International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Addressing NCDs: Protecting Health From Trade and Investment Law; Comment on “Addressing NCDs: Challenges From Industry Market Promotion and Interferences”

Document Type : Commentary

Authors
Krycia Cowling 1
Daniel Magraw 2
1 Washington, DC, USA
2 Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, USA
10.15171/ijhpm.2019.41
Abstract
Building on Tangcharoensathien and colleagues’ description of four tactics used by the tobacco, alcohol, processed food, and breast milk substitute industries to interfere with the development and implementation of health policies, we present a fifth tactic: trade and investment disputes. We describe recent examples of trade and investment claims filed by the tobacco industry to challenge plain packaging legislation, which may serve as a model for future claims by this and other industries. Next, we clarify specific areas of potential conflict between non-communicable disease (NCD) control policies and trade and investment agreement (TIA) commitments, identifying possible vulnerabilities that may be exploited by industry to challenge the legality of these policies. We conclude with ideas to strengthen the position of health policies vis à-vis commitments in TIAs.
Keywords
Non-Communicable Diseases
Trade
Investment
International Law
Health Policy
Subjects
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International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Volume 8, Issue 8
August 2019
Pages 508-510

  • Received Date 04 May 2019
  • Revised Date 22 May 2019
  • Accepted Date 25 May 2019
  • First Published Date 01 August 2019
  • Published Date 01 August 2019