eGov monitor - Latest Health Announcements

Commissioner Dalli Calls For Immediate Actions Concerning The Safety Of Medical Devices

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:21:49 +0000

Good morning ladies and gentlemen,

I am here today to talk to you about improving patient safety in the wake of the PIP breast implant incident.

Highways Agency Advice To Drivers As Severe Weather Returns

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:21:42 +0000

The Highways Agency is advising drivers to check the weather forecast and road conditions before travelling today and into Friday after the Met Office issued a weather warning for snow and icy conditions across many parts of England.

Monitor Seeks Comments On Proposed Licensing Regime

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:28:19 +0000

Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts, has published a number of documents as part of its ongoing engagement on the proposed licensing regime. The closing date for comments is 5 March 2012.

EU Development Cooperation With Burma/Myanmar

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:07:30 +0000

The European Commission has been providing development assistance to Myanmar (Burma) since 1996, and to the tune of �174 million. Bilateral relations are framed by the EU Council Decision which imposes sanctions on individuals and entities, import restrictions, and restrict the scope of development cooperation to human rights, democracy, governance, conflict prevention, civil society, health and education, poverty alleviation and environmental protection.

European Commission Calls For Immediate Actions - Tighten Controls, Increase Surveillance, Restore Confidence

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:07:27 +0000

European Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli today called on Member States for immediate action to be taken at national level to ensure full and stringent implementation of the current legislation on medical devices. Following the discovery of the fraudulent use of non medical grade silicone in breast implants manufactured by the Poly Implant Proth�se (PIP) Company in France, the priority now is for the Member States and the Commission to act together to tighten controls, provide a better guarantee of the safety of medical devices and to restore patient confidence in the law that protects them. Commissioner Dalli has outlined his proposals for a joint plan of immediate measures in a letter written to the EU's Health ministers, asking for their full co-operation in beginning work without delay.

NHS Reforms: Local clinical commissioning groups will control �65bn following reforms

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:18:31 +0000

Data from England�s Department for Health show that doctors and health professionals will have access to NHS funds of �65 billion beginning April 2013, provided the government�s plans to push reforms scrape through.

Budget For Economic Recovery

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:55:40 +0000

Transport, housing, health and digital projects will receive new investment to help boost the economy, Finance Secretary John Swinney told Parliament today.

Race Against Time To Avert Hunger In The Sahel

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:22:10 +0000

The European Commission is scaling up its humanitarian assistance to �123.5 million for the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa where 12 million people are at risk of hunger.

New EU Rules For �Organic Wine� Agreed

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:22:08 +0000

New EU rules for �organic wine� have been agreed in the Standing Committee on Organic Farming (SCOF), and will be published in the Official Journal in the coming weeks. With the new regulation, which will apply from the 2012 harvest, organic wine growers will be allowed to use the term �organic wine� on their labels. The labels must also show the EU-organic-logo and the code number of their certifier, and must respect other wine labelling rules. Although there are already rules for �wine made from organic grapes�, these do not cover wine-making practices, i.e. the whole process from grape to wine. Wine is the one remaining sector not fully covered by the EU rules on organic farming standards under Regulation 834/2007.

MEMO On Organic Wine Rules - Frequently Asked Questions

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:22:06 +0000

What does "organic" mean?

"Organic" farming relates to agricultural production systems that seek to provide the consumer with fresh, tasty and authentic food while respecting natural life-cycle systems. Typical organic practices include: strict limits on chemical pesticides and fertilisers, appropriate livestock farming practices (e.g. free range or open air systems, primarily organic feed), a strict ban on the use of Genetically-Modified Organisms, limits on processing aids and food additives.