Chemicals and Pesticides

"Aspartame is safe!" EFSA’s draft opinion on aspartame opened to public feedback

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has decided to launch an open consultation on its scientific risk assessment about the safety of ’Aspartame’ (codified as E951 in the EU), the widely-used and controversial artificial sweetener. In May 2011, EFSA was asked by the Commission to re-evaluate fully the safety of aspartame. The study is now been made public and submitted for comments until February 15. Public consultation on the draft scientific opinion on the (...)

HEAL workshop on Chronic Diseases and Endocrine Disruptors - Brussels, Sept. 14

On 14 September 2012 (the day after the Health & Environment Alliance’s (HEAL) Annual General Assembly (AGA), a special workshop was organised in Brussels to highlight the growing body of science and tools related to endocrine disruptors (EDCs) and chronic diseases. It also stressed the important contribution that health groups are making in this critical area of human health. Chronic Diseases and endocrine disruptors (EDCs) Objectives of the workshop were: To facilitate (...)

European Parliament draft report on the EU Commission Proposal amending Directives regarding water policy

Chemical and Water pollution are among the main health and environmental worries expressed by EU citizens. The EU Commission proposal to amend the existing EU water legislation as regards priority substances is on the table of the Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI Committee). EPHA’s focus is on the draft European Parliament report. About the EU’s Water Policy The Water Framework Directive (WFD), adopted in 2000, takes an integrated (...)

EPHA participates in Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL) Annual General Assembly - Brussels, 13 Sept.

As a member of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), EPHA has participated both in the organisation’s Annual General Assembly and in its air quality policy workshop. Monika Kosińska, EPHA’s Secretary General, was re-elected as a Member of HEAL’s Executive Committee. HEAL’s Annual General Assembly (AGA) presented the organisation’s main achievements for the period March 2011 – March 2012. During its AGA, HEAL also elected its Executive (...)

EU ministers call for better ways to measure progress and a green economy to promote health

World leaders, activists, and opinion-makers gathered in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20 (20-22 June 2012). Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment was part of the delegation. Below you will find what the EU Council of Ministers called the EU delegation to develop and how health fit into the Rio+20 negotiation process and actions to include NCDs in the post-2105 development framework. Commissioner Potnick called for new (...)

Sign up to support more action on COPD!

As a follow up to its launch in the European Parliament, the European COPD Coalition has launched a call for support to its call for action. People living in Europe, stakeholders can sign up to the Call and show that they believe the issue requires political action. Support the Call to Action Key facts and figures COPD the unknown disease The European COPD Coalition calls for action and support from the EU decision makers to help fight the disease and reduce its financial, social and (...)

2012 EU Health Calls for proposals released

The European Commission released the work plan 2012 for the Health Programme. The deadline for the submission of proposals is 9 March 2012. The work plan sets out activities that the European Commission may co-fund in the field of health. The deadline for submission of proposals is 9 March 2012. information on how to apply for EU co-financing for projects, conferences, joint actions with Member States and operating grants for non-governmental organisations. 2012 budget for Projects: (...)

EPHA Report from the EFSA Stakeholder Consultative Platform - November 2011

A meeting of the EFSA Stakeholder Consultative Platform took place on the 17th and 18th of November 2011. EPHA attended the two-day meeting and summarises below some of its key outcomes. The broad range of participants that attented this two-day meeting allowed a rich exchange on a variety of items: the recent organisation’s developments (EFSA’s involvement in the Escherichiacoli STEC 0104:H4 pandemic, work on Bisphenol A, Aspartame etc.) the draft Science Strategy for (...)

EU to ban use of Bisphenol A in baby bottles

Using the precautionary principle, EU governments decided to ban the production of baby bottles containing bisphenol A. The EU directive (2011/8/EU) on the ban on bisphenol A in baby bottles entered into force on the 1st of March 2011. Member states will no longer be allowed to import and sell bisphenol A baby bottles on the market from the 1st of June 2011 onwards. According to a study conducted by the French Institute of Research in Agronomy last October, BPA could increase the (...)

HEAL event - Registration opens for the third Paris Appeal International Congress

The third Paris Appeal International Congress, organised by HEAL member ARTAC in partnership with the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the International Society for Doctors for the Environment (ISDE), will be held in Paris on 12-13 April 2011. This year the focus will be on children’s environment and health. Following the conference, there will be a three-day training course on environmental medicine open to medical professionals. To read more on the event and to register, (...)