Public Health Policy in the EU

Latest news on the public health policy of the European Union.

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Patient rights in the EU — 16 May 2013, 12:17 CET

European Patients' Rights Day was on 16 May. The European Commission took the opportunity to list some of the rights and benefits afforded to patients in the EU.

EU sets out post-horsemeat food standards revamp — 07 May 2013, 10:57 CET

The European Commission set out Monday what it said would be a revolution in food safety from farm to fork, drawn up in response to the scandal of horse meat sold as beef.

European Month of the Brain — 30 April 2013, 23:22 CET

At the start of its 'European Month of the Brain' initiative, the European Commission has earmarked some EUR 150 million of funding for 20 new international brain research projects. It will bring the total EU investment in brain research since 2007 to over €1.9 billion. The 'European Month of the Brain' (#brainmonth) will highlight European research and innovation in the area of neuroscience, cognition and related areas through over 50 events across Europe this May. The initiative aims to showcase the latest achievements in the field, but also to urge a more decisive effort to combat brain diseases. It also aims at highlighting how studying the brain can revolutionise computing. The initiative comes as the profile of brain research has been raised recently with ambitious new projects in the EU (FET Flagship Human Brain Project) and the US (BRAIN project).

Five doctors jailed for Kosovo organ trafficking — 29 April 2013, 20:11 CET

An EU-led court in Kosovo on Monday jailed five doctors for organ trafficking at a Pristina clinic in the first such case in the breakaway territory which has already faced allegations of similar crimes during and after its 1998-99 war.

European test results on horse DNA and Phenylbutazone — 16 April 2013, 17:59 CET

Coordinated EU-wide testing for horse meat DNA and phenylbutazone, requested, and co-financed, by the European Commission in the wake of the horse meat scandal, reveal that less than 5 % of the tested products had horse DNA and that about 0.5 % of the equine carcasses tested were found to be contaminated with bute.

EU tests show 1 in 20 beef meals tainted with horse — 16 April 2013, 19:40 CET

Thousands of DNA tests on European beef products have revealed extensive food fraud across the European Union, with almost one in 20 meals marketed as beef likely to be tainted with horse.

Ban on animal testing — 11 March 2013, 18:01 CET

The Cosmetics Directive provides the regulatory framework for the phasing out of animal testing for cosmetics purposes. It establishes a prohibition to test finished cosmetic products and cosmetic ingredients on animals (testing ban), and a prohibition to market in the European Union finished cosmetic products and ingredients included in cosmetic products which were tested on animals for cosmetics purposes (marketing ban). The same provisions are contained in the Cosmetics Regulation, which replaces the Cosmetics Directive as of 11 July 2013. The testing ban on finished cosmetic products applies since 11 September 2004; the testing ban on ingredients or combination of ingredients applies since 11 March 2009. The marketing ban applies since 11 March 2009 for all human health effects with the exception of repeated-dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and toxicokinetics. For these specific health effects the marketing ban applies since 11 March 2013, irrespective of the availability of alternative non-animal tests.

Full EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics — 11 March 2013, 18:03 CET

11 March 2013 is the last deadline to phase out animal testing for cosmetic products in Europe enters into force. As of today, cosmetics tested on animals cannot be marketed any more in the EU. A Communication adopted by the European Commission today confirms the its commitment to respect the deadline set by Council and Parliament in 2003 and outlines how it intends to further support research and innovation in this area while promoting animal welfare world-wide.

Coal-fired power plants making Europeans sick: report — 07 March 2013, 15:33 CET

Emissions from coal-fired power plants in the European Union contribute to over 18,000 premature deaths a year and cost an annual 42.8 billion euros, a report from the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) said on Thursday.

Horsemeat scandal shows need for stiffer sanctions: EU — 28 February 2013, 18:23 CET

Brussels plans stiffer sanctions against food fraud following the discovery of mislabelled ready made meals across Europe containing horse meat instead of beef, says the Health Commissioner.

EU health research on rare diseases — 28 February 2013, 13:10 CET

In the European Union, a disease is considered rare when it affects not more than 1 person in 2 000. This low prevalence is the common feature shared by all rare diseases, which altogether affect all biological systems. This nevertheless means that between 6 000 and 8 000 different rare diseases affect or will affect an estimated 29 million people in the European Union. The focus of rare diseases research in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7; 2007-2013) is on Europe-wide studies of natural history, pathophysiology and on the development of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

New research on rare diseases — 28 February 2013, 13:17 CET

The European Commission has, on Rare Disease Day 2013, announced EUR 144 million of new funding for 26 research projects on rare diseases. The projects will help improve the lives of some of the 30 million Europeans suffering from a rare disease. The selected projects bring together over 300 participants from 29 countries in Europe and beyond, including teams from leading academic institutions, SMEs and patients' groups. The goal is to pool resources and work beyond borders, to get a better understanding of rare diseases and find adequate treatments.

EU releases EUR 144m for rare disease research — 28 February 2013, 18:19 CET

The European Union has pledged 144 million euros of fresh funding for research on rare diseases that currently affect some 30 million Europeans, the majority of them children.

Protection against exposure to hazardous chemicals — 27 February 2013, 23:45 CET

The European Commission has proposed to better protect workers from risks linked to exposure to chemicals at the workplace.

Cutting smoking saves more in health bills than lost tax: EU — 26 February 2013, 14:04 CET

The cost and health benefits of getting people not to smoke and better still, not to start, more than outweigh the taxes the tobacco industry pays to governments, says the European Commission.

Overview of smoke-free legislation and its implementation in the EU — 22 February 2013, 13:24 CET

Protection from second hand smoke has improved considerably in the EU, according to a report published by the European Commission on 22 February 2013. 28% of Europeans were exposed to second hand smoke in bars in 2012 - down from 46% in 2009. The report is based on self-reporting by the 27 Member States, following the 2009 Council Recommendation on Smoke-free Environments (2009/C 296/02), which called upon governments to adopt and implement laws to fully protect their citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke in enclosed public places, workplaces and public transport. The report dispels concerns about smoking bans impacting negatively on the revenues of bars and restaurants, by showing that the economic impact has been limited, neutral and even positive over time. However, the report also illustrates that some Member States are lagging behind, in terms of comprehensive laws protecting public health, and enforcement.

EU approves testing plan to halt horsemeat scandal — 16 February 2013, 13:29 CET

The European Union has agreed the immediate launch of tests for horse DNA in meat products, seeking to reassure nervous consumers that their food is safe and to end the horse meat scandal spreading across Europe.

No need to panic over horsemeat scandal: Commissioner — 15 February 2013, 13:13 CET

The EU's top health official on Friday said there was no need to panic over a Europe-wide horse meat scandal, saying it was a labelling rather than a health issue.

Brussels calls for DNA tests across EU on beef products — 13 February 2013, 22:03 CET

The European Commission on Wednesday said it would call on all European Union states to carry out DNA tests on beef products to check the presence of horse meat.

Britain, Ireland want DNA testing after horsemeat fraud — 13 February 2013, 18:54 CET

Ministers from Britain and Ireland called Wednesday for DNA checks on processed foods as part of a rapid EU response to the horse meat scandal widening across Europe.

EU says too early to impose meat labelling — 13 February 2013, 10:41 CET

The European Commission says it is too early to require labelling on meat used in processed foods despite growing uproar over horse meat being passed off as beef in frozen hamburgers and lasagne.

EU drug markets report: key findings — 31 January 2013, 17:56 CET

Europe is entering an important new era in the supply and demand for illicit drugs -- a development which is challenging current policies and responses. This is according to the first joint EU drug markets report from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and Europol released today in Brussels. The two EU agencies have joined forces to provide the first strategic analysis of the European illicit drug market in its entirety. In the report, they describe a market which is increasingly dynamic, innovative and quick to react to challenges and one which requires an equally dynamic, innovative and agile response across Europe. The report unveils the ‘changing face of organised crime in Europe’: while, historically, the EU drug market has focused on specific drugs trafficked by specialised operators along well-defined routes, the contemporary market is more ‘fluid’, with new routes and multi-substance consignments becoming more common.

Graphene, 'Human Brain Project' get EUR 2bn funds — 28 January 2013, 16:43 CET

Research into the wonder material graphene and the neurochemistry of the human brain will receive up to two billion euros in funding, the biggest research award of its kind in history, says the Commission.

EU freezes approval of GM crops to 2014 — 22 January 2013, 18:29 CET

The European Commission has decided to freeze the approval process for genetically modified food crops through the end of its mandate next year while it works towards an agreement with Member States.

Europe's tobacconists march against EU smoking crackdown — 22 January 2013, 22:26 CET

Thousands of tobacconists from across Europe marched on European Union headquarters on Tuesday to protest against a planned EU crackdown on smoking that includes gruesome health warnings on packets.