Public Health Policy in the EU

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

MEPs move to ban use of phosphates in kebabs — 29 November 2017, 14:16 CET

The European Parliament could veto a Commission proposal to allow phosphates in kebab meat, following serious concerns over a potential link between phosphates used as food additives and heart disease.

Not enough prevention: EU health systems report — 27 November 2017, 22:38 CET

Only 3 per cent of EU countries' health budgets is spent on prevention, with 80 per cent spent on treatment of diseases, the EU Commission reported on Thursday in a set of 28 'country health profiles'.

State of Health in the EU — 22 November 2018, 17:46 CET

The State of Health in the EU is a two-year initiative undertaken by the European Commission that provides policy makers, interest groups, and health practitioners with factual, comparative data and insights into health and health systems in EU countries. The cycle is developed in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

UK's EU agencies set for Amsterdam, Paris after Brexit — 20 November 2017, 23:20 CET

EU 27 ministers on Monday selected Paris as the new seat for the European Banking Authority, and Amsterdam as the new seat for the European Medicines Agency, to following Britain's exit from the EU.

European Week for Safety and Health at Work — 27 October 2017, 00:11 CET

Held each year in October (calendar week 43), the European Week for Safety and Health at Work is a highlight of every Healthy Workplaces Campaign. With hundreds of awareness-raising events taking place across the EU and beyond — and extra impetus given to media coverage — it is an ideal opportunity to get involved in the campaign.

10 years of the EU Paediatric Regulation — 26 October 2017, 23:08 CET

The European Commission presented a report on 26 October to the European Parliament and the EU Council on progress made in children's medicines since the Paediatric Regulation came into force 10 years ago.

EU votes in stricter limits on exposure to carcinogens at work — 25 October 2017, 23:35 CET

Stricter EU rules to better protect workers from exposure to carcinogens at work - which could help save up to 100,000 lives in the next 50 years - won the EU Parliament’s final approval Wednesday.

Pesticides must be checked for harmful chemicals: MEPs — 12 October 2017, 20:45 CET

MEPs at a public hearing Wednesday discussed the EU risk assessment of the herbicide glyphosate, demanding that pesticides be checked for endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Sustainable use of pesticides — 10 October 2017, 17:44 CET

This European Commission website contains links to EU Member States' websites on sustainable use of pesticides, including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) , with a view to facilitate the exchange of information between them and increase the flow of relevant information to farmers and the general public.

EU countries should use pesticides more sustainably: report — 13 October 2017, 12:12 CET

A report on the sustainable use of pesticides Directive adopted on 10 October 2017 by the European Commission takes stock of progress made by the EU Member States in applying measures to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticides. It covers a wide range of topics such as aerial spraying, information to the public or training of professionals. The report indicates insufficient implementation of the Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides.

EU appraises bids for agencies leaving Britain after Brexit — 03 October 2017, 20:38 CET

The EU Commission published Monday its assessment of the 27 offers received from Member States to host the European Banking Authority and the European Medicines Agency - currently located in the United Kingdom.

European Banking Authority and European Medicines Agency after Brexit - Commission assessment of country offers — 03 October 2017, 18:26 CET

European Commission publishes assessment of Member State offers to host European Banking Authority and European Medicines Agency after Brexit

Work-related accidents cost EU EUR 476 bn a year — 06 September 2017, 22:22 CET

Work-related ill-health and injury costs the EU 3.3 per cent of its GDP, or EUR 476 billion every year, according to new estimates of the cost of poor occupational safety and health presented Monday.

Rapid Alert System for Food & Feed (RASFF) — 10 August 2017, 23:12 CET

Launched nearly four decades ago, in 1979, the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) is primarily an IT tool designed to swiftly exchange information between national authorities on health risks related to food and feed.

23 cities bid to host UK-based EU agencies after Brexit — 03 August 2017, 22:09 CET

The EU Commission began assessment Tuesday of Member States' applications to host the two European Union agencies currently based in the UK, with 23 cities putting in bids.

Brussels mulls digital initiatives for healthcare — 20 July 2017, 23:09 CET

The European Commission launched a public consultation Thursday on how Europe should promote digital innovation in health and care, for the benefits of citizens and health systems in Europe.

EU Member States vote to reduce presence of acrylamide carcinogen in food — 23 July 2017, 15:06 CET

EU Member States representatives voted Wednesday to reduce the presence in food of acrylamide - designated by the EU food safety agency as a carcinogenic substance in 2015.

Endocrine disruptors — 07 July 2017, 00:31 CET

EU Member States representatives voted on 4 July in favour of the European Commission's proposal on scientific criteria to identify endocrine disruptors in the field of plant protection products. This is seen as an important step towards greater protection of citizens from harmful substances.

Carcinogens at work: EU Council, Parliament reach agreement — 29 June 2017, 22:54 CET

The EU presidency and European Parliament reached a provisional agreement Wednesday on a new directive to help protect workers from exposure to carcinogens or mutagens in the workplace.

EU launches action to tackle antimicrobial resistance — 29 June 2017, 22:36 CET

The European Commission launched Thursday a new EU action plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance - a growing threat responsible for 25,000 deaths and a loss of EUR 1.5 billion in the EU every year.

EU agrees better protection for workers from cancer-causing substances — 15 June 2017, 22:37 CET

EU Member States reached a general agreement Thursday to guarantee the protection at the workplace of more than 4 million workers from exposure to cancer-causing chemical substances.

Top EU Court upholds ban on sugar health claims — 08 June 2017, 15:39 CET

The EU's top Court upheld a Commission ban on health claims relating to glucose Thursday, saying these encouraged sugar consumption against generally accepted principles of nutrition and health.

Legal highs factsheet — 07 June 2017, 22:57 CET

What are legal highs, why are they a threat, and what should be done to tackle them - questions & answers

Synthetic opioids a growing health threat: EU report — 07 June 2017, 18:38 CET

Highly potent synthetic opioids pose a growing health threat, according to an EU report Tuesday which highlights rising overdose deaths and continued availability of new psychoactive substances.

EU probes Aspen price hikes for cancer drugs — 17 May 2017, 17:38 CET

The European Commission opened Monday a formal investigation into concerns that Aspen Pharma has engaged in excessive pricing concerning five life-saving cancer medicines.