Description

The Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) has adopted a policy document called 'Policy on Commercial Determinants of Health' in November 2024, describing the negative impact of commercial activities on health and listing policy recommendations. The CPME represents national medical assocations across Europe, and is committed to contribute the medical profession's point of view to EU and European policy-making through pro-active cooperation on a wide range of health and healthcare related issues.

 

On commercial activities that impact health, CPME states:

'The causal link between certain products and services and negative health outcomes is undisputed. Four major commercial products – alcohol, tobacco, ultra-processed foods and beverages, and fossil fuels, cause an estimated 2.7 million premature deaths annually in the WHO European Region. This means 7400 deaths daily which is nearly one quarter of all deaths on average. The impact of commercial entities on peoples’ lives is massive as they can also impact mental health, inequity, planetary damage, politics, and the global market. In addition there is growing evidence of the impact of social media platforms and gambling products on mental health and addiction.'

 

On how commercial actors influence health policy, CPME states:

'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 to lobbying, corporate influence is exerted through marketing - enhancing the desirability and acceptability of unhealthy products; corporate social responsibility strategies - deflecting attention and whitewashing stained reputations; and extensive supply chains - amplifying company influence around the world.

Besides harmful products influencing health and wellbeing adversely, certain practices of commercial actors may directly and indirectly harm human and planetary health as well as health equity. These practices are for example the lack of fair pay and safe working conditions, tax avoidance, or the use of intellectual property protections to block access to medicines or vaccines. Moreover, commercial actors are often pushing unnecessary products and overconsumption. This generates greenhouse gas emissions and fosters climate change.'

 

As policy proposals, CPME include:

  • Limit and regulate advertising particularly towards children and adolescents, and protect them from exposure to unhealthy products such as alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, and food and drinks high in fat, salt and/or sugar
  • Ensure that any nutrition, health, and green claims are clear, accurate and based on scientific evidence
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