In December, EFA participated in the second stage of the European Commission Directorate General for Climate Action consultation to review the current Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation.
Some F-Gases, as they are commonly known, are an important element of liquid inhalers used for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as they act as a propellant to quickly release the liquid medication into the lungs effortlessly. This legislation is paramount to shape the future inhaler-based treatment for asthma and COPD patients in Europe and beyond.
Our response
EFA responded to the questionnaire highlighting that despite being a legislation to combat climate change, the European Commission has now the opportunity to also tackle further address:
- The health requirements to reduce the use of Metered-Dose-Inhalers (MDIs) in Europe, working on issues such as, the application of clinical guidelines, the MDI use and administration, patients’ rights, needs and treatment choices, personalised medicine and alternative medicine development and affordability
- The fact that the current EU F-Gases Regulation has not contributed to inform people about the implications of their treatment. Many patients are not empowered to play full part in their care, as well as the environmental impact of their treatments. Informing about environmental impact must come with the information on what the solutions are.
You can read EFA full response to the F-Gases consultation and the roadmap.
More information about the F-Gases consultation.