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Report: September 2008: The European Union and Health Impact Assessments: Are they an unrecognised statutory obligation?

Author/Editor: Rebecca Salay and Paul Lincoln
Produced by: National Heart Forum
Cost: Free
Download Available: Health Impact Assessment report (127 Kb)

This paper looks at the use of health impact assessment (HIA) at the European Union, and whether HIA should be considered mandatory in the same way as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). 

Although the EU Treaty includes responsibilities relating to both health and the environment, legal directives passed by the European Commission have made EIAs and SEAs mandatory for Member States, but not health impact assessments. 

This paper analyses the position of HIAs, SEAs and EIAs and sets out an agenda for policy development and advocacy, to ensure that health impacts are assessed as regularly and thoroughly as environmental impacts.

Please Note:

A shorter version of this article was featured in The Lancet (Lancet 2008; 372: 860-61), and can be accessed from http://www.thelancet.com. (A subscription may be required)