Are PFAS the most worrying pollutants of our time, and can we rid ourselves of them? Invisible but ubiquitous, PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are found in everything from non-stick pans to smartphones. While these chemicals are essential to modern industry, their “eternal” nature means that they accumulate in our environment and in our bodies, […]
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The Commission establishes a working group to strengthen food safety controls on imports
The European Commission has established a task force to maintain and strengthen the EU’s capacity to ensure that imports comply with Union standards, while supporting employment and growth for EU producers. The task force will focus in particular on food and feed safety, pesticide residues and coordinated EU follow-up measures on specific imported products. It […]
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EU measures to tackle shortages of essential medicines
Investment to boost production capacity in Europe and increase autonomy “Buy European” to support production Promoting joint public procurement between Member States Drug shortages are often due to production difficulties The regulation will cover antibiotics, insulin, vaccines and medicines for chronic diseases Parliament adopted proposals to improve the availability and supply of essential medicines in […]
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Commission hosts the G7 meeting on global health security
From 12 to 14 January, the European Commission is hosting a meeting ofthe Global Health Security Initiative (an informal network of G7 countries and organisations) in Brussels, with the aim of strengthening public health preparedness and addressing new global health risks. The meeting will discuss new and emerging health threats, as well as the group’s […]
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Critical medicines: new measures to strengthen security of supply
On Monday evening, Parliament’s public health committee adopted its proposals to enhance the availability of key medicines in the EU. The draft bill, adopted with 27 votes in favour, one against and eight abstentions, aims to ensure a high level of public health protection for EU citizens by reducing the EU’s dependency on third countries […]
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Commission presents new EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan against drug trafficking
Last December 4, the Commission is presenting a new EU Drugs Strategy and an Action Plan against drug trafficking, as well as updated rules for monitoring and controlling drug precursors. Announced by President von der Leyen in the political guidelines and a key deliverable under the European Internal Security Strategy, ProtectEU, they set out a comprehensive EU response to the security, health, social […]
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Critical medicines act: Council agrees its position on new rules to tackle shortages
The Council has agreed its position on a new regulation that seeks to strengthen the EU’s resilience in the face of ongoing challenges to security of supply of critical medicines in Europe. The critical medicines act (CMA) aims to tackle shortages in key medicines such as antibiotics, insulin and painkillers by improving security of supply and availability in the […]
Read MoreEU launches plan to strengthen preparedness for cross-border health crises
Last November 28, the European Union is boosting its health preparedness architecture through the new Union prevention, preparedness and response plan for health crises. It will provide policymakers, crisis managers, and stakeholders with practical tools, such as exchanging information, expertise and technical assistance when a crisis occurs, for coordinated action in times of health crises […]
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Advances in the use of artificial intelligence for colorectal cancer screening
The European Microb-AI-ome project is collaborating with Ireland’s National Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme and its technology partner Viatel to improve artificial intelligence-assisted detection of colorectal cancer. Ireland’s National Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme (BowelScreen) is participating in the EU-funded Microb-AI-ome project, which is investigating how artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted analysis of gut microbiome data could improve colorectal […]
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