2020 Food policy

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, par. 5 (2020)

Text of the recommendation

The industry often has an interest in hindering the adoption of front-of-package warning labelling regulations by attempting to interfere or directly influencing government decision-making processes. Where States have effectively adopted front-of-package warning labelling regulations to promote public health, some companies have resorted to or threatened litigation. They have also drawn on other campaigns and tactics to delay and/or block implementation of these regulatory measures, to overturn them or diminish their effect. This constitutes an undue influence of corporations on government decision-making that should be addressed by States to ensure that regulations to prevent harm to people’s health, derived from the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages, are driven by human rights and scientific evidence free from conflicts of interest.

Citation

Special Rapporteur on the right to health. Statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health on the adoption of front-of-package warning labelling to tackle NCDs, (2020). Par. 5. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Health/SRRH_Statement_FOPL_NCDs_07242020.docx