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Germany shouldn’t follow the UK’s flawed obesity strategy

“Overall, ad bans would target consumption of junk food but it is the exercise that many children lack. According to a report published by the European Commission and the WHO in 2018, only 19% of 11-13-year olds in Germany were physically active. The situation is disastrous, and by opting for junk food ad bans, the German government will simply regulate in the wrong direction.

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Scrapping COVID Patents: PM Johnson needs to resist populist calls

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

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CONTACT:

Fred Roeder, Managing Director, Consumer Choice Center

Scrapping COVID Patents: PM Johnson needs to resist populist calls

London, UK –  In a report published today by the House of Commons International Trade Committee, Members of Parliament suggest to allow for compulsory licensing of drugs for COVID-19. Under compulsory licensing laws, a government has the power to revoke patent rights from innovators or companies if a discovery they made provides vital treatment or protection related to a national health emergency. Fred Roeder, Health Economist and Managing Director of the Consumer Choice Center warns that such erosion of intellectual property would lead to the opposite and eventually harm patients:

“Compulsory licensing is threatening to move the goalposts on how intellectual property rights are protected. If domestic and foreign companies are prevented from retaining their patent licenses, this could hinder the production and supply of essential goods to the population further than they already are. A compulsory licensing bill could place even more barriers for pharmaceutical innovators, which could further discourage these kinds of companies from investing or listing their drugs in the UK.

There are many ways to make easier access to vaccines and drugs for example a mutual recognition of FDA and EMA approvals and fast-tracking some type of medicines. In order to be prepared for the next pandemic, we need to increase and not curb incentives for innovation. Right now we need to do everything that makes pharmaceutical research more agile – Introducing compulsory licensing on COVID drugs and vaccines is not the right way. While might help in the short term but jeopardizes our ability to tackle health crises early on in the long run,” concludes Roeder.

***CCC’ Fred Roeder is available to speak with accredited media on consumer regulations and healthcare issues. Please send media inquiries HERE.***

 

The CCC represents consumers in over 100 countries across the globe. We closely monitor regulatory trends in Ottawa, Washington, Brussels, Geneva and other hotspots of regulation and inform and activate consumers to fight for #ConsumerChoice. Learn more at consumerchoicecenter.org

Flavor bans push consumers across borders

David Clement, North American Affairs Manager with the Consumer Choice Center responded: “How many times do we have to be reminded that prohibition doesn’t work? A decline in tax revenue is a predictable consequence of prohibition-style bans. It was naive for Massachusetts legislators to think that their ban wouldn’t increase sales across state lines. To make matters worse, other states like California and Illinois are considering enacting similar bans in their states,” said Clement.

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Businesses and schools need COVID-19 liability shields

Consumer Choice Center Deputy Director Yaël Ossowski responded: “The nature of the virus means it is almost certain that someone, somewhere, will catch the virus. That means huge potential legal ramifications if a person wants to hold an institution or business liable,” he wrote in the Detroit Times.

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Boris Johnson’s new anti-obesity strategy will only nanny consumers

In response, Maria Chaplia, European Affairs Associate at the Consumer Choice Center, said “Radical measures such as banning ads and promotions would fail to tackle obesity, while also harshly affecting adults and their personal choices. The silent minority of consumers who want to be left alone and deemed as responsible consumption wise will be hurt the most,” she said.

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European Parliament has inexplicable double standard on GMOs

Brussels, BE – The European Parliament has recently authorised a temporary derogation from rules on genetic engineering, in order to allow COVID-19 vaccine development to benefit from GMO technology. In a statement, the Parliament said that “The derogation will facilitate the development, authorisation and consequently availability of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments”. The Consumer Choice Center’s Senior Policy Analyst Bill Wirtz says he’s puzzled by the change of heart of Members of the Parliament :

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TikTok is problematic, and consumers should beware

CONTACT:
Yaël Ossowski
Deputy Director
Consumer Choice Center

TikTok is problematic, and consumers should beware

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, both President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have floated a ban on the controversial Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok, for national security concerns.

Consumer Choice Center Deputy Director Yaël Ossowski responded: “While the proximity to the Chinese Communist Party makes TikTok problematic, an outright ban would go too far by setting a dangerous precedent.

“The fact that the long arm of the Chinese Communist Party can reach into the phones of citizens of liberal democracies is indeed troubling and individuals should remain vigilant. A ban similar to critical network hardware components from companies like Huawei or ZTA is, however, not necessary. Contrary to infrastructure and network software, consumers can consciously choose to stay away from apps like TikTok,” said Ossowski.

“It is concerning that TikTok, with its security flaws and significant privacy issues, is used by over 80 million people in the United States.  

“Rather than a ban, we should be educating the public, especially younger consumers, on the dangers of low-security and risky applications tied to foreign regimes like the Chinese Communist Party.

“Resorting to bans should always be a last resort, while innovation and education can and should be used when all possible when faced with security concerns in the tech space,” said Ossowski.

***CCC Deputy Director Yaël Ossowski is available to speak with accredited media on consumer regulations and consumer choice issues. Please send media inquiries HERE.***

The CCC represents consumers in over 100 countries across the globe. We closely monitor regulatory trends in Ottawa, Washington, Brussels, Geneva and other hotspots of regulation and inform and activate consumers to fight for #ConsumerChoice. Learn more at consumerchoicecenter.org.

Revealed: Latin America’s most Passenger-Friendly Airports

The index is the first of its kind in Latin America and should be used to inform both consumers and administrators as to who is doing the best job accomodating passengers. We hope that, in light of travel disruptions due to COVID-19, this index will help travelers to pick destinations and connecting points. 

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Rimuovere i bagagli a mano è una scelta insensata

“Ancora una volta l’Italia ha deciso una linea che non è condivisa da nessun altro stato europeo, e che provocherà solo disservizi e problemi ai viaggiatori. Per quanto lo scopo del provvedimento sia nobile, chiediamo un intervento del governo e degli organi competenti, affinché sia revocato il più presto possibile e venga invece presa una decisione a livello continentale sul modo migliore per gestire i bagagli a mano, promuovendo una linea comune tra gli stati membri dell’Unione Europea” Conclude Bertoletti. 

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