door practices and inform their institutions of any intention to take up a role, paid or unpaid, in health-harming industries or activities, within a specified period after leaving their position.

3. Require that information provided by health-harming industries is evidence-based, transparent and accurate.

1. 1. Establish rules for the disclosure or registration of the health-harming industry entities, affiliated organizations and individuals acting on their behalf, including lobbyists.
  2. Require health-harming industries to periodically submit information on their products’ production, manufacturing processes, market share, marketing expenditures, revenues, and other activities, including lobbying, philanthropy, political contributions, and any related actions.

4. Denormalise and, where possible, regulate activities promoted as “socially responsible” by health-harming industries, including but not limited to those described as “corporate social responsibility”.

Health-harming industries conduct activities described as socially responsible to distance their image from the harmful nature of the products they produce and sell. These so-called “socially responsible” activities are marketing and public relations strategies.

1. 1. Refrain from endorsing, supporting, partnering with, or participating in activities of the health harming industries described as socially responsible.
  2. Prohibit any branch of government or the public sector from accepting political, social, financial, educational, community, or other contributions from the health-harming industries or from those working to further their interests.