Sustainability and monitoring of the European Code Against Cancer: Recommendations

INTRODUCTION: As part of the third European Commission’s Joint Action on Cancer (Innovative Partnership for Action Against Cancer, iPAAC), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was commissioned to produce a report on recommendations to sustain and monitor future updates of the European Code Against Cancer (ECAC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A co-creational consultation process, including a virtual workshop, was carried out. More than 100 experts in cancer prevention, public health, communication and representatives of European authorities provided input on the scope of future editions of the ECAC, including updating the scientific evidence and its maintenance, and on strategies for its implementation and dissemination across Europe. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Overwhelming support for the need of the ECAC and its continuous updating, optimization and wider dissemination was expressed by all the stakeholders. Eight recommendations and four research needs summarise the assessment and pave the way for the future of the ECAC.