The Welsh Assembly Government is currently considering responses to its consultation on proposals for a Public Health Bill for Wales. A new paper jointly commissioned by the UK Health Forum, the Institute of Healthcare Management and the Royal Society for Public Health to inform the consultation is published today.
It examines the different uses of public health law around the world – including public health acts – to respond to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases by addressing the major, modifiable risk factors: smoking, poor diet, alcohol and sedentary behaviour.
The paper discusses four broad types of legislation from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and European countries. These legislative approaches include requirements to use Health Impact Assessments, duties to reduce health inequalities, legislation on the prevention of ill health, and legislation to strengthen community action around health protection and health improvement.
The full paper can be acessed here: 
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