Sustainable EU food system –EuroHealthNet contributes to the European Commission’s roadmap
EuroHealthNet has responded to an EC consultation on a Roadmap on the Sustainable EU Food system. This initiative aims to make the EU food system sustainable and to integrate sustainability into all food-related policies. It will lay down general principles and objectives, together with the requirements and responsibilities of all actors in the EU food system. More specifically, it will lay down rules on:
- sustainability labelling of food products
- minimum criteria for sustainable public procurement of food
- governance and monitoring.
EuroHealthNet’s vision
In laying out the vision for a sustainable EU food system fit for the current and future realities, EuroHealthNet aims to bring to the attention the importance of addressing the societal roots of nutritional health inequalities, related to food choices within a remit of the EU food, health and social policies. Since the current legislative frameworks are not comprehensive, strategic and ambitious enough, we stress that changing food behaviours equitably will only be possible through tackling the systemic factors that determine people’s food choices along a social gradient –poverty and income deprivation, social exclusion and the level of disadvantage. Unhealthy behaviours are not ‘just’ the result of individual choices, but they are influenced by societal factors.
We focus on implementing evidence-based policies and good practices that promote good nutrition for all with an intensity according to the need and the level of disadvantage, and in key stages of life –early years, adolescence, older years. Such action on a healthy and sustainable EU food system contributes to the promotion of Social Rights, building a strong Social Europe and European Health Union in the climate of recovery and resilience-building.
Read our full response, including specific recommendations, here.
