Dear Friends of ELIANT,
We are delighted that a new global WHO strategy for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine has been adopted for the period 2025 to 2034. It is based in the small WHO TCIM department, which to date has been joined by 340 organisations. Its credo: 'The rich cultural heritage and diversity of TCIM's healing traditions and principles promote a positive health vision that focuses on the whole person and reinforces the sources of health.' The aim is to create a visible and audible voice for a holistic system of medicine of the future.

The International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations IVAA is one of the founding members of this TCIM coalition. It was able to contribute the perspectives of anthroposophic medicine, namely to recognise each person as a being consisting of body, soul and spirit, and the right of everyone to make informed and free decisions about their medical care. Fundamentally, medicine should strive to heal rather than eliminate symptoms.

WHO – Pandemic Agreement and International Health Regulations (IHR)
Also in May 2025, the World Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, although details still need to be negotiated over the next twelve months. Only then will it be released to the Member States for signature. On the one hand, it leaves many questions unanswered regarding fairness between countries in terms of pandemic prevention and management. On the other hand, individual countries have a lot of leeway when it comes to interpretation and implementation. The International Health Regulations (IHR) were adopted in 2024 and will enter into force in September 2025.

Freedom of choice in food continues to be under threat
At an EU level, political discussions are still ongoing to determine the requirements regarding new GMOs, such as CRISPR-Cas. As far back as July 2023, the European Commission published a legislative proposal in this respect to repeal all mandatory requirements applicable to new GMOs. This new generation of GMOs would thus be launched on the market without prior risk assessment, traceability and labelling, which would jeopardise both our health and our freedom of choice. Farmers and consumers have the right to know and choose what ends up on our fields and on our plates. That is why we support all efforts to maintain the current binding requirements for risk assessment, labelling and traceability for all GMOs placed on the market.

Since the publication of the Commission's proposal, the European Parliament has in its opinion commendably called for the substantive labelling and traceability requirements to be reinstated. The trialogue negotiations between the three institutions – Parliament, Council and Commission – are currently underway. So far, they have been unable to agree on a common basis for traceability and labelling. It is therefore important that, while these negotiations are ongoing, as many of us as possible contact members of the European Parliament and ask them to strongly defend the Parliament's position on traceability and labelling in the negotiation process. EU citizens want clear labelling of all GMOs. So don't hesitate to contact your country's representatives in the European Parliament via this link and ask them to defend our freedom of choice.

Once the trialogue negotiations have been concluded, Parliament and Council must vote on the final text. The vote in Parliament is the last chance and will be decisive. Depending on how things progress, we will ask for your help before the final vote in the autumn! We thank you for supporting freedom of choice.

Warm regards on behalf of the ELIANT team
Michaela Glöckler

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