European Code Against Cancer

The European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) is an initiative of the European Commission to inform people about key actions they can take for themselves or their families to reduce their risk of cancer and its consequences. ECAC was first launched in 1987. The adoption of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan in 2021 confirmed that IARC would retain the mandate to provide the scientific coordination for the 5th edition of ECAC (ECAC5). The 4-year project, funded by the European Commission under the EU4Health programme, revised, updated, and published ECAC5 in 2025. The project involved about 80 regional experts distributed in 5 working groups, the Scientific Committee, the Advocacy Group, and the IARC Secretariat in a multidisciplinary collaborative effort (see Partners, below). ECAC5 is the first update of ECAC that was produced under the World Code Against Cancer Framework.

This project has run in parallel with and collaborated closely with the Boosting the Usability of the EU Mobile App for Cancer Prevention (BUMPER) project, which has supported the development of the EU Mobile App for Cancer Prevention. The BUMPER project has been coordinated by the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL).

European Code Against Cancer, 5th edition (ECAC5)

The latest, 5th edition of ECAC (ECAC5) consists of 14 recommendations based on the current scientific evidence on personal behavioural factors, environmental factors, and medical interventions, specific to the general population in the European Union. For the first time, ECAC5 is aimed not only at individuals but also at policy-makers, including 14 complementary recommendations on population-level measures that may reinforce the recommendations for individuals. Individuals are encouraged to take proactive steps to live healthier lives, as outlined in the recommendations. Policy-makers are provided with guidance, which considers structural factors and the health systems context, to implement policies based on science to enable environments where everyone can make informed healthy choices and adopt the recommendations.

These recommendations provide co-benefits to prevent other noncommunicable diseases with similar underlying risk factors, and opportunities for health promotion. Together, the ECAC5 recommendations provide a roadmap to reduce cancer risk, tackle misconceptions about cancer, and improve public health and well-being.

Partners

The Coordination Group for Development and Maintenance is composed of:

  • Secretariat:
    - Joachim Schüz (Co-Principal Investigator), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO)
    - Carolina Espina (Co-Principal Investigator), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO)
    - David Ritchie (Project Manager), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO)
    - André Carvalho (Senior Advisor), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO)

  • Support to the Secretariat:
    - Ariadna Feliu (Postdoctoral Scientist), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO)
    - Erica D'Souza (Postdoctoral Scientist), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO)
    - Hajo Zeeb (Senior Visiting Scientist), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO)
    - Catherine Chassin (Secretary), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO)

  • Chairs of the Experts Working Groups:
    - Elio Riboli (Working Group 1: Lifestyles Determinants), Imperial College London, United Kingdom
    - Hans Kromhout (Working Group 2: Environmental and Occupational Determinants), Utrecht University, The Netherlands
    - Silvia Franceschi (Working Group 3: Infections), Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO), Italy
    - Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar (Working Group 4: Medical Interventions), Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands
    - Dame Theresa Marteau (Working Group 5: Communication and Health Literacy), University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

  • Representative of World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRF):
    - Giota Mitrou (Senior Advisor), World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRF)
    - Helen Croker (alternate), World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRF)

Funders:
European Commission - ECAC5 has received funding from the EU4Health programme under Grant Agreement No. 101075240

ec.europa.eu/info/index_en

International Agency for Research on Cancer

www.iarc.who.int

Cancer Prevention Europe

cancerpreventioneurope.iarc.fr