Health impacts methodology in the European Commission

Abstract The state of play in the implementation of health impacts methodology within European Commission impact assessments reveals both advancements and challenges. The Commission has acknowledged the significance of assessing health impacts and has provided a generic methodological description, as outlined in Tool #32 of the Better Regulation guidelines. However, translating this guidance into practical application encounters obstacles stemming from challenges intrinsic to the policy in question, a lack of skills and knowledge, data gaps, and complexities in establishing causal links. In EU policymaking, health impacts are consistently appraised in relevant Impact Assessments across various policy areas, but the methodological intricacy varies. In the fields of public health, occupational safety, and environmental protection, econometric modelling is often employed to quantify potential health impacts rigorously. This involves sophisticated analytical tools designed to capture the complexity of the interactions. Conversely, in areas where the link between policies and health outcomes is less direct (e.g. food safety) or where data limitations pose challenges, a more qualitative appraisal is applied. This acknowledges the limitations in precisely quantifying health impacts and focuses on providing a nuanced understanding of potential health effects based on available information.