UK presidency: UK-hosted meeting of the EU platform for action on diet, physical activity and health

Friday 3 June 2005

The European Commission has invited the UK to host a meeting of the platform during the UK Presidency, 1 July - 31 December. The meeting will take place on 21 September 2005 in central London.

Background

The platform was launched by the European Commission on 15 March 2005. The aim of the platform is to bring together industry associations, consumer groups and health NGOs to encourage voluntary action on diet and physical activity. The initiative is seen by the Commission as a key element in an EU strategy to tackle the rise in obesity in EU Member States, particularly among children.

The founding members of the platform are:

• the European Commission
• the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA)
• EuroCommerce - which represents the retail, wholesale and international trade sectors in Europe
• the European Community of Consumer Co-operatives (EURO COOP)
• the European Consumers Organisation (BEUC)
• the European Heart Network (EHN)
• the European Modern Restaurants Association
• the European Vending Association (EVA)
• the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF)
• the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME)
• the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have joined the platform as observers.

The five fields for action identified so far by the platform members are:

• consumer information, including labelling
• education
• physical activity promotion
• marketing and advertising
• composition of foods, availability of healthy food options, portion sizes

Each of the platform members is drawing up an inventory describing what it is currently doing to promote healthy diets and/or physical activity and an action plan setting out what more it proposes to do in these areas. It is up to each individual member to define the details of their action plan. The key principle, though, is that the plan should go beyond what they are already doing.

Meeting format

The morning session of the meeting on 21 September will be 'business as usual' for the platform members. The UK will set the agenda for the afternoon session when platform members will be joined by a small number of stakeholders.

The focus of the afternoon session will be on looking at how industry, NGOs, and government can work in partnership, drawing on examples from Member States. Speakers are being invited from the UK and other Member States. The meeting will be followed by a drinks reception.