Health
Mercury in the water: 40% of Europe’s lakes and rivers contaminated
40% of the EU’s surface water bodies are contaminated with levels of mercury, endangering birds and marine mammals. An article by our partner, the Journal de l’Environnement.
Would Europe be prepared for the next big epidemic? Yes, but…
The EU's preparedness for outbreaks of infectious disease has increased, but member states still need to overcome ethical, administrative, regulatory and logistic bottlenecks for boosting clinical research, medical experts said at a scientific meeting in Brussels.
Drug industry reacts to Oxfam’s allegations of tax-dodging
Four of the world’s biggest pharma companies appear to hide their profits in tax havens, according to a report published by Oxfam on Tuesday (18 September). Businesses said they are in the clear.
Beer boss: Mandatory alcohol labelling should respect EU food information to consumers law
If EU legislators decide to move away from self-regulation in the area of alcohol labelling, the legislation should respect the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation, Pierre-Olivier Bergeron, the secretary-general of the Brewers of Europe told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
OLAF: Up to France to request help on genuine cigarettes smuggled from Algeria
The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) stands ready to assist member states, such as France, in the fight against illicit tobacco trade with third countries, but it’s up to the national authorities to make a request, OLAF told EURACTIV.com. “OLAF will...
European Parliament warns of the dangers of Lyme disease
MEPs have called for the EU to set out guidelines on Lyme disease, a condition transmitted by ticks affecting between 650,000 and 850,000 Europeans every year and whose diagnosis remains unclear. EURACTIV France reports.
Navracsics: EU call for healthier lifestyle is progressing, but more efforts are needed
The European Commission launched the Tartu Call for a Healthy Lifestyle a year ago, mostly to address rising obesity in the EU and promote physical activity, and it has already produced “concrete results”, Tibor Navracsics, the commissioner for education, culture, youth and sport, told EURACTIV.com.
Mayors call for annual Europe-wide car-free day
The mayors of Brussels and Paris have called for an annual car-free day for all of Europe, citing initiatives in their cities that have driven down pollution. But a recent damning report by the EU Court of Auditors revealed there is plenty of work left to do.
Biggest-ever study on eczema in Europe urges need for further research
A landmark study on the quality of life and costs for people suffering from atopic eczema in Europe has revealed the effect of the disease on patients, particularly the sometimes high social and financial costs.
Childhood obesity: Food education more important than regulation, parents say
Education about balanced diets brings tangible results according to the vending machines lobby, while parental organisations say lawmakers should insist on good habits to tackle childhood obesity, rather than regulation.
Product reformulation a success in Ireland, industry says
Product reformulation, rather than taxes, has brought tangible results for public health, according to Food Drink Ireland (FDI), the main trade association for the food and drink industry.
Greek soft drink industry reduces sugar by 10% amid rising obesity rates
Following an EU call to reformulate food products in order to tackle rising obesity across Europe, the Association of Greek Soft Drinks Industries (SEVA) recently launched an initiative to reduce sugar in its products by 10%.
Commission: There are legal issues with industry’s proposal on alcohol labelling
The industry’s proposal on alcohol labelling has some legal issues and does not satisfy the need to fully inform EU consumers, a European Commission spokesperson told EURACTIV.com, raising fresh doubt as to how and when labelling will eventually be regulated.
Industry questions WHO’s conviction about health impact of sugar taxes
The industry believes that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has no evidence to back its claim that sugar taxes are an effective way to improve public health. Instead, the industry says, taxes only lead consumers to cheaper brands with similar or even higher calorie content, which may undermine any positive health outcome.
High immunity levels matter, Andriukaitis says after vaccination debate in Italy
When it comes to vaccination and immunity, what matters is to ensure high immunity levels and not the way each EU government will decide to follow, EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis told EURACTIV.com following a heated debate on the issue in Italy.
US lawyers confident to win more Glyphosate-related legal cases against Monsanto
In a public hearing at the European Parliament on Wednesday (5 September), two US attorneys said they were confident they would win further legal cases against Monsanto, following a landmark San Francisco trial in August that ordered the US company to pay plaintiff Dwayne Johnson $289 million in damages.
Europeans will say goodbye to daylight saving time on 28 October
A European Union online survey has concluded that a vast majority of the bloc's citizens are against switching between summer and winter time. All signs point towards the EU now putting a stop to changing the clocks.
West Nile fever grips Southern and Central Europe
The number of West Nile virus infection cases in Europe has gone up in 2018, with increased temperatures to blame. The biggest number of cases has been registered in Serbia, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed. EURACTIV Serbia reports.
Eating crickets is good for you, study finds
Eating crickets help support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, is not only safe at high doses but may also reduce inflammation in the body, a new study finds. For consumers in North America and Europe, crickets and other edible insects are currently getting popular, a trend the EU’s new Novel Food Regulation may significantly strengthen.
Sudden spike in number of measles cases in Europe, highest death toll in Serbia
The first six months of 2018 have seen a sudden increase in the number of measles cases in Europe with at least 37 deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.
Bayer loses €16 bln market value as concerns mount over further damages claims
Bayer shares registered yet another sharp decrease on Thursday (16 August), dropping as much as 6.5% in Frankfurt to hover near the 76 euros level as investors fear the German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant may face numerous litigations in the US after its controversial merger with Monsanto.
English football club blames Brexit for lack of new players
The manager of English football club Tottenham Hotspur has blamed the United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union for his team’s failure to sign any new players before the start of the new campaign.
Unions tell Poland to push coal as UN climate host
Poland’s trade unions are mounting a defence of coal workers against the impacts of climate policies in a government-backed conference this week. EURACTIV's partner Climate Home News reports.