In the final plenary session of this legislature, Members of the European Parliament passed the EU’s General Food Law reform Making the publication of toxicity data mandatory, the approved reform is a massive transparency win that will enable much greater scrutiny of the European Union’s food safety decisions. Reaction to the move was swift and came from Martin Pigeon,…
A Commission Expert Group, including representatives of the executive’s health directorate and member states, will meet on Friday to discuss the EU’s tobacco traceability system. A European Union directive requires member states to gradually introduce systems providing for tobacco traceability and security from May 20. With concern mounting about the likelihood of member states meeting the…
Taiwan should be allowed to participation in global bodies such as the World Health Assembly (WHA), according to the country’s representative to the EU and Belgium. Speaking exclusively to this website, Harry Tseng appealed to countries to voice support for Taiwan’s involvement in such organisations, despite the ongoing opposition from China. He admitted that while Taiwan’s participation at…
Key products and services, such as smartphones, ATMs, ticketing machines and banking services, will be made more accessible to people with disabilities. The European Accessibility Act (EAA), approved by Parliament with 613 votes to 23, with 36 abstentions on Wednesday, aims to improve the daily lives of disabled and elderly people, also opening the door…
Fire Safe Europe, accompanied by Smurfs characters, were inside the European Parliament this week to launch a campaign with Vladimir Manka MEP (ASD from Slovakia), writes James Wilson. The Campaign organisation, which has Rockwool and Knauf among its founders, called for EU election candidates to sign a pledge to work to improve fire safety during the…
Cosmin Rata, the CEO of ROTEAM, a Belgium-based roofing company, has spoken inside the European Parliament about the impact of handling mineral wool (or Man-made Vitreous Fibres, MMVF, as the substance is also known) upon his own health, as well as his fears for his workforce of forty people. Mr Rata, originally from Romania,…
A petition has been launched in France against the mineral wool giant Rockwool over a planned plant in Soissons in the Aisne region. There is public concern in the community over the potential pollution and related health problems that could be caused by the plant. These French concerns echo those over the new Rockwool factories…
Concern is growing about the environmental and safety aspects of mineral wool products in the construction industry. The product is an efficient insulation material and affordable. But is it safe? Europe appears to be applying weaker quality and testing standards than the USA; is it time to review controls in the light of the increasing…
At the Brussels premiere of ‘A Dog’s Life – The Homeless Dogs of Romania’ in the European Parliament, viewers were exposed to the shocking conditions that thousands of dogs have to endure behind the closed door of shelters in Romania, writes Martin Banks. The film questions why the Romanian government is not dealing with this…
Official launch of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2018-19: Manage Dangerous Substances European Week for Safety and Health at Work is actively under way this week with seminars, workshops and events across Europe. Organised every year by OSHA, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, the focus of the campaign in 2018 is to…
