ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to offer some observations about the effective use of law in reducing exposure to tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods, recognising that the effective use of law is indispensable to global non-communicable diseases (NCD) governance. It sets out the current political and institutional context of global NCD governance, briefly sketching its evolving architecture. The chapter offers a number of observations relating to the important role of legal capacity within the NCD workforce, and through policy research, development and implementation, the power of treaties and of non-binding instruments, challenges involved in dealing with existing international trade and investment treaties, the need for deference to public health imperatives and governments' regulatory choices in trade and investment adjudication, and managing the similarities and differences between tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods within the NCD agenda. It suggests that the 'law and NCD prevention' endeavour requires speaking, listening and learning across different disciplines.
