Consumer Protection

EPHA Position on food intended for infants and young children and on food for special medical purposes

On 20 June 2011, the European Commission adopted a Proposal for a Regulation on food intended for infants and young children and on food for special medical purposes. The Proposal establishes a new framework for the composition and labelling of these food categories. EPHA makes some suggestions on how to improve the current text. In 1977, the EU Directive on Foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses was adopted. Since then, the text has been revised several times, the last time (...)

Health ministers ’could have been stronger’ on health equity

On 1-2 December 2011, the Council adopted Conclusions entitled "Closing health gaps within the EU through concerted action to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours". EPHA considers that the Conclusions fall short on concrete objectives and targets that the current economic challenges would require, and the Council could have been stronger in its approach to tackling the problem. The Council of the European Union adopted, during its 1-2 December 2011 session, conclusions entitled "Closing (...)

EPHA Summary of the Joint Meeting of the HLG on Nutrition and the EU Platform for action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health

A Joint Meeting of the High Level Group on Nutrition and the EU Platform for action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health took place on 28 and 29 November 2011. Commissioner Dalli partly attended the meeting to present the developments that happened since 2010 and his expectation for the future work of the Platform. A Joint Meeting of the High Level Group on Nutrition and the EU Platform for action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health took place on 28 and 29 November 2011. Participants (...)

Agricultural Committee in the European Parliament pushes for fairer and sustainable CAP

The Agriculture and Rural Development Committee of the European Parliament agreed on the basic principles guiding the reform of the EU’s future agricultural policy after 2013. The report pushes for fairer and more ecological agricultural policy, health is included in the prelude to the report, and the unfavourable alcohol-related suggestions were rejected by the Parliamentarians. The report drafted by Albert Dess MEP (EPP, Germany) was hotly debated within all political groups (...)

Consumer information workshop at the EU Consumer SUmmit

EPHA participated in the EU Consumer`s Summit and the Policy Officer for EU Affairs took part in the workshop on “Consumer Information: Lost in the jungle – what method, what approaches work?” The focus was on barriers to effective consumer information and the need for high-quality independent information was underlined. The meeting gathered around 50 participants from consumer organisations, NGOs, business organisations and academics. Jeroen Van Laer Policy officer (...)

*UPDATED* European smoking bans - Evolution of the legislation

More and more countries in Europe are adopting stricter legislation on smoking in public places. This article will be updated regularly with information gathered by EPHA members, such as the European Network for Smoking Prevention (ENSP) and the European Respiratory Society on the progress of European countries in implementing anti-smoking legislation. Introduction In March 2004 Ireland became the first country in the world to impose an outright ban on smoking in workplaces. Irish (...)

EPHA speaks at the 5th annual Nutrition and Lifestyle Conference

On 2 and 3 March 2011, EPHA spoke at the 5th annual Nutrition and Lifestyle Conference, particularly on food taxation. The meeting gathered a broad range of stakeholders involved in nutrition-related issues and allowed a rich exchange on key issues such as labelling, health and nutrition claims and taxation notably. The meeting gathered a broad range of stakeholders involved in nutrition-related issues and allowed a rich exchange on the following key issues: reformulation and innovation, (...)

EMA Patients’ and Consumers’ Working Party (PCWP)

On 22 and 23 February 2011 EPHA was present at the plenary session of the EMA Patients’ and Consumers’ Working Party (PCWP). On the afternoon of 22 February 2011, the EMA held a brainstorming session on training for patient and consumer organisations from the European Medicines Agency. This took the form of three break-out sessions on the following topics: - 1) Web training material, 2) increased visibility of patient involvement and dissemination of information and 3) (...)

MEPs defy industry pressure and reject health claims

As announced in a previous article, the European Parliament ENVI Committee voted today, 16 March 2011, on a Motion for a Resolution opposing the authorisation of a health claim referring to children’s development. Please find below the EPHA Press Release on the Committee decision that might create a precedent. Press Release ***For immediate release*** 16 March 2011, Brussels MEPs defy industry pressure and reject health claims The European Public Health Alliance – (...)

Give your opinion on potential health risks of chemical consumer products resembling food or having child-appealing properties

The colour, odour and appearance of some products can sometimes appeal to children who ingest them with dramatic consequences in some cases. Aware of that, the European Commission and the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety launched a consultation in order to assess the potential risks of these products. You can contribute to the consultation until 11 February 2011. The European Commission and the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) launched a consultation on a scientific (...)