Euro Brief
July 2007, No: 07/2007
EU publishes White Paper on Sport
Green Paper on bio-preparedness
Consultation - Reprocessing of medical devices
Consultation - The future of pharmaceuticals use in Europe
Commission sends reasoned opinion to UK over cross border healthcare
European Parliament resolution on access to medicines
Adapting to climate change – the health aspect
Health effects of smokeless tobacco products
Tackling cardiovascular disease
Units of measurement - Use of metric units in medical devices
MEPs question euthanasia laws
Consultation - New anti-discrimination measures
Mid-term review of environment and health action plan
Strengthened EU-US cooperation on medical devices
EU publishes White Paper on Sport
The European Commission has published a White Paper on Sport which aims to provide strategic orientation on the role of sport in the EU. This is the first time that the Commission has addressed the issue of sport which has traditionally been a national competence. The paper details a number of new initiatives including the development of physical activity guidelines and the establishment of a pluri-annual EU Health-Enhancing Physical Activity network. The Commission will organise a conference to discuss the White Paper with sport stakeholders in October. The document is available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/sport/index_en.html
Green Paper on bio-preparedness
The European Commission has adopted a Green Paper on bio-preparedness. The aim of the paper is to stimulate debate and to launch a process of consultation at European level on how to reduce biological risks, and to enhance preparedness and response capabilities. The paper is open to consultation until 1 October 2007 and can be found at:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0399en01.pdf
Consultation - Reprocessing of medical devices
The European Commission is currently analysing the question of the reprocessing of medical devices in order to prepare a report, in line with European legislation on the issue. An online questionnaire is open for comment until 15 August 2007 and can be found at the address below:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/medical_devices/reprocessing-questionnnaire.doc
Consultation - The future of pharmaceuticals use in Europe
The Commission has released a public consultation on the future of the EU pharmaceutical market. The consultation covers issues such as pharmacovigilance, patient safety, information to patients, clinical trials and new technologies. Following this public debate, the Commission intends to present a communication on the issue later in the year. The consultation is open until 12 October 2007. Please contact the Brussels Office if you would like to submit a BMA response.
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/pharmaceuticals/pharmacos/docs/doc2007/2007_07/consultationpaper-2007-07-19.pdf
Commission sends reasoned opinion to UK over cross border healthcare
The Commission has sent a ‘reasoned opinion’ to the UK and Spain over their failure to implement past European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings regarding the reimbursement of emergency healthcare received abroad. In the Vanbraeckel ruling, the Court ruled that patients should be reimbursed for scheduled hospital care received abroad, even if the cost was higher than the cost in their home Member State. The Commission has decided that this should also apply in the case of emergency care received when abroad. If the two countries fail to comply with the reasoned opinion within the prescribed period, the ECJ can impose a penalty fine. Further information on proceedings can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/eulaw/index_en.htm#infraction
European Parliament resolution on access to medicines
MEPs have adopted a resolution that calls for more to be done to help developing countries to access medicines. The resolution asks the Council to support developing countries and to use the flexibilities enshrined in the TRIPS Agreement. The resolution also calls for the Commission and Member States to provide financial support for the local production of pharmaceuticals in developing countries and asks the Commission to grant funding for R&D on poverty-related, tropical and neglected diseases. The resolution can be viewed at:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2007-0353+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN
Adapting to climate change – the health aspect
The Commission has published a Green Paper on possible policy options at the EU level in order to adapt to climate change. The paper has a strong health component and covers issues such as the health impact of extreme weather events and an increase in infectious diseases both within the EU and beyond. The paper is open for public consultation until 30 November 2007 – please contact the Brussels Office if you would like the BMA to submit a response.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0354en01.pdf
Health effects of smokeless tobacco products
The EU’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) has prepared an opinion on the health effects and the addiction potential of smokeless tobacco products. The report examines the role of such products in smoking initiation and cessation. Interested parties have been invited to send their comments on the preliminary opinion until 28 September 2007.
The preliminary version of the opinion can be found here:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/docs/scenihr_o_009.pdf
A document with guidelines for submission of contributions can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scher/docs/cons_guidelines_en.pdf
Tackling cardiovascular disease
The European Parliament has called on Member States and the Commission to increase their measures to tackle cardiovascular disease. MEPs are asking the Commission to bring forward a policy recommendation to promote regular exchanges of experience and data between all those involved in combating the disease and to encourage tobacco and alcohol controls, better dietary habits and more physical activity. Meanwhile, Member States are urged to develop health impact assessments to measure the burden of these ailments on national healthcare systems. The full text of the Parliament resolution can be viewed at:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/dv/665/665408/665408en.pdf
Units of measurement - Use of metric units in medical devices
The European Commission has published a summary of responses received to its recent consultation on units of measurement. Following lobbying from certain areas of the health community, it is likely that specific medical devices will be exempt from future legislation. The report can be read at:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/prepack/unitmeas/public_consultat_report_26jun07.pdf
MEPs question euthanasia laws
A cross party group of MEPs held a public hearing in the European Parliament this month which called for a wide-ranging review of the law on euthanasia. MEPs stressed that they do not want to harmonise legislation on physician assisted suicide but want to establish a network of legislators who would regulate the practice throughout the EU. In 2004, MEPs passed a motion supporting medically-assisted dying for those suffering unendurable pain with no hope of recovery.
Consultation - New anti-discrimination measures
The European Commission has launched an online consultation on combating discrimination in Member States and at the EU level. The public consultation will help the Commission plan new measures to tackle discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in areas beyond the job market. The consultation is open until 15 October and can be viewed at:
http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/consultations/index_en.htm
Mid-term review of environment and health action plan
The European Commission has adopted its mid-term review of the environment and health action plan which runs from 2004 to 2010. Overall the review paints a positive picture of progress made in the 13 action points. The review can be read at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/health/pdf/sec_2007_777_en.pdf
Strengthened EU-US cooperation on medical devices
The European Commission and the US government will from now on be able to exchange confidential information about the safety of cosmetics and medical devices following the signing of a new agreement. The bilateral trade volume in medical devices is large, with each trading partner exporting about €6.5 billion to the other on an annual basis.