Understanding the influence of stakeholders on the implementation of front-of-pack nutrition labelling in the absence of public debate: the case of Portugal
Abstract In the context of the European Commission’s proposal for the harmonization of front-of-pack nutrition labels (FoPLs) across the European Union scheduled for 2023, Portugal’s position on the preferred format to be adopted remains unclear. Our study aims to (1) describe the context of the pol...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01065-8 |
| _version_ | 1797272788477673472 |
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| author | Morgane Fialon Lydiane Nabec Chantal Julia |
| author_facet | Morgane Fialon Lydiane Nabec Chantal Julia |
| author_sort | Morgane Fialon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In the context of the European Commission’s proposal for the harmonization of front-of-pack nutrition labels (FoPLs) across the European Union scheduled for 2023, Portugal’s position on the preferred format to be adopted remains unclear. Our study aims to (1) describe the context of the political decision regarding FoPL’s implementation in Portugal, (2) identify and characterize the actors involved in the debate and (3) evaluate their influence in the decision-making process and their position on the various formats of FoPLs considered. A document review complemented by a qualitative study with eight experts revealed the actors involved in the implementation of FoPLs in Portugal. The stakeholder theory was used to qualify their level of influence on the decision. To complement the experts’ analysis, the views of 1014 Portuguese consumers on stakeholders’ influence were collected via an online questionnaire. The results show a strong mobilization of the Portuguese Ministry of Health on the issue through the production of several technical and scientific reports. The background of the political decision related to FoPLs in Portugal highlights the commitment of some influential stakeholders in favour of the traffic light format, including one of the major Portuguese retailers, Continente. Nevertheless, in the face of public support for the Nutri-Score from a growing number of actors, Portugal has not yet adopted a specific format, partly due to some resistance from the agricultural sector. Portugal, by lack of consensus and agenda setting, is now awaiting formal harmonization of FoPLs by the European Commission. This study provides useful insights for public policy actors when promoting interventional measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:34:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da36023871b34af8aca625134642aa76 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1478-4505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:34:23Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-da36023871b34af8aca625134642aa762024-03-05T20:44:41ZengBMCHealth Research Policy and Systems1478-45052024-02-0122111910.1186/s12961-023-01065-8Understanding the influence of stakeholders on the implementation of front-of-pack nutrition labelling in the absence of public debate: the case of PortugalMorgane Fialon0Lydiane Nabec1Chantal Julia2Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), Sorbonne Paris Nord University/INSERM U1153/INRAE U1125/CNAM, Epidemiology and Statistics Research Center, University of Paris (CRESS)Centre de Recherche Réseaux, Innovation, Territoire et Mondialisation (RITM), Université Paris-SaclayNutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), Sorbonne Paris Nord University/INSERM U1153/INRAE U1125/CNAM, Epidemiology and Statistics Research Center, University of Paris (CRESS)Abstract In the context of the European Commission’s proposal for the harmonization of front-of-pack nutrition labels (FoPLs) across the European Union scheduled for 2023, Portugal’s position on the preferred format to be adopted remains unclear. Our study aims to (1) describe the context of the political decision regarding FoPL’s implementation in Portugal, (2) identify and characterize the actors involved in the debate and (3) evaluate their influence in the decision-making process and their position on the various formats of FoPLs considered. A document review complemented by a qualitative study with eight experts revealed the actors involved in the implementation of FoPLs in Portugal. The stakeholder theory was used to qualify their level of influence on the decision. To complement the experts’ analysis, the views of 1014 Portuguese consumers on stakeholders’ influence were collected via an online questionnaire. The results show a strong mobilization of the Portuguese Ministry of Health on the issue through the production of several technical and scientific reports. The background of the political decision related to FoPLs in Portugal highlights the commitment of some influential stakeholders in favour of the traffic light format, including one of the major Portuguese retailers, Continente. Nevertheless, in the face of public support for the Nutri-Score from a growing number of actors, Portugal has not yet adopted a specific format, partly due to some resistance from the agricultural sector. Portugal, by lack of consensus and agenda setting, is now awaiting formal harmonization of FoPLs by the European Commission. This study provides useful insights for public policy actors when promoting interventional measures.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01065-8Front-of-packPortugalStakeholder theoryNutri-Score |
| spellingShingle | Morgane Fialon Lydiane Nabec Chantal Julia Understanding the influence of stakeholders on the implementation of front-of-pack nutrition labelling in the absence of public debate: the case of Portugal Health Research Policy and Systems Front-of-pack Portugal Stakeholder theory Nutri-Score |
| title | Understanding the influence of stakeholders on the implementation of front-of-pack nutrition labelling in the absence of public debate: the case of Portugal |
| title_full | Understanding the influence of stakeholders on the implementation of front-of-pack nutrition labelling in the absence of public debate: the case of Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the influence of stakeholders on the implementation of front-of-pack nutrition labelling in the absence of public debate: the case of Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the influence of stakeholders on the implementation of front-of-pack nutrition labelling in the absence of public debate: the case of Portugal |
| title_short | Understanding the influence of stakeholders on the implementation of front-of-pack nutrition labelling in the absence of public debate: the case of Portugal |
| title_sort | understanding the influence of stakeholders on the implementation of front of pack nutrition labelling in the absence of public debate the case of portugal |
| topic | Front-of-pack Portugal Stakeholder theory Nutri-Score |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01065-8 |
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