Public Health Policy in the EU

Latest news about Public Health Policy in the European Union.

Under the Treaty, EU action must aim to improve public health, prevent human illness and diseases, and identify sources of danger to human health.

This has led to integrated health-related work at EU level, aiming to bring health-related policy areas together. Health and consumer protection policies are particularly closely linked. The safety of products and services - including food safety and rapid food alerts - are key priorities here.

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General Policy Information

• EU Health Strategy Overview
• EU Health Programme 2008-2013
• High Level Group on Health Care

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• Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7)
• SMEs in Health Research

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LATEST NEWS

Regulatory framework for medical devices — 09 February 2012, 20:34 CET

Based on the New Approach, rules relating to the safety and performance of medical devices were harmonised in the EU in the 1990s. The core legal framework consists of 3 directives: Directive 90/385/EEC regarding active implantable medical devices, Directive 93/42/EEC regarding medical devices and Directive 98/79/EC regarding in vitro diagnostic medical devices. They aim at ensuring a high level of protection of human health and safety and the good functioning of the Single Market. These 3 main directives have been supplemented over time by several modifying and implementing directives, including the last technical revision brought about by Directive 2007/47/EC.

EU urges governments to tighten breast implant controls — 09 February 2012, 22:27 CET

The European Commission urged governments on Thursday to tighten controls of medical devices after faulty French-made breast implants sparked a global health scare.

Bulgaria pledges to shut mental homes — 06 February 2012, 19:16 CET

Bulgaria pledged Monday to shut its dilapidated mental homes after the European Court of Human Rights condemned Sofia over an inmate held for years after being wrongly diagnosed as schizophrenic.

Russia halts animal imports from parts of EU over virus — 01 February 2012, 18:31 CET

Russia is suspending live-animal imports from parts of Europe over fears of a newly discovered virus that causes birth defects in sheep, goat and cattle.

Animal Welfare Strategy 2012-2015 - guide — 19 January 2012, 17:32 CET

The European Commission has adopted a new four-year strategy (2012-2015) that aims to further improve the welfare of animals in the European Union.

Strategy for the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2012-2015 - EC Communication — 19 January 2012, 17:14 CET

The European Commission has adopted a new four-year strategy (2012-2015) that aims to further improve the welfare of animals in the European Union.

European Union Register of nutrition and health claims made on food — 07 December 2011, 23:16 CET

This European Union Register of nutrition and health claims made on foods (“the Register”) has been established as foreseen in Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 and is updated regularly. Some sections of this Register are missing and will be completed, as appropriate, following the procedures detailed in the Regulation and depending on the applications for authorisation of health claims.

List of permitted Health Claims for use on Food - guide — 07 December 2011, 23:49 CET

In a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, EU Member States supported the European Commission's draft Regulation to adopt a list of permitted health claims for use on food.

Canada-EU pact 'will raise drug costs' — 07 December 2011, 22:48 CET

A Canada-European Union free trade agreement that is currently being negotiated may lead to higher drug costs here, Canada's opposition warned on Wednesday.

HIV spreading in Europe, but AIDS cases declining: study — 30 November 2011, 15:02 CET

HIV infections continued to rise in Europe in 2010, but thanks to treatment the number of cases of full-blown AIDS has dramatically declined in recent years, according to a report published Wednesday.

HIV spreading in Europe, but AIDS cases declining: study — 30 November 2011, 13:01 CET

HIV infections continued to rise in Europe in 2010, but thanks to treatment the number of cases of full-blown AIDS has dramatically declined in recent years, according to a report.

British women top obesity chart, French aren't all thin — 24 November 2011, 12:24 CET

British women and Maltese men topped European obesity rates according to data released Thursday that also undermined popular belief that all French women are thin.

EU sounds cry of alarm over resistance to antibiotics — 17 November 2011, 22:19 CET

The European Union unveiled Thursday a five-year plan to contain the risk of antimicrobial resistance, warning of a sharp rise in deaths due to bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Antimicrobial Resistance - guide — 17 November 2011, 17:57 CET

With about 25,000 patients dying per year in the EU from infections caused by drug resistant bacteria and related costs of over 1.5 billion euros in healthcare expenses and productivity losses , antimicrobial resistance is a growing health problem in the EU. Today, on the eve of European Antibiotic Awareness Day, the European Commission tabled a comprehensive Action Plan on Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which unveils12 concrete actions to be implemented in close cooperation with the EU Member States.

Plant health pests and EU funding programmes to deal with them - guide — 16 November 2011, 17:07 CET

The European Union today earmarked 19 million euros to co-finance programmes in seven Member States aiming to combat organisms harmful to plants and to prevent them from spreading further in the Union and thus from having sever consequences on the internal market. During a meeting of the Standing Committee on Plant Health (SCPH), the Member States endorsed two Commission proposals providing the co-financing (EUR 15 and EUR 4 million respectively) of actions already undertaken in the past or planned to be executed next year.

EU drugs watchdog warns of 'legal highs' surge — 15 November 2011, 17:21 CET

The rapid emergence of synthetic new drugs, often sold online as "legal highs," represents a significant challenge for policy makers in the coming decade, a European Union drugs agency said on Tuesday.

EU move to reduce cigarette ignited fires - guide — 14 November 2011, 23:54 CET

Cigarettes left unattended are one of the leading causes of fatal fires in Europe. Evidence shows that the number of fatalities can be reduced by over 40% with the introduction of 'Reduced Ignition Propensity' (RIP) cigarettes. This means cigarettes which self extinguish when left unattended and which are thus less likely to cause fire. This safety measure is already in place in some countries globally (US, Canada, Australia), and, in the EU, in Finland since April 2010. As from 17th November 2011, once the new safety standards are published in the EU Official Journal all cigarettes sold in Europe will have to comply with these measures. It will be the role of the national authorities to enforce this new fire safety measure.

Brussels greenlights natural Latin American sweetener — 14 November 2011, 19:53 CET

Brussels gave its green light Monday to the use of the age-old natural South American sweetener, stevia, in foods and drinks across the European Union.

Europe switches to self-extinguishing cigarettes — 14 November 2011, 23:55 CET

It's lights out in Europe this weekend for old-style cigarettes that manufacturers haven't adapted to burn themselves out if left unattended.

Database on Food Additives — 14 November 2011, 14:08 CET

This database can serve as a tool to inform about the food additives approved for use in food in the EU and their conditions of use. It is based on the Union list of food. This list is in Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. The Union list was established after the transfer of the food additives permitted for use in foods under Directives 94/35/EC, 94/36/EC and 95/2/EC, in a new food categorisation system. Some additives and uses which are now longer needed are not entered in Annex II.

Food Additives - guide — 14 November 2011, 14:15 CET

The use of additives in food will soon become safer and more transparent thanks to two pieces of legislation adopted by the European Commission.

Health and Consumer Programmes 2014-2020 - guide — 09 November 2011, 18:28 CET

The European Commission has adopted proposals for the new Health for Growth and Consumer Programmes. The two programmes aim to foster a Europe of healthy, active, informed and empowered citizens, who can contribute to economic growth. These new programmes will run from 2014-2020 with a budget of EUR 446 million for the Health for Growth Programme and EUR 197 million for the Consumer Programme. Focus will be on fewer concrete actions that offer clear EU added-value.

Binge drinking more common in northern Europe — 09 November 2011, 13:25 CET

The relationship between drinking and damage to one's health is stronger in the Baltic countries and Sweden than in Italy, new research from Europe shows. The findings, published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, suggest that the northern part of Europe tends to report higher alcohol-harm relationships because of a stronger propensity to indulge in heavy episodic drinking, what experts label 'binge drinking'.

Health professionals in Romania warn against doctors' exodus — 27 October 2011, 21:39 CET

The Romanian College of Physicians (CMR) warned Thursday against the local doctors' exodus to Western Europe, with almost 2,000 departures in 2011.

Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed — 25 October 2011, 17:48 CET

The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) was put in place to provide food and feed control authorities with an effective tool to exchange information about measures taken responding to serious risks detected in relation to food or feed. This exchange of information helps Member States to act more rapidly and in a coordinated manner in response to a health threat caused by food or feed.