Policy Round-Up
The results of the HealthVent project were presented at the European Parliament (see article above) and the European Commission was requested to issue a Green Paper on indoor air quality in conjunction with the EU Year of Air and the revision of the EU air legislation. EFA is preparing a briefing on the Commission’s proposal for the Seventh Environmental Action Programme (7 EAP), “Living well, within the limits of our planet”. Together with our partner organisation, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), we are preparing an advocacy campaign to strengthen the points that interest patients with asthma, allergy and COPD (such as clean air, chemicals, climate change). To this extent, EFA has submitted a response to the European Commission’s public consultation on the future of EU air policies. In the field of tobacco control, EFA has been liaising with other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in the field to strengthen the provisions of the new Tobacco Products Directive proposed by the Commission last December. A meeting on the 26th of February organised by the Smoke-Free Partnership and other 9 associations focused on the presentation of the main provisions of the proposed Directive and the way NGOs can act to oppose the tobacco industry during the negotiations at EU level. The new Medical Devices Regulation that was proposed by the Commission last September is currently under discussion at the European Parliament and at the Council and EFA has been active in meeting Members of the European Parliament to try to ensure that the rights of patients with allergy, asthma and COPD are taken into account. The ENVI committee of the European Parliament organised a public hearing on the subject on the 26th of Febraury and it can be watched online. In addition, EFA has followed other EU legislation affecting our disease areas and under discussion at the Council and the European Parliament. This is particularly the case of the Clinical Trials Regulation that has been discussed at the EP committees responsible for the report and opinions on this.