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On 03/02/2021, the European Commission published Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, which is one of the main priorities of Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. The Commission states that the Cancer Plan, which is based on new technologies, research, and innovation, outlines a new EU approach to cancer prevention, treatment, and care. The plan also affects the agri-food sector. The European Commission will aim to achieve a "tobacco-free future", to reduce the consumption of alcoholic beverages, including the possibility of raising taxes on alcoholic beverages, and to strengthen support for a healthy and balanced diet, including the reduction of red meat consumption. To reduce "harmful" consumption of alcoholic beverages, the Commission states that alcohol consumption in the EU is associated with a significant proportion of cancer cases in the EU. Alcohol consumption should be reduced in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals by at least 10% by 2025. The Commission will review EU legislation on the taxation of alcoholic beverages, focusing on restricting advertising for alcoholic beverages, not only in traditional commercial communications but also on internet platforms. The Commission will also review promotion programs for agricultural and food products, propose mandatory publication of the list of ingredients and their nutritional values on alcohol labels (during 2022) and a system for labelling health risks associated with alcohol consumption (during 2023). To strengthen the promotion of a healthy and balanced diet and to strengthen the physical activity of European citizens, the Commission states that maximum levels will be set for carcinogenic contaminants in food, with maximum levels based on scientific knowledge. The Commission will focus on ensuring that healthy food is affordable; in this context, the possibility of changing the tax system to boost the consumption of healthy food will be explored. Marketing and advertising for products associated with cancer risk will be limited. The Commission will launch a review of the School Milk and School Fruit Schemes (in 2023) and propose mandatory nutrition labelling on the front of food packaging, harmonized at EU level. In 2022, the Commission will carry out an assessment of the implementation of the Audio-visual Media Services Directive, focusing on the promotion of junk food and drink. The Commission will support Member States' initiatives on food reformulation and the introduction of rules to reduce the marketing of unhealthy foods. Promotional programs for agricultural and food products will be revised to strengthen sustainable production and consumption, support the strengthening of production and consumption of plant proteins and plant products in general, and support the reduction of consumption of red and processed meat and other foods associated with cancer. Here, too, the Commission will consider fiscal initiatives, and in 2022 the Commission will publish a study mapping fiscal measures and pricing policies for sugar, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages. The Commission will consider presenting new tax proposals for sugar and soft drinks. Agriculture is also mentioned in the Commission's new Plan in connection with its impact on air pollution in the EU.
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Following the presentation of the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, European environmental and welfare NGOs have expressed disappointment at the plan's lack of ambition, criticizing specially the lack of emphasis on reducing the consumption of meat and animal products. The President of the Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) emphasized that in previous working versions of the Plan, the wording on reducing meat consumption was stricter, but has been relaxed until the final wording. According to her, not only red and processed meat should be reduced, but all animal products. Greenpeace representatives called for the complete cessation of support paid under agricultural promotion programs to support the production and consumption of animal products that have a negative impact on human health, climate, and the environment. Monique Goyens, Deputy Director General of the European Consumers' Organization (BEUC), emphasized that 30% of all cancers were related to unhealthy diets, and called for mandatory nutrition and ingredient labelling on alcohol packaging. According to her, advertisements for unhealthy foods high in salt, fat or sugar should also be banned.
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The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to develop scientific evidence for the introduction of an EU-wide mandatory nutrition labelling system on the front of food packaging and for the introduction of nutrient profiles. The EFSA opinion will identify key nutrients important for maintaining and strengthening public health, as well as food energy values and fibre content. The EFSA opinion should assist the Commission in preparing a legislative proposal for harmonized mandatory food labelling schemes. Further public consultation on nutrition labelling and nutrient profiles should be launched by the end of this year, with an EFSA opinion due in March 2022, and a legislative proposal from the Commission to follow in 2022.
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A new study by the independent political institute Chatham House, published on 03/02/2021, points to the negative impact of current food systems on biodiversity, so current food production systems must be reformed to prevent further destruction of biodiversity and ecosystems, which could result in security food for the human population. Director Chatham House called for a comprehensive shift to a plant-based diet, to strengthen soil protection, to set aside non-productive areas, and to move to sustainable agriculture.
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According to the representatives of the European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry into compliance with animal welfare rules during transport, the European Commission has only limited possibilities to monitor compliance with these rules. The Commission representative from the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), Peter Bokor, confirmed that the Commission was not able to control every single transfer. However, the European Commission has committed itself to reviewing the system as part of the Farm to Fork strategy. The Committee of Inquiry of the European Parliament called for the transport of live animals to be abandoned as far as possible and for it to be replaced by the transport of chilled or frozen meat.
More information is available here.