Tag Archive for: ENTs

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The Deliberative Council of Córdoba would prohibit the display of ultra-processed products in checkout lines

The Deliberative Council of Córdoba would approve this Thursday a project that prohibits the display of ultra-processed products online from supermarket, hypermarkets and drug stores.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”

The initiative, presented by Juan Pablo Quinteros – neighborhood meeting – and Nicolás Piloni – officialism – establishes the incorporation of a sanction to who “exhibits merchandise that are classified by the competent municipal authority as” ultra-processed products “, in supermarkets, hypermarkets and pharmacies with long hours of operation and self-service format, within a radius of 3 (three) meters from the cash register or any other collection area located for this purpose.

Some years ago, excess malnutrition was described as a problem in developed countries. Today this scenario has radically changed and the epidemic has spread at alarming speed in low- and middle-income countries.

The underlying causes of overnutrition, diseases related to excessive food intake, and nutritional imbalance are complex and multidimensional. Food is the product of a set of social, economic and cultural factors that are influenced by the availability, cost and variety of food, along with custom, beliefs and information accessed on eating habits, among others. In this framework, advertising plays a central role, influencing the preferences and eating habits of the population. There is clear evidence about the influence of unhealthy food advertising on the types of foods that children prefer, order and consume. In general, these are ultra-processed products with a high content of sugar, fat or salt.

When we refer to advertising, not only traditional forms, mass media and social networks are included; but also, and very especially in the case of food, the advertising that appears on the packaging, package or container of the product, since it is also conceived with the intention of awakening in the future acquirer the desire to access the good. It is there where the display of the product takes on special relevance.

The alarming figures on excess malnutrition highlight the need for states to adopt measures to avoid excessive and unbalanced food consumption. The design and implementation of public policies that favor the creation of healthy environments is essential. The Argentine State, according to its constitutional precepts and international human rights treaties, is in charge of three types of obligations, these are: to respect, protect and guarantee the right to health and the right to adequate food. In this specific issue, the obligation to protect is the most relevant insofar as it requires active action by the State to regulate the conduct of third parties that, through their activity, may affect the fundamental rights of the population.

In this sense, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations have published in recent years, numerous documents that, based on scientific evidence free of conflict of interest, establish a set of measures to regulate the environments and products, in order to promote healthy habits and thus stop the growth of excess malnutrition. Among the measures are: the frontal labeling of warnings, fiscal measures, the promotion of a healthy school environment and the restriction of advertising, including the display of products as part of it.

That is why we urge this Deliberative Council to take a step forward in restricting the display of ultra-processed products in the vicinity of checkout counters in supermarkets, hypermarkets and pharmacies. Through a measure such as this, the State will be protecting the rights of consumers, and especially, ensuring the health of boys and girls.

Image source: @nutricionistasderionegro

Contact

  • Maga Merlo Vijarra, magamerlov@fundeps.org
  • Agustina Mozzoni, agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org
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What is happening with the labeling law?

On October 29, 2020, the Chamber of Senators gave a half sanction to the bill for the Promotion of Healthy Eating, with 64 positive votes and 3 negative. From then on, the Chamber of Deputies had the duty to promote the corresponding legislative treatment until it was approved. However, the procedure to date has undergone a series of back and forth that jeopardizes its approval.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”

After intense complaints from civil society organizations for the lack of initiative from the Chamber of Deputies, an information meeting was held within the framework of the special sessions on February 23 of this year. There, referents from the industry sector, as well as representatives of consumer and health organizations, shared information and presented their position on the various regulations and measures that make up the regulations in question. However, the deadlines were not sufficient for deputies to manage to implement it. The parliamentary debate on the bill should have been postponed.

At the same time, almost surprisingly, the National Executive Power broke into the ambit of the National Food Commission (CONAL) and Mercosur with the presentation of another proposal regarding the frontal nutritional labeling of foods. This proposal has the particularity of being friendlier and more flexible with the food industry inasmuch as it not only modifies the nutrient profile system (that is, the values ​​from which it is possible to consider an edible high in sugars, sodium, fat or calories), but also excludes the entire set of other measures that are also part of the current bill. These include regulations for school environments and issues related to advertising.

Faced with this scenario, the demands of civil society were once again necessary for the Chamber of Deputies to resume and promote the treatment of the bill for the Promotion of Healthy Eating. Thus, on April 6 and already within the framework of its ordinary sessions, the fourth information session took place. On this occasion, Fundeps, together with other organizations, highlighted the strengths that the current bill presents in the field of health protection, the need to maintain its parliamentary treatment and the urgency in which the bill is approved without modifications.

Why is it important that it be through the National Congress and not through CONAL?

The proposal promoted by the National Executive Power in CONAL and Mercosur implies a relaxation of the protection standards in health matters. In this sense, it presents important differences with the bill.

One of them is the one concerning the graphic system. The bill establishes that non-alcoholic packaged foods and beverages must include a warning stamp with the legend “excess in” on the main face of the packaging. However, the resolution presented by the Executive proposes its modification to “stop in”. This is not minor or coincidental, if one takes into account that the available scientific evidence indicates that the expression “high in” does not generate the alert that is expected in consumers, and consequently the effectiveness of the policy may be diminished. If an edible design contains excessive amounts of critical ingredients, this circumstance should be expressed as clearly and simply as possible.

A second difference is given by the nutrient profile adopted. This would no longer be that of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), but another much more lax one that would make products reached by warning seals according to the PAHO nutrient profile, be offered in the market as free of black octagons . The best scientific evidence available to date and, above all, free of conflicts of interest, shows that the OPS profile allows identifying the products that, beyond the size of the portion considered, tend to unbalance the diets of the people and, consequently, negatively impact their health.

A third difference is that the Executive’s presentation, by limiting itself only to food labeling, leaves key points of the bill unregulated, such as school environments, issues concerning advertising, claims regulations, and seals of endorsement, etc. The bill that is under treatment in the Chamber of Deputies is characterized by being a comprehensive regulation that seeks to penetrate much deeper, as it would allow us to improve our environments, making them healthier and safer spaces. This takes on greater relevance if one seeks to protect the well-being and health of children and adolescents, who, since they are in a stage of training and development, require special protection from the State.

Finally, it remains to add that if the Executive’s proposal continues its course until it is approved by CONAL or Mercosur, the voice of the society represented in the National Congress would be disregarded. This body, established as the highest bastion of popular will, has a constitutional duty to legislate and promote measures that guarantee the full enjoyment and exercise of the rights recognized by the Constitution and international human rights treaties. Likewise, it should be noted that the legislative body is the one that allows more participatory work and greater control by citizens. Unlike what happens in CONAL, whose mode of operation is more hermetic, and where citizens have greater difficulties in accessing what is deliberated and resolved there.

It must be said that the current bill is not only based on the best available scientific evidence free of conflicts of interest, but has also been the result of long processes of discussion and consensus between different political parties. These circumstances allow this type of policy to be conceived as a State policy, giving it more strength, greater legitimacy and more possibilities that it can be sustained over time.

It took many years to accomplish this very important step. Today, the conditions are in place for Argentina to have the best law. The high prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases, which currently affects the population, requires a policy that more comprehensively addresses public health problems.

In this sense, the draft Law for the Promotion of Healthy Eating is a necessary measure to protect the constitutional rights to health, adequate food and the rights of consumers. That is why, we ask our deputies to unite their wills so that the project passes quickly to an opinion and that it finally becomes a law without modifications.

Author

Maga Merlo Vijarra

Contact

Agustina Mozzoni, agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org

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History not to repeat: in Uruguay the industry managed to accommodate the labeling in its favor

Through a regulatory decree, Uruguay modified the criteria established for the application of warning stamps on food products. With the new resolution, the limits to critical nutrients were relaxed and companies will be able to sell their products with high levels of sodium, sugar and fat, without being reached by the regulations.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”

By 2018, Uruguay became the third country in the Americas to adopt the frontal labeling system for food warnings. This public health measure, widely celebrated by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), was intended to be part of the response to malnutrition that affects 34% of Uruguayan children of school age. For its part, Decree 272/2018, within its clauses, granted companies an adaptation period of 18 months, enough time for the food industry to accommodate the political scenario in its favor. Thus, the entry into force and inspection of the measure was only set for March 1, 2020.

However, when the time came, the implementation of Decree 272 was not a priority. After many twists and turns, the government approved another decree (246/020) which not only extended the effective date of mandatory labeling to February 2021, but also established important variations to the original rule.

In Uruguay, the strategies used by the industry were the same as those used in other countries where front labeling was also discussed (Peru, Chile, Mexico and currently Argentina). The dilation of times, the sponsorship of specialists for the dissemination of biased research, as well as the denial and proposal of alternatives without scientific basis, are part of their best-known tactics that seek to protect only their economic interests.

Thus, far from being the Ministry of Public Health the one that proposed and announced modifications based on scientific evidence free of conflict of interest, the one in charge of doing so was the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining. Hence, it is not surprising to observe that the changes made by the government have revolved around the PAHO nutrient profile system, giving rise to a more flexible and friendly regulation with the food industry, and in evident damage to public health .

In this way, food companies in Uruguay today have the possibility of selling as stamp-free products those that contain 20% more sodium (from 400 to 500mg), 30% more sugars (from 10 to 13g) , 45% more saturated fat (9 to 13g) and 50% more total fat (4 to 6g), in portions of 100 grams or 100 milliliters.

For this reason, according to a statement from the Civil Society Alliance for the control of Non-Communicable Diseases, “the main products benefiting from this flexibility will be those with excess sugars and fats, in particular dairy products and desserts. , which are often advertised as healthy and with which the Food Industry carries out an aggressive marketing strategy, aimed at boys and girls. This (vulnerable) population will be the main recipient of these changes, given that many of these products will no longer have the label despite continuing to be just as harmful to their health ”.

In a critical context of the increase in Noncommunicable Diseases, the complicity of the Uruguayan government with the interests of the industry is not understood. According to PAHO statistics, Uruguay is among the Latin American countries that registered the highest increase in the consumption of ultra-processed products between 2000 and 2013, translating into an increase of 146%.

Given that the consumption of these products with excesses, are the main contributors to the generation of these diseases, it becomes necessary the existence and application of public policies that effectively protect the right to health of the population, especially those groups in a situation vulnerability, as are children and adolescents. Likewise, the importance of ensuring that public health policy-making processes are free of conflict of interest and industry interference is highlighted. Well, these must be based on the best available scientific evidence and not on the economic interests of a particular sector.

From Fundeps and SANAR, we join the claims of Civil Society Organizations that require the Uruguayan government to implement a frontal food labeling that protects and guarantees the right of access to information by consumers, as well as the right to health of Uruguayans.

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Normative analysis: How is the new tobacco regulation in Córdoba?

Today, May 31, the World No Tobacco Day is celebrated. On the occasion of this date, we carry out an analysis of the latest law passed in Córdoba on the matter.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

In October 2019, in the province of Córdoba, Law 10,661 was passed, amending Law 9,113 establishing the Permanent Provincial Program for the Prevention and Control of Smoking in the province of Córdoba. This new legislation extends the threshold of protection of the right to health from two thematic nodes. On the one hand, it incorporates a complete prohibition of advertising, promotion, sponsorship and exhibition of tobacco, its derivatives and smoking accessories in dispensers and any other type of shelf located in the premises where such products are sold. On the other hand, it introduces electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and establishes its prohibition of distribution and commercialization to minors under 18 years of age and the prohibition of consumption in closed places with access to the public. The new provincial legislation extends the threshold of protection of the right to health, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization and, mainly, with the standards established in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Until the enactment of the tobacco law No. 10,661, in the province of Córdoba, the prohibitions on advertising established by the national law 26,687 governed by the adherence of the provincial law No. 10,026. National law prohibits the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products directly or indirectly and through any means of dissemination or communication; leaving the advertisements at points of sale, the publications of companies in the sector and direct communications, with the consent and verification of the age of majority of the recipients.

However, through the new local regulations, progress is made in a higher standard of protection of the right to health than that established in the national standard, completely prohibiting advertising, promotion and sponsorship and including the display of the product as part of that prohibition.

In sum, in this report an analysis of Provincial Law 10,661 is made in relation to the two thematic nodes introduced, based on the delimitation of the scope of the new prohibitions in relation to the provisions of national legislation and international instruments in the matter (especially, the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control). At the same time, some of the possible challenges in the application of local law are recognized and possible advances aimed at deepening the protection of the right to health are seen.

More information

Author

  • Gonzalo Hunicken
  • Delfina María Scagliotti

Contact

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Analysis of regulations on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship prohibition in Córdoba

In October 2019, in the province of Córdoba, Law 10,661 was passed, amending Law 9,113 establishing the Permanent Provincial Program for the Prevention and Control of Smoking in the province of Córdoba. This new legislation extends the threshold of protection of the right to health. We share an analysis of this last sanctioned law.

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Healthy school environments: a key policy in the fight against childhood overweight and obesity

The Ministry of Health of the Nation published a document that condenses a series of recommendations for the implementation of policies to prevent overweight and obesity in children and adolescents (NNyA) in educational institutions. It is extremely necessary that these recommendations become effective public policies.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

This Thursday, March 21, at the Secretary of Government of Health, the presentation of the Document of Standards of Healthy School Environments was carried out.

Overweight and obesity worldwide make up a serious public health problem that has acquired pandemic characteristics, which currently shows a worrying upward curve in children and adolescents. In our country, according to a recent report published by the Secretary of Government of Health in collaboration with UNICEF, overweight and obesity in NNyA represents the most prevalent form of malnutrition.

Currently, many children and adolescents grow and develop in “obesogenic environments”, that is, environments that encourage the excessive consumption of kilocalories and critical nutrients such as sugars, fats and sodium; In addition to offering multiple barriers to the development of physical activity and encourage sedentary behavior. Thus, the lack of regulation that promotes healthier environments has favored the growth of overweight and obesity in recent decades.

The objective of the document published by the country’s highest health authority is to establish standards that guide the process of enacting laws and implementing effective programs aimed at transforming current “obesogenic school environments” into “healthy school environments.” Given that the educational institution is a privileged scenario to promote health and the development of a healthy diet and lifestyle, it is considered essential to promote healthy school environments through comprehensive regulation that defends the rights of children, girls and adolescents and that it provides them with substantial protection.

Specifically, the Ministry of Health recommends the development of school environment regulations that revolve around two main areas: healthy eating and physically active school.

For the promotion of a healthy diet in school, school canteens must comply with the established nutritional criteria and with the standards of preparation and food service. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that the cooks and kitchen assistants are constantly trained in topics related to the tasks they perform.

In addition, it is essential that the school implements a Food and Nutrition Education (EAN) strategy, and that it promotes healthy eating habits in the dining rooms. Likewise, a school infrastructure must be guaranteed that facilitates access to a healthy diet and, essentially, to safe water. In regard to healthy eating, it is also essential to regulate the sale of food and beverages within educational establishments -of all levels and modalities- and, to that end, ensure that the school is a space free of advertising, promotion and sponsorship of food and drink.

Likewise, and given that the school institution is the most important institutional actor in the promotion of physical activity in childhood and adolescence, the aforementioned organism considers that the school should facilitate access to the practice of physical activity, both in the formal and not formal, and install healthy and active habits, incorporating these topics in teacher training, ensuring accessibility and security in the spaces, with a view of inclusion.

We consider that the technical recommendations of the Ministry of Health for the design of healthy school environment policies are adequate to protect the right to health of children and adolescents. Guaranteeing healthy school environments constitutes an obligation assumed by the State and an opportunity to articulate with social and academic actors. The effective implementation of this policy is an objective that can only be achieved through an intersectoral articulation of different government actors (such as the Health, Education, and Social Development sectors, among others) and through a continuous process that guarantees the sustainability in the implementation and monitoring of measures.

More information

Sobrepeso y obesidad en niños, niñas y adolescentes según datos del primer nivel de atención en la Argentina (2018), Secretaría de Gobierno de Salud. 

GUIA DE ENTORNOS ESCOLARES SALUDABLES. Recomendaciones para la implementación de políticas de prevención de sobrepeso y obesidad en niños, niñas y adolescentes en las instituciones educativas. (2019)

Author

Lucía Pereyra

Contact

Agustina Mozzoni, agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org

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More than 15 Latin American countries requested presidents measures to protect health

During the VIII Summit of the Americas that took place in Lima, Peru, presidents of the region discussed corruption, the governance of our peoples and economic and social sustainability. For the first time at the Summit, health is on the agenda.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

Corruption, obstacles to democratic governance, lack of transparency, and difficulties in implementing public social policies are all factors that negatively impact the health systems of the region and conspire against the development of the communities of the Americas. The four main noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases) are the main cause of disease, disability and preventable death in the world in general and in the region of the Americas in particular. They are responsible for 70% of deaths.

The costs of these diseases constitute a significant burden for health budgets and national economies. These diseases reduce economic productivity, overload health systems and promote individual and family poverty. It is not possible to build a sustainable and functional economy if disability and premature deaths due to NCDs remain so high and costly for governments.

That is why civil society organizations in the region, based in the Healthy Latin American Coalition (CLAS), asked presidents present at the Summit to implement concrete measures to protect the health of the population without the interference of the industry. These measures include fiscal policies that increase the price of unhealthy products (cigarettes, sugary drinks, among others) to discourage consumption; the implementation of front labeling in foods that provide clear and useful information to consumers, among others. In parallel, CLAS asks presidents to make an appointment with health and attend the UN High Level Meeting on NCD on September 27, 2018 in New York City.

About CLAS

It is an alliance of more than 250 non-governmental organizations in Latin America whose purpose is to prevent and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in this region. Its members include medical societies, patient organizations, health NGOs, consumer NGOs, religious and academic entities. Founded in March 2011, it is aimed at reducing inequality, promoting human rights, and promoting effective policies with an impact on the risk factors and determinants of NCD. Its objective is to strengthen the action of civil society to prevent and control NCDs in the region through political advocacy, education, awareness and research, at the national and regional levels, so that effective policies are implemented, in line with the objectives of the United Nations (UN) and PAHO-WHO. It is an initiative of the Inter-American Heart Foundation.

Contact

Agustina Mozzoni, agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org

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We present a report on NCDs to the Committee on the Rights of the Child

Together with FIC Argentina, the O’Neill Institute and the Chair of Food Sovereignty of the Nutrition School of the UBA, we present a report in which we warn the situation of chronic diseases in Argentina focusing on the particular situation of children and adolescents ; At the same time, we suggest to the State the adoption of some measures to reduce the consumption of tobacco products and unhealthy foods.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.

When a country ratifies an international human rights treaty, it undertakes to comply with the obligations established in it. Many of these treaties establish mechanisms so that the rendering of accounts on the level of compliance with these obligations is open to the participation of civil society. In this case, Argentina’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child will be reviewed before the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which is the body of independent experts that supervises its application.

Measures such as, the limitation of advertising directed to boys and girls, the adoption of a simpler and more understandable nutrition labeling, the raising of taxes, the ratification by the Argentine State of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the establishment of school kiosks healthy

The information presented and the recommendations made are intended to ensure that between the next May 14 and June 1 the 78th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child will be held, where the final evaluation will be made regarding the degree of compliance with the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the Argentine state. The final observations that the Committee issues will be tools to require the Argentine State to comply with human rights standards.

Link to the full report: bit.ly/InformeENTs

Contacto:

Agustina Mozzoni – agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org

Juan Carballo – juanmcarballo@fundeps.org

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Introducing amicus curiae to defend the right to information and health

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”

 

On August 10, we made a presentation before the Colombian Constitutional Court to clarify the content and scope of the fundamental right to health. An amicus curiae (friend of the court or friend of the court) is a presentation made by a non-litigious third party, where he voluntarily offers an opinion on some aspect of law, to collaborate with the court in the resolution of the litigation.

The Colombian Association of Consumer Education (Educar Consumidores) launched in August 2016 a campaign called “Take care of your life – Tómala en Serio”, which sought to provide information on the harmful health consequences of regular consumption of certain sugary drinks. In the framework of this campaign, a video was broadcast on television and on radio that showed the high sugar content of these beverages, connecting these behaviors with health complications such as diabetes or obesity, which occur both in Colombia and throughout Region of Latin America. Postobon S.A., a sweetened beverage company from Colombia, denounced this video before the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC). As a result, the SIC prohibited by resolution 59176, the dissemination of the commercials alleging that it was “misleading advertising” for not having scientific or medical support for their assertions.

Resolution 59176 issued by the SIC ordered Educar Consumidores to cease the dissemination of the commercial. Also, it ordered to send to the office of the Delegation of Research and Consumer Protection of the SIC, any advertising piece that in the future wishes to transmit on the consumption of sweetened beverages (BBAA) before its publication. This restriction would apply to any medium of communication, including social networks; And the SIC established it with the objective of exercising prior control over it and deciding whether to authorize its publication and dissemination or not, under penalty of fine.

Faced with this situation, Educar Consumidores filed a lawsuit claiming for violation of its freedom to express itself in a matter of public interest. At the same time, Dejusticia filed a supplementary legal action claiming that the resolution of the SIC violated the right of consumers to access relevant information. After different instances and a very good decision of the Supreme Court of Colombia that was already commented by FUNDEPS, both cases were accumulated by the Constitutional Court. In this instance, the Constitutional Court will have the opportunity to clarify the limits of the commercial discourse and its differences with the awareness campaigns. At the same time, it may raise the relevance of access to information to ensure the right to health and to make consumer decisions with adequate information.

The amicus presented together with FiC Argentina provides arguments of international human rights law that we consider relevant for the resolution of the case. With this intervention, we hope to contribute to the solution of a case that we consider to be of extreme importance for both Colombia and the rest of Latin America. Judicial processes like this have great repercussions both globally and regionally, as they generate valuable jurisdictional background on the important issue of healthy eating.

The foundations of the amicus curiae seek to demonstrate that the measures adopted by the SIC resolution mean a violation of human rights obligations at different levels, while weakening the possibilities of responding to a global epidemic of malnutrition and obesity. On the one hand, it violates the freedom of expression of a civil society organization, it is even a clear prior censorship regarding its action in the public sphere. It also implies a violation of human rights obligations as it violates the recommendations of monitoring bodies on how to deal with the obesity epidemic. Different bodies and specialized offices such as CDESC, CRC or rapporteurs for the right to health or the right to food have pointed out that the obesity epidemic is definitely a human rights problem affecting a vulnerable population: children And adolescents.

From FUNDEPS and FIC Argentina we believe that this decision will have relevance both within Colombia and at the regional level. The growth of obesity – with a particularly strong impact on children and adolescents – and the strong presence of advertising strategies in the food industry are repeated throughout the region. Chronic noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of death in the world. It is the duty of the State to respect, guarantee and protect the rights of its citizens, especially when dealing with fundamental issues such as the protection of health. Therefore, the decision of the Court in this case will be important beyond the borders of Colombia.

More information

– Amicus Curiae presented at Colombian Constitutional Court

Author

María Victoria Gerbaldo

Contact

Agustina Mozzoni – agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org

Juan Carballo – juanmcarballo@fundeps.org

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First meeting of the National Commission on Healthy Eating and Obesity Prevention

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”

The main objective of the meeting is to inform about the lines of action that the Program develops and to propose strategies for the joint work. This Commission was established on the basis of Resolution 732/2016 that determined the creation of the National Program of Healthy Food and Obesity Prevention in the scope of the Direction of Promotion of the Health and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.

At the beginning of the event, Dr. Adolfo Rubinstein (Secretary of Health Promotion, Prevention and Control of Risks) and Dr. Verónica Schoj (Director of Health Promotion and Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases) speak. Veronica Risso Patrón (Coordinator of the National Program for Healthy Eating and Obesity Prevention) explains the Commission’s working proposal: thematic and modality of work, schedule, expected products. Finally, the signing of declarations of conflicts of interest takes place at the meeting.

It is expected that the Commission will work through voluntary advisory subcommittees on different topics: food reformulation, nutritional profiles and front labeling, marketing and advertising of foods, promotion and healthy school environments.

Childhood obesity is a problem with serious health and economic consequences that is increasingly affecting low- and middle-income countries and the most vulnerable sectors of the population. At present, there are about 41 million children under 5 years of age who are overweight or obese, of whom more than 80% live in developing countries. We celebrate these kinds of initiatives that represent an opportunity for the debate and the coordination of efforts of multiple actors of society. We also emphasize the importance of including and ensuring the effective participation of organizations from different provinces that account for the specific and specific reality of each one, and allow progress towards the construction of a federal policy on healthy eating.

Contact

Agustina Mozzoni, <agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org>

The Court of Colombia removed a censorship on a pro-health campaign

The decision null and void the prohibition on “Take it seriously”, an operation aimed to make people aware of the impacts of the sugar-sweetened drinks. It sets a precedent on the defense of the information, health and food rights.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic.”

Bogotá.- “Don’t hurt yourself”, announces the commercial of “Educar Consumidores” that exposes the consequences of the excess of sugar on the human being. However, after a complaint from Postobon –one of the biggest companies in Latin America- the Industry and Trade Superintendence (SIC) ordered the immediate suspension of the whole campaign, for “misleading advertising”.

Last April 5th, the Constitutional Court of Colombia left with no effect the resolution and for the first time were recognized the rights to access to food and health-related information.

Educar Consumidores is a non-profit civil society organization that in September of last year launched the campaign ¨Cuida tu vida – Tómala en Serio¨. It is intended to show the health consequences of drinking. After the complaint, SIC prohibited the dissemination of commercials claiming to be “misleading advertising” because they did not have scientific or medical support, although the issuing organization forwarded the documents that supported their claims.

The ban constituted a violation of freedom of expression, the right to health and the right to information.In response to this situation, one of the judicial authorities, one of the agency issuing the campaign, focused on its right to freedom of expression, and another from Dejusticia along with a coalition of NGOs, focused on the right of access to information.

The second action was rejected in first and second instance until arriving at the Constitutional Court of Colombia, which ruled in favor of. The Court argued that the SIC should have allowed consumers to participate in a decision affecting them, and that it had not violated their right to the process.In addition, he referred to the right of users to make decisions based on informed consent, and the importance of accessing the information for it to be configured. Likewise, the Inter-American System and the United Nations Protection System, Colombia has an obligation to respect the rights enshrined, and in this case, the SIC failed to comply with this obligation.

From FUNDEPS we accompany actions such as Educate Consumers who seek to empower people to make informed decisions. We also welcome the provision made by the Colombian justice system. Chronic noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of death in the world. It is the duty of the State to respect, guarantee and protect the rights of its citizens, especially when it comes to fundamental issues such as the protection of health.

More Information

Commercial Consumer Education

Authors

Maga Ailén Merlo Vijarra, Federico Piccioni y Agustina Mozzoni.

Contact

Agustina Mozzoni – agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org

Maga Ailén Merlo Vijarra – magamerlov@fundeps.org

Lack of information from the World Bank Project on non-communicable diseases

On June 11, 2015, the World Bank Board approved a project to Argentina for a 350 million dollars in the health area. This project focused on the Protection of Vulnerable Population against NCDs, supported the strategy of the Ministry of Health for these diseases, in search of improved the access to prevention and control services to 3.2 million adults between 40 and 60 years who takes greater risks. We presented a request for information to the World Bank because of the lack of official information project and the non-reply from the Ministry of Health of the Nation and the province of Cordoba.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”

Noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases are responsible for 81% of deaths in Argentina. However, a considerable part of these diseases can be prevented or controlled, reducing risk factors, among which we can find: a diet with excess sugars, refined flour, fat and salt, and low fiber intake; overweight and obesity; snuff consumption; hypertension; and a high level of blood glucose.

The project aims to work to improve the capacity of primary care to provide quality services in early detection and continuous monitoring of obesity, hypertension, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Added to that, at provincial and municipal level are expected to perform aimed at promoting healthy diets, promoting physical activity and consumption of snuff control interventions.

Despite the importance of the project from the Ministry of Health of the Nation, it has only produced an early report, but it has not been updated, or have incorporated references to the way it is being implemented.

In this context, from FUNDEPS -together with FIC Argentina- present public information requests to the agencies of the Ministry of Health of the Nation, to learn about the progress of the project. Likewise, we consulted about the existence of instances of citizen participation and if the project monitoring mechanisms are foreseen by Civil Society Organizations.

In addition, information particularly referred to the contribution of funds requested by YPF, as expressed in the portal of the Government of the Province of Tierra del Fuego.

Finally, given the lack of response by the Ministry of Health of the Nation, we request the information by the means provided to apply directly to the World Bank, financer of the project.

Lack of information undermines its objectives and hinders proper coordination with provincial authorities. Of journalistic sources it is known that some governments have deposited more funds are not enabled to run.

From FUNDEPS as members of the Argentina Coalition for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases with other organizations that share the mission to work in preventing these diseases from different perspectives (medical, consumer, human rights, advocacy, academic ) we are monitoring this project.

More information:

– The Minister of Health of the Nation received the Governor of Tierra del Fuego (Prensa Tierra del Fuego – 19/05)

– Ricardo Cardozo manages resources to the nation for the Province (Diario La Republica 13/09)

– Investment of U $ S 437 million in protection against chronic noncommunicable diseases (Telam 08/10)

Contact:

Franco De Grandis, francodegrandis@fundeps.org

María Victoria Gerbaldo, victoriagerbaldo@fundeps.org