Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, par. 20 (2020)

Text of the recommendation

The decision on which front-of-package labelling system should be adopted must be linked to its effectiveness to achieve public health goals and be in accordance with scientific evidence free from conflicts of interest available at the time. International human rights law promotes rational and rigorous policy-making that is based upon reliable data. Therefore, the appropriateness of measures to address diet-related NCDs risk factors, such as front-of-package warning labelling, should arise from the best available evidence in public health. To that effect, what is normatively required must evolve with changing understandings of science. States should use scientific knowledge in decision-making and policies, as they have a duty to make available and accessible to all persons all the best available applications of scientific evidence necessary to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health.