In May, CIAA took part in the joint EU/US Conference "Good practices: Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health" held in Brussels. The event was intended to provide ideas for improving existing actions of the EU Platform; give the basis for future transatlantic cooperation on topics such as food advertising, food labelling and reformulation, consumer education and research; and pave the way toward common objectives between the EU and the US.

For its part, CIAA presented encouraging evidence that companies are beginning to deliver results in the fight against obesity. "The food and drink industries understand the challenge and they are already delivering on a wide range of industry commitments," said Daniela Israelachwili, Director General of CIAA. These include promoting healthier diets, improving marketing practices and encouraging physical activity both in the context of the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health and more generally."

"There are some common principles on which we can all agree," Ms. Israelachwili added, "including the need to focus attention on calories as opposed to specific food categories, to recognise the importance commercial communications can play in promoting healthier living and to encourage physical activity. We are confident we can meet the challenges ahead. Nonetheless," she said, "we should be cautious in assuming that common solutions - especially of a regulatory nature � are necessarily appropriate. Consumers are different around the world, and the approaches to combating obesity should be, too."

At the conference CIAA stressed the importance of a multi-factorial approach to match the multi-factorial nature of the obesity problem, and the need to give self-regulation time to work.

To view the press release issued, please click here