Background
The Department of Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS) is launching its new guideline on fiscal policies to promote healthy diets. The guideline provides countries with recommendations on the measures needed to improve the food offer available to promote healthy diets. These measures include implementing policies to discourage consumption of foods that do not contribute to a healthy diet and/or policies to encourage the consumption of foods that contribute to a healthy diet.
Unhealthy diets are a leading global public health risk, contributing to a rise in unhealthy weight gain and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Governments play a leading role in reducing the burden of diet-related NCDs, addressing malnutrition in all its forms and promoting healthy diets. Affordability of food and beverages is a key determinant of the food environment and changes in price influences consumer demand for many foods and beverages. Fiscal measures, including both taxation and subsidies have long been recognized as a viable policy option to promote healthy diets.
To support Member States in promoting healthy diets, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed this evidence-informed guideline. Join us at the virtual launch event, which will address the evidence behind the guideline and will call multiple stakeholders to action.
The WHO guideline on fiscal policies to promote healthy diets will be available from 14 June 2024, 13:00 pm CET.
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