Public Health Policy in the EU

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

European cardiovascular disease statistics — 28 February 2008, 23:47 CET

This is the third edition of European cardiovascular disease statistics. The first edition was published in 2000 when the European Union consisted of 15 Member States. After enlargement in 2004 and then again in 2007, there are now 27 Member States. Much has changed in the last seven years, but cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the main cause of death in the EU. European Heart Network - EHN - web site.

HIV / AIDS in Europe - guide — 30 November 2007, 22:35 CET

AIDS has already claimed the lives of more than 25 million people throughout the world, while an estimated 33.2 million live with HIV – alarming numbers highlighting the need to remain vigilant vis-à-vis one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. To mark World AIDS Day, commemorated every year on December 1 2007, Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou invited European Health Ministers to join him in a pan-European effort to spread common messages on prevention and increasing the awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among young Europeans. He encouraged ministers to visit schools and 11 countries agreed to participate in this initiative. The Commissioner visited a high school in Cyprus, where he presented a new TV-spot promoting the use of condoms and safer sex and have a chat with teenage students on HIV/AIDS.

EuroSafe — 21 November 2007, 20:14 CET

EuroSafe, the European Association for Injury Prevention and safety Promotion, is the network of injury prevention champions dedicated to making Europe a safer place. Its mission is to reduce both intentional and unintentional fatal and non-fatal injuries through increased coordination and strategies that combine and build upon existing strengths and capacities.

2007 Annual report from the EU drugs agency — 08 November 2007, 18:49 CET

Drug facts, figures and analyses: across Europe and by country - Latest trends and legal, political, social and health responses - Selected issues: Drugs and driving; drug use among the under 15s; cocaine

European Community Animal Health Policy 2007-13 — 19 September 2007, 12:16 CET

The European Commission adopted on 19 September 2007 a Communication setting out the EU's animal health strategy for 2007-13. The Communication provides the framework for animal health measures over the next 6 years, taking into account extensive feedback from stakeholders and potential challenges in the future. The Commission's aim is to put greater focus on precautionary measures, disease surveillance, controls and research, in order to reduce the incidence of animal disease and minimise the impact of outbreaks when they occur. The Communication also stresses that all those with an interest in animal health with have clear responsibilities in ensuring that the goals of the new strategy are met, so that the EU's animal health policy is as robust, efficient and effective as possible in the years ahead. It also highlights the need for an integrated approach in animal health policy-making, inter-linking it with other Community policies.

Health in the European Union - Eurobarometer Sep 07 — 14 September 2007, 19:10 CET

Although European citizens appear to be generally aware of the importance of preventive medical checkups, the vast majority of them do not undergo colorectal cancer or prostate tests, an EU wide survey reveals. The Eurobarometer on "Health in the European Union," published today, which marks the European Prostate Awareness Day, indicates that only 13% of European men took the Prostate Specific Antigen Tests and only 8% of all respondents the colorectal cancer test. The survey also reveals that, in general, Europeans are aware of the importance of preventive check ups as more than six out of ten carry out dental tests and almost four out of ten get their eyes checked every year. According to the Eurobarometer, a sizeable majority of EU citizens consider themselves to be in good health. In fact, less than one in ten (7%) say that their health is bad or very bad.

EU influenza research projects — 13 September 2007, 18:18 CET

The European Commission announced on 11 September 2007 EUR 27 million of new funding for research projects in the field of influenza. This EC memo outlines the 11 projects pre-selected for funding. Final budget figures (EU contribution) and project details are subject to the final signature of contracts, and so may change. A glossary of terms used in the project descriptions is found at the end of the document.

EU policy on nutrition and obesity — 31 August 2007, 22:25 CET

Initiatives on nutrition and obesity in the European Union

EU initiatives to promote physical exercise - questions & answers — 31 August 2007, 22:29 CET

The European Commission and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) are launching a joint TV advertising campaign that aims to encourage European citizens to make physical activity part of their daily lives. The advert encourages viewers to get out of their armchairs and be physically active, using the slogan "Go on, get out of your armchair'. Millions of Europeans are expected to view the advert, as it will be screened free of charge during the half-time break of this season’s televised Champions League football games. This initiative comes at a time when poor diets and low levels of physical activity in Europe account for six of the seven leading risk factors for ill health in Europe. The lack of physical exercise, coupled with unbalanced diets, has turned obesity into a serious public health problem. In most EU Member States more than half of the adult population is overweight or obese. It is also estimated that almost 22 million children are overweight in the EU and each year this figure is growing by 400,000.

EU Information on foot and mouth disease outbreak in the UK in 2007 — 06 August 2007, 13:03 CET

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious, usually non-fatal viral disease of domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals, but may also affect certain other species. It is widely distributed throughout the world. Animals recovered from the disease may remain carriers of the infectious virus for an extended period of time. FMD is not dangerous to humans, but has a great potential for causing severe economic losses in susceptible animals.

Safety and health at work - EU report — 19 July 2007, 22:59 CET

The central role of the ‘European Agency for Safety and Health at Work’ in promoting healthier, safer and more productive workplaces is underlined in its 2006 annual report, published 16 July 2007. It shines a spotlight on last year’s impact on young workers and small businesses and shows how the Agency continues to improve the quality of working life in an expanding European Union.

EU sun exposure pictograms — 10 July 2007, 11:23 CET

New pictograms from the European Commission to inform consumers on the dangers linked to sun exposure. For use by local authorities and stakeholders in the EU Member States.

Sunscreen products: EU guide — 10 July 2007, 11:26 CET

The European Commission on 9 July 2007 launched an information initiative to alert consumers to a new sunscreen labelling regime which will be phased in from summer 2007. Sunscreen products protect from UV radiation and can be effective in preventing sun-burn and skin cancer. The EC says consumers should use sunscreens, and clearer labelling should help consumers to make informed choices. Through this information campaign the Commission is also seeking to remind consumers that there are several reasons why sunscreen products should be only one out of a number of measures to protect from the UV radiation of the sun.

EU reform of the wine market — 04 July 2007, 18:13 CET

The European Commission on 4 July adopted proposals for a wide-ranging reform of the EU's Common Market Organisation for wine. This aims to increase the competitiveness of EU producers, win back markets, balance supply and demand, simplify the rules, preserve the best traditions of EU wine production, reinforce the social fabric of rural areas and respect the environment. Under the proposals, all the inefficient market support measures – various aids for distillation, private storage aid, export refunds – would be abolished from day one. The addition of sugar to enrich wine – chaptalisation – would be banned, and aid for must for enrichment, introduced to compensate for the higher cost compared to chaptalisation, would also be abolished. Crisis distillation would be replaced by two crisis management measures, paid for from national financial envelopes. Much more money would go into promoting EU wine, particularly on third country markets. For a five-year transitional period, planting restrictions would be kept in place and uncompetitive producers would have the possibility to leave the sector with attractive financial support. After 2013, restrictions on planting would be lifted to allow competitive producers to expand their production if they so choose. Labelling rules would be made simpler, certain wine making practices accepted by all producer countries in the International Organisation of Vine and Wine would be adopted by the EU and quality policy would be based on a geographical origin approach. EU Member States would receive a national financial envelope and a menu of actions to allow them to take measures best suited to the local situation. More money would go into Rural Development to fund measures including the setting up of young wine producers and environmental protection.

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) — 02 March 2016, 15:16 CET

EFSA is a European agency funded by the European Union that operates independently of the European legislative and executive institutions (Commission, Council, Parliament) and EU Member States. It was set up in 2002 following a series of food crises in the late 1990s to be a source of scientific advice and communication on risks associated with the food chain. The agency was legally established by the EU under the General Food Law - Regulation 178/2002. The General Food Law created a European food safety system in which responsibility for risk assessment (science) and for risk management (policy) are kept separate. EFSA is responsible for the former area, and also has a duty to communicate its scientific findings to the public.

Health and Nutrition Claims: Questions and Answers — 28 June 2007, 12:32 CET

Questions and Answers about the EU Regulation on Health and Nutrition Claims.

The EU and musculoskeletal disorders — 04 June 2007, 20:49 CET

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common work-related health problem in Europe, affecting millions of workers. Across the EU27, 25 per cent of workers complain of backache and 23 per cent report muscular pains. Lighten the load, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work's 2007 campaign to tackle MSDs in the workplace, supports an integrated management approach with three key elements. First, employers, employees and government need to work together to tackle MSDs. Secondly, any actions should address the ‘whole load on the body’, which covers all the stresses and strains being placed on the body, environmental factors such as cold working conditions, and the load being carried. Thirdly, employers need to manage the retention, rehabilitation and return to work of employees with MSDs.

Organ donation and transplantation in the EU: questions & answers — 30 May 2007, 18:17 CET

The European Commission on 30 May 2007 adopted a Communication proposing actions for closer cooperation between Member States in the field of organ donation and transplantation, and announcing plans for a European Directive on quality and safety of organ donation.

Europeans and organ donations — 30 May 2007, 14:05 CET

Special Eurobarometer study on the subject of organ donations and transplantations.

Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity — 30 May 2007, 13:54 CET

White Paper from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on 'A Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity related health issues'.

Better Training for Safer Food annual report 2006 — 24 May 2007, 13:26 CET

Better Training for Safer Food is a European Union initiative aimed at organising EU training for national control authorities who are responsible for verifying compliance with food and feed law, animal health and welfare rules, and plant health rules. This report gives details of the background to the initiative and the work carried out in preparation for the launch of training activities in 2006.

Better Training for Safer Food annual report — 24 May 2007, 13:28 CET

The Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General of the European Commission manages the Better Training for Safer Food initiative. This report describes the activity of Better Training for Safer Food in 2006.

Attitudes of Europeans towards Tobacco — 22 May 2007, 12:22 CET

This survey, commissioned by the Directorate-General Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission aims to evaluate the Europeans’ attitude towards tobacco. The main themes addressed in this survey are: the level and frequency of tobacco consumption, attempts to give up smoking, level of exposure to tobacco smoke at home, at work and in public places, attitudes towards smoke-free policies, and awareness of harm caused by tobacco smoke. This survey was carried out in October and November 2006 by the TNS Opinion and Social network.

Tobacco control in the EU: questions & answers — 22 May 2007, 12:29 CET

The majority of European citizens are in favour of smoke-free policies, according to the results of a new Eurobarometer on Tobacco presented by the European Commission to mark World No Tobacco Day on 31 May.

HELP - For a life without tobacco — 27 May 2010, 16:50 CET

On May 31st 2009, World No Tobacco Day, the European Commission launched the second phase of its large media campaign aimed at tobacco prevention and cessation and informing about the dangers of passive smoking in the 27 European Union Member States, following on from the initial four year campaign carried out from 2005 to 2008. Conceived with a specific focus on young people, the European Commission´s campaign “HELP – For a life without tobacco” is one of the largest public health awareness-raising initiatives ever organised in the world. The “Help” campaign aims to offer help not to take up smoking, to quit smoking, or to address passive smoking.