   
  
G/TBT/GEN/371  
 
11 January 2024  
(24-0238) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
UPDATE FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION  
STATEMENT BY THE WHO  
This document contains information provided by the WHO at the TBT Committee meeting of 
8-10 November  2023 under Agenda Item 4 (Update by Observers).1 
 
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1.1.  We would like to recall our statement at the TBT Committee meeting of 21 to 23 June 2023,in 
which we indicated the existing references to labelling measures for alcoholic beveragesin WHO 
instruments.  
1.2.  In addition, we would like to underlin e two elements on the evidence about the relationship 
between alcohol and health risks, in particular for cancer.  
1.3.  First, alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen and a risk factor for over 200 communicable and 
noncommunicable diseases. In 2019, 2.6 million deaths w ere attributable to alcohol consumption 
and, in 2020, more than 740.000 cancer cases were attributable to alcohol use.  
1.4.  Second, although alcohol consumption causes substantial health, social and economic 
consequences, consumers frequently have an inaccurate  perception of the risks associated with 
different levels and patterns of alcohol consumption. Labelling measures across a variety of products, 
including tobacco products, are widely recognized as increasing consumer understanding and 
impacting behavior. M ore specifically, health warning labels on alcoholic beverages can increase 
consumer awareness, slow down drinking, decrease drinking occasions and reduce purchase 
occasions. Health warnings have been shown effective during pregnancy. In the European Union , 
surveys show most people support health warnings on alcoholic beverages.  
1.5.  Thank you very much for this opportunity to provide additional information to the TBT 
Committee, with a view to recalling the evidence around the effectiveness of health warning labels 
and ensuring coherence across the international system.  
 
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1 In original language only.  