The Lack of Coherence in the European Union’s Approach to Noncommunicable Disease Prevention
This chapter focuses on the extent to which the European Union's (EU) and its Member States have addressed the growing rates of non–communicable diseases (NCDs) through the development and implementation of effective prevention policies. After discussing the powers that the EU derives from the EU Treaties to address the main commercial determinants of health through the adoption of EU–wide harmonizing rules, it compares the EU regulatory response to tobacco on the one hand, and unhealthy diets and alcohol on the other. It then reflects on the role that the EU Court of Justice has played in the prevention of NCDs in Europe, before concluding with a few remarks on what the future may hold in this policy area now that the new EU Commission in post has announced its ‘Beating Cancer Plan’ and its ‘Farm to Fork Strategy’.