Leinster MEP calls for tighter regulation of cancer causing industries to stop cancer epidemic

Issued : Saturday 4 February, 2012

Nessa Childers MEP today called for tighter regulation of cancer causing food, drink and tobacco industries to fight a potential cancer epidemic in Ireland.

 

Ms Childers, who is vice president of the MEPs Against Cancer Group in the European Parliament, was responding to the report that new cases of cancer could rise by 72% by 2030 in the Republic of Ireland.   The report was issued to coincide with World Cancer Day.  The World Health Organisation report stated that Ireland has topped a list of 27 countries in the European Union with cases predicted to rise from 19,454 in 2008 to 33,416 in 18 years.

 

“Most cancers can be prevented.  If we look at the causes of the rise in cancers, they are related to smoking, poor diet, and body weight.  Obesity is becoming a major health concern, especially with the rise of obesity in young children.

 

“We need to urgently look at introducing fat and sugar taxes and how these unhealthy foods are promoted, and even greater restrictions on the advertising and sale of tobacco”

 

Childers said that lobbying by the formidable tobacco and food industries was a factor of life in Brussels.  “Whenever legislation is proposed to curb advertising, the lobbying machine intensifies.  We have to acknowledge that we are facing a scenario that the next generation are in danger of being unhealthier than their parents, and this is directly linked to lifestyle issues promoted by vested interests.”

 

Note: Nessa Childers is a member of the European Parliament Public Health committee and will be working on the Tobacco Control directive coming up later in year in parliament.  Ms Childers has also successfully amended European legislation on food labelling to ensure clearer food content information on processed foods.