EU U-turns on ‘unsafe’ common food additive linked with cancer risk

The European Commission will propose to member states the withdrawal of the common food additive, Titanium Dioxide (E171), from the union list of food additives after it was deemed unsafe by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA).

To reduce the spread of the coronavirus, Member States have taken a wide range of measures, which have significantly affected the free movement of people in the EU. Restrictions on freedom of movement have varied in time and across countries – following generally but not strictly – successive ‘waves’ of coronavirus infections. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the EU and the Member States have been active in developing a coordinated response to the pandemic, starting from emergency measures to mitigate the effects of the sudden introduction of border controls in the early days of the pandemic to establishing common approaches on risk indicators, interoperable contact tracing apps, vaccination and digital certification. This briefing provides an overview of the main restrictions on free movement adopted by the EU and Schengen countries focusing on control measures at the internal borders introduced between March 2020 and July 2021. It then discusses the key steps taken by the EU and the Member States to develop a common approach to lifting restrictions on freedom of movement. The briefing also places the coronavirus-related restrictions of movement in the context of broader efforts to update and strengthen the Schengen system, which has been under stress for at least a decade. This is an updated edition of an EPRS briefing published in November 2020.

Source : © European Union, 2021 – EP

On 11 November 2020, the European Commission adopted a proposal to strengthen the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The proposed regulation would allow the EMA, among other things, to better anticipate possible shortages of medicinal products and ensure their timely development, with the aim of improving the EU’s capacity to respond to health emergencies. The European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted its report on 22 June 2021. This is due to be voted during the July plenary session, thus setting Parliament’s negotiating position and opening the way for interinstitutional negotiations.

Source : © European Union, 2021 – EP