On 1 December the event “AVMSD: What about our Kids?” takes place in the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Daciana Octavia Sá¢rbu and organised by a coalition of ten organisations. The event gathers experts from a wide range of backgrounds to discuss the effects of marketing on children’s behaviours, tools to reduce child exposure to commercial communications for unhealthy food and alcohol and the effectiveness of self-regulatory schemes. Speakers include WHO Europe, European Commission, academia, healthcare payers and a wider panel for debate.

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVSMD) offers a once in a decade opportunity to protect children from commercial communications on alcohol and unhealthy foods.

The European Heart Network (EHN) congratulates the European Parliament for adopting a Resolution on trans fatty acids (TFAs). EHN supports the European Parliament’s call on the European Commission to establish an EU legal limit on industrial TFAs and that as soon as possible.

TFAs are a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases, which is the leading cause of death in the EU. For every 2% energy of TFA consumption, the risk of heart attack or death from heart disease is increased by about 25% (more than any other macronutrient compared on a per-calorie basis).

EHN supports the joint statement published today by EPHA on improving the Audiovisual Marketing Services Directive (AVMSD).

The recommendations are:

The EC proposal for a new audiovisual media services directive (AVMSD) offers a unique opportunity to protect children from advertising linked to unhealthy eating behaviour.

Please click here for the statement by the European Heart Network made at the 66th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, Copenhagen, 12-15 September 2016, on the NCD action plan (2016-2025).

New data on the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Europe for 2016 are published today in the European Heart Journal.

The EHN Annual Report 2015 is now available.

The European Chronic Disease Alliance (ECDA), a coalition of 11 European health organisations, has signed along with several other organisations an open letter to Commissioners Frans Timmermans, Vytenis Andriukaitis and Jyrki Katainen, expressing concerns about the Commission's commitment to act with resolve on chronic diseases.  Please click here to read the letter.

The European Heart Network (EHN) hails the ruling in the case Philip Morris vs Uruguay - the tribunal recognises the right of the Uruguay government to put large pictorial warnings on cigarette packs.