4 February 2026
To celebrate World Cancer Day, the European Commission, in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has unveiled the fifth edition of the European Code Against Cancer – an initiative first launched in 1987 to help people make informed decisions that reduce the risk of cancer.
The Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), the voice of 35 national and regional cancer societies across Europe, has welcomed the initiative as a major leap forward in cancer prevention.
The fifth edition of the European Code Against Cancer consists of 14 easy-to-understand recommendations, based on the latest scientific evidence, that anyone can follow without any special skills or advice. The Code tackles key cancer risk factors, including tobacco, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, alcohol, sun exposure, air pollution, radon gas, and cancer-causing factors at work. It also puts forward recommendations for breastfeeding, cancer-causing infections, hormone replacement therapy, and organised cancer screening programmes.
Previous editions of the Code focused exclusively on actions individuals could take to prevent cancer. Now, for the first time, the updated Code also includes clear, science-based recommendations for governments and decision-makers, opening the door to stronger, systematic policy action to protect citizens and reduce the burden of cancer across Europe.
“The new European Code Against Cancer is a true game changer and makes it clear that cancer prevention cannot be left to individuals alone. We urge decision-makers across Europe to use this new Code as a blueprint for stronger laws and policies to protect people’s health and prevent cancer,” says Wolfgang Fecke, Executive Director of the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL).
“The 5th edition of the European Code Against Cancer is out, now we need to join forces across multi-sectoral stakeholders to implement it in member states. The Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), the national cancer societies and other allies play a crucial role in disseminating of the Code. Effective dissemination will ensure understanding and accepting the Code by the public, empowering them to put the recommendations into practice, and engaging with decision-makers towards preventing cancer in the EU,” states Carolina Espina, Principal Investigator of the project to update the European Code Against Cancer at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
“Cancer prevention begins close to home, where people live, work, and grow. It takes shape in people’s hands, through prevention and early detection. The new European Code Against Cancer gives countries a clear, science-based path forward. When woven into national programmes, it can save lives and turn cancer prevention into a shared act of care,” explains Daniela Giangreco, Head of Primary Prevention at the Italian League Against Cancer and Vice President of the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL).
The fifth edition of the European Code Against Cancer is now available in all official EU languages. To mark the launch of the new Code, the European Commission is organising a live webinar today.
Notes:
Cancer continues to place a large and growing burden on individuals, health systems, and society. An estimated 1.3 million lives were lost due to cancer in the European Union in 2022. Without action, new cancer diagnoses are projected to increase by about 18% and cancer deaths by 26% by 2040, placing cancer as the main cause of preventable death by 2025.
Recent estimates indicate that the overall costs of cancer in the EU amount to more than €93 billion annually.
Contact:
Ivonne Leenen, Communications Officer at the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL): ivonne@cancer.eu
