European doctors urge policy-makers to ensure commercial influence does not harm public health

Annually, 2.7 million premature deaths as well as increasing rates of illness are caused in the WHO European Region by four major commercial sectors: alcohol, tobacco, ultra-processed foods and beverages, and fossil fuels. In addition, there is growing evidence of the impact of social media platforms on mental health. These causes may partly be attributed to insufficiently or badly regulated industries and products.

Commercial actors also influence health policy, for example through lobbying, incentivising policymakers to align decisions with commercial agendas and preventing or weakening regulation of their products and services. In addition, marketing of unhealthy products enhances their desirability and acceptability.

CPME President Dr Christiaan Keijzer said “The European Union and national governments need to recognise the scale of the impact that commercial practices have on health. Public health and wellbeing must be prioritised in policy decisions. This requires coordinated efforts, political will and courage. Policy-makers need to be transparent regarding their contacts with stakeholders and consider scientific evidence from objective and ethical research when introducing new legislation.”

CPME Chair of Healthy Living Dr Ina Kelly added “The European Commission must act on the unfulfilled and delayed commitments it made in 2021 as part of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. This includes introducing mandatory alcohol labelling and the revision of key tobacco control directives. The EU must also regulate advertising particularly towards children and adolescents, and protect them from exposure to unhealthy products.”