In celebration of the second anniversary of the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity & Health, Robert Madelin, Director General for Public Health and Consumer Protection (DG SANCO) of the European Commission speaks frankly to EUFIC about what has been achieved, what could be improved and the role of the EU Platform in future EU policy making.

The EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity & Health started out in 2005 as an informal experiment. Two years on, it is increasingly recognised as an important policy tool, and acts as a stimulus for other activities in tackling the challenge of obesity.

In a candid interview, the Chair of the EU Platform addresses many areas including: nutrition labelling, advertising to children, addressing the European Parliament’s expectations of the EU Platform, monitoring commitments and outlines how the EU Platform can help Member States establish similar, valuable fora.

To learn more about the Food In Action conference on November 29 – 30 2007 that Mr. Madelin refers to in this interview, please click here.

Biography of Robert Madelin

Robert Madelin became Director-General for Health and Consumer Protection in January 2004. He has overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the work of the Directorate-General in its three main areas: public health, food safety and consumer protection.

He previously served in a variety of postings (1997-2003) as a Director in the Directorate-General for Trade, where he had the chance to work on a range of issues, including: access to medicines, agriculture, biotechnology, corporate responsibility, food and product standards, global governance, intellectual property, investment, services, sustainable development, and relations with the Asia-Pacific.
Prior to this, he was Deputy Head of Cabinet to Sir Leon (now Lord) Brittan, European Commission Vice-President.

Robert Madelin was born in 1957. He married Marie-Christine Jalabert in 1990. He was educated in England, at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, and at Magdalen College, Oxford. He joined the British Civil Service in 1979, serving mainly in London and Brussels and joined the Commission in 1993. He studied at the Ecole Nationale d’Administration, Paris in 1983-4.