This month, our community came together around World Asthma Day, united by a clear message: people with asthma need timely diagnosis, accessible information, and care they can rely on in their daily lives. I would like to warmly congratulate all our members and partners for their commitment and efforts in bringing the needs of asthma patients in Europe to the forefront. 

The latter part of the month highlighted our continued engagement on the global stage. In Canada, at the 49th session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling, our representatives contributed to a landmark moment, ensuring that the voice of the European food allergy patient community was reflected in the finalisation of the guidelines on precautionary allergen labelling. 

Just one week later in Geneva, we participated in several side events at the seventy-ninth World Health Assembly, advancing the priorities of our #KeepBreathing and #BreakTheInvisibleBurden campaigns in key discussions on climate change, respiratory health, and skin diseases. Marking one year since the historic adoption of the World Health Assembly Resolution on an integrated lung health approach, we were also proud to launch our new video, “The World Health Assembly lung health resolution: a patient explainer.” This resource aims to translate this global commitment into practical insights, supporting patients and patient organisations in their advocacy efforts. 

Looking ahead, we are pleased to continue amplifying patient voices in the coming month. The Atopical Lives photo exhibition will be featured at the EAACI Congress in Istanbul, bringing the lived experiences of people with atopic eczema to a wider audience. In parallel, the SynAir-G policy roundtable at the European Parliament will focus on indoor air quality in schools, reinforcing the urgent need for stronger action to protect children's health. 

Warm regards,

Károly Illy, 
EFA President 
+31 6 81463663 

EFA and the European Lung Health Group have launched a new #KeepBreathing video during the 79th World Health Assembly: “The World Health Assembly lung health resolution: a patient explainer.” The video marks one year since governments adopted the WHA resolution calling for a coordinated approach to lung health, spanning prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and long-term care, while tackling inequalities and strengthening health systems. With 80+ million people in Europe living with chronic respiratory diseases, the explainer helps patients, carers, patient experts and organisations use the resolution as a national advocacy reference point, and ask clearer questions on diagnosis, treatment availability, prevention programmes and follow-up care. 

EFA took part in the official #WHA79 side event on implementing the World Health Assembly skin diseases resolution, co-led by GlobalSkin, the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS), Fundacion ANESVAD, ILEP - International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations, and representatives from Côte d’Ivoire and Togo. The discussion was especially relevant to EFA’s work on Atopic Eczema: #BreakTheInvisibleBurden, where we work closely with EFA Community to turn the resolution into action at European and national level. Speakers highlighted the importance of the upcoming Global Action Plan on Skin Diseases in advancing integrated care, stronger financing, better monitoring and greater equity for patients. EFA also highlighted that patient organisations must be part of implementation, and that integrated care must lead to real improvements in access to multidisciplinary care, daily skin care support and innovative treatments for people living with atopic eczema. 

During the 79th World Health Assembly week in Geneva, EFA spoke at a session on Climate Change and Respiratory Health organised by the Health Diplomacy Alliance and the Geneva Health Forum, alongside speakers including Dr Maria Neira (former WHO Director for Environment, Climate Change and Health), Richard Pearshouse (Human Rights Watch) and Prof. Helena Pité (Hospital CUF Tejo, Lisbon). EFA highlighted how climate-related risks such as heat, air pollution and wildfire smoke can worsen symptoms and make disease management harder for people living with allergies, asthma and COPD. The discussion also connected back to the WHA lung health resolution (May 2025) and to the European Lung Health Group priorities: stronger prevention, earlier diagnosis, better access to treatment and follow-up care and meaningful patient involvement in how action is planned and delivered.

The World Atopic Eczema Day 2026 campaign toolkit is now available to support organisations, advocates and stakeholders in joining this year’s campaign under the theme #BreakTheInvisibleBurden. Developed in partnership with EFA Community and our partner GlobalSkin, it brings together key messages and storytelling elements, advocacy guidance linked to the WHA Skin Diseases Resolution, and practical resources to support engagement with policymakers, media and online audiences. It also includes tools to help you localise your outreach by adapting messages to national contexts, adding local data, and amplifying patient voices. We invite you to join our campaign and use these materials in your upcoming activities to help turn awareness into meaningful action for people living with atopic eczema! 

EFA released a new series of videos from the recent atopic eczema exhibition held during the AGM and Community Meeting 2026 in Malta. The videos capture highlights from the event, together with messages from members of the atopic eczema community and contributions from the Maltese Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Dr Jo Etienne Abela, and the President of the Malta Eczema Society, Michael J. Boffa. The videos offer a closer look at the #BreakTheInvisibleBurden campaign and the voices behind it, helping show why stronger awareness, understanding and care for atopic eczema are needed across Europe. 

This month, EFA’s food allergy community was represented by Marcia Podestà (Food Allergy Italia) and Sabine Schnadt (German Allergy and Asthma Association) at Codex #CCFL49, where international guidance on food labelling is agreed. A key focus was Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL), the “may contain” warning. EFA supported science-based PAL that is linked to risk assessment and action levels. PAL should use consistent “May contain…” wording, appear next to the ingredients list and name the specific allergen. The meeting also discussed food labelling in emergencies, where EFA highlighted the need for a public feedback mechanism so consumers can flag when flexibility measures create safety risks.