What's new?
Consumers |
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EU investigates consumer credit websites - a market underperforming for consumers Were you ever about to sign a contract for a personal loan, credit card, or other consumer credit and discovered that it was all working out more expensive than you had first expected? [ Press release ] [ Q&As ] [ Read more ] |
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Consumers to get faster, easier and cheaper solutions to disputes with EU traders 29 November 2011 – The Commission's new legislative proposals ensure that EU consumers solve their disputes with traders without going to court. Online shoppers from other EU countries will be able to solve their disputes directly online within 30 days. [ Press release ] [ Q&As ] [ Read more ] |
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Consumers: EU move to reduce cigarette ignited fires to save hundreds of lives each year Cigarettes left unattended are one of the leading causes of fatal fires in Europe. Evidence shows that the number of fatalities can be reduced by over 40% with the introduction of 'Reduced Ignition Propensity' (RIP) cigarettes i.e. cigarettes which self-extinguish when left unattended and are thus less likely to cause fire. |
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Proposals for the new Health for Growth and Consumer programmes 2014-2020 Commissioner Dalli today presented proposals for the new Health for Growth and Consumer Programmes. The two programmes aim to foster a Europe of healthy, active, informed and empowered EU citizens which can contribute to economic growth. These proposals will be discussed by the Council and European Parliament from December 2011. The new Regulations should enter into force in 2014. |
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Air Passengers’ Rights – Report from the European Consumer Centres On 28 October 2011, the European Consumer Centres Network publish their report “Air Passengers Rights Report 2011 – in the aftermath of the Volcanic Ash Crisis”, highlighting problems that passengers in the EU experienced in 2010 and still do today i.e. cancelled flights and lost luggage. The report examines the help available to passengers in those circumstances. |
Health |
 | Commissioner Dalli visits the European Medicines Agency in London
On this occasion the European Commission is launching a video to explain to citizens the system of authorisation for all medicines circulating in the EU. |
 | First lessons from the breast implant fraud: scientific study needed on the health impacts
After today's publication of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) on the safety of silicone products made by Poly Implant Prothèse, the Commission requested another in-depth study on the health impact of faulty breast implants. |
 | Winners of the EU Health Journalism Prize
A team of two British journalists, Ben Hirschler and Kate Kelland, writing about antimicrobial resistance, won first prize for their article "When the drugs don't work". The prize rewards the work of journalists across Europe who have raised awareness on healthcare and patients' rights issues. This year, for the first time, a special prize for articles on smoking cessation was awarded to Monika Cetera. |
 | Public consultation on good manufacturing practice of active substances in medicines for human use
The Commission is launching a public consultation on a concept paper "Principles and guidelines of good manufacturing practice for active substances in medicinal products for human use". |
 | Ex-smokers are unstoppable - iCoach : a gift for the New Year´s resolution
Giving up cigarettes during the festive season may be tough but making New Year resolutions isn't. |
Food |
 | Decrease in BSE cases in cattle in the EU in 2010
Statistics in the Commission report published today show a decrease of 33% in the cases and prevalence of BSE in tested bovines in the EU in 2010 - 45 cases versus 67 in 2009. This result follows the favourable trend of previous years. The report also gives the latest data and statistics on classical and atypical scrapie in sheep and goats in EU countries. Read more |
 | Commission plan to combat antimicrobial resistance
The Communication on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presented today on the eve of European Antibiotics Awareness Day, sets a 5-year action plan to tackle the growing problem of AMR through 12 concrete actions. Read more ... Communication in all EU languages  (963 KB)
Press release MEMO |
 | Hearing on "Socio-economic dimensions of GMO cultivation" under the chairmanship of Commissioner Dalli
The Commission held a conference in Brussels on "socio-economic dimensions of GMO cultivation" on 18 October 2011, under the chairmanship of Commissioner John Dalli. Members of the European Parliament, EU countries' competent authorities, non-EU countries, industry, NGOs and the scientific community were invited to express their views. The debate was web streamed and might be viewed at: http://scic.ec.europa.eu/str/index.php?sessionno=d37124c4c79f357cb02c655671a432fa Agenda of this event, including the presentations |
 | New EFSA opinion on genetically modified cotton of 16 Sept. 2011
The opinion concerns the renewal of an authorisation for marketing food and feed produced from MON 531 cotton. The public has one month to comment on the opinion. |
 | Two new EFSA opinions on genetically modified soybean for food and feed uses have been published on 26 July 2011
In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed, the public may make comments on these opinions during 1 month. |
Animals |
 | A new Animal Welfare Strategy: European Commission seeks quality upgrade
The European Commission today adopted a new four-year strategy (2012-2015) that aims to further improve the welfare of animals in the European Union. [ Press release ] [ Q&As ] [ Read more ] |
 | International conference on the EU animal welfare strategy
The Commission and the EU Danish Presidency are organising the conference "Implementing animal welfare through the new EU strategy: consumer empowerment and market opportunities" in Brussels on 29 February - 1 March 2012. Read more |
 | Bringing your pets into the EU
The Commission recently adopted a new set of certificates for the entry of pets - cats, dogs and ferrets - into the EU, applicable from 1 January 2012. The conditions for bringing your pets into the EU remain largely unchanged. However, the requirements for rabies vaccination and pre-import tests are now the same for entry into all 27 EU countries. Particular conditions for anti-parasite treatment also apply to pets entering Finland, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom. More information |
 | Improved transport conditions for animals but still not ideal
A Commission report published today concludes that the protection of animals during transport has improved since the relevant regulation entered into force on 1 January 2007. It highlights the problems hampering improvements in animal transport conditions. The Commission envisages a number of measures to improve enforcement of current rules and increase animal welfare during transport. Read more... |
 | Over 350 people from 300 organisations, companies and countries took part in the conference on "Crisis Management in the Food Chain", 19-20 May in Brussels. Subjects ranged from the dangers of modelling, the EU response to avian flu, animal welfare in times of crisis, how the UK has moved on since FMD in 2001, capacity-building in developing countries to what we have got wrong/right in the media. Read more... |
Plants
 | European Conference on EU Plant Variety Rights in the 21st Century
A Conference on EU Plant Variety Rights in the 21st Century will be held in Brussels on 11 October 2011. The conference will communicate and discuss the results of the evaluation of the Community Plant Variety Rights legislation and will consider the way forward. The aim is to gain a clear view on the position of the various stakeholder groups with regard to the recommendations made in the evaluation report. Read more... |
 | On 30 March 2011 the Commission adopted a modification of the structure of its Directorate General for Health & Consumers. The new organigrammewill come into effect on 16 May 2011. |
 | The Commisssion and the Mediterranean Member States discussed control and eradication of red palm weevil
A strategy to control and eradicate the red palm weevil, an insect which attacks palm trees, was discussed by experts from all affected Member States and the Commission during a conference in Valencia, Spain on 5 and 6 May 2010. |
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