Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (European Commission)
Encyclopedia
The Directorate-General for Health and Consumers, formerly Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection and often abbreviated as "SANCO" or "DG-SANCO" for the French words Santé (Health) & Consommateurs (Consumers), is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. The Health & Consumers DG is responsible for the implementation of EU laws on the safety of food and other products, on consumers' rights and on the protection of people's health. In 2006, DG Sanco launched the public Health-EU portal
to provide European citizens with easy access to comprehensive information on Public Health
initiatives and programmes at EU level.
These Scientific Committees provide the European Commission
with the scientific advice on non-food products that it needs when preparing policy and proposals relating to consumer safety, public health and the environment. The Committees also draw the Commission's attention to the new or emerging problems which may pose an actual or potential threat.
are linked to DG-SANCO: the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA), which the European Commission
consults for questions concerning the safety of food products, the Community Plant Variety Office
(CPVO), which administers a system of plant variety rights
, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
(ECDC), which helps the European Union
combat communicable diseases and other serious health threats.
of the Health and Consumers Directorate-General that facilities the access of public-related health information to European Union
citizens, launched in 2006. The site contains material on 47 health-related subjects and is in the 22 official languages of the EU. The Health-EU portal complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.
Health-EU portal
Health-EU Portal is an official web portal of the Health and Consumers Directorate-General that facilities the access of public-related health information to European Union citizens....
to provide European citizens with easy access to comprehensive information on Public Health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
initiatives and programmes at EU level.
Scientific Committees
DG-SANCO manages three independent Scientific Committees:- The Scientific Committee on Consumer ProductsScientific Committee on Consumer ProductsThe Scientific Committee on Consumer Products is one of the independent scientific committees managed by the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission, which provide scientific advice to the Commission on issues related to non-food issues.- Activities :The...
(SCCP) - The Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental RisksScientific Committee on Health and Environmental RisksThe Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks is one of the independent scientific committees managed by the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission, which provide scientific advice to the Commission on issues related to consumer products.-...
(SCHER) - The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health RisksScientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health RisksThe Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks is one of the independent scientific committees managed by the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission, which provide scientific advice to the Commission on issues related to consumer...
(SCENIHR)
These Scientific Committees provide the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
with the scientific advice on non-food products that it needs when preparing policy and proposals relating to consumer safety, public health and the environment. The Committees also draw the Commission's attention to the new or emerging problems which may pose an actual or potential threat.
Agencies
Three agencies of the European UnionAgencies of the European Union
An agency of the European Union is a decentralised body of the European Union , which are distinct from the institutions. Agencies are established to accomplish specific tasks. Each agency has its own legal personality...
are linked to DG-SANCO: the European Food Safety Authority
European Food Safety Authority
The European Food Safety Authority is an agency of the European Union that provides independent scientific advice and communication on existing and emerging risks associated with the food chain, created by European Regulation 178/2002....
(EFSA), which the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
consults for questions concerning the safety of food products, the Community Plant Variety Office
Community Plant Variety Office
The Community Plant Variety Office is an agency of the European Union, located in Angers, France. It was established in 1994. Its task is to administer a system of plant variety rights, also known as plant breeders' rights, a form of intellectual property right relating to plants...
(CPVO), which administers a system of plant variety rights
Plant breeders' rights
Plant breeders' rights , also known as plant variety rights , are rights granted to the breeder of a new variety of plant that give him exclusive control over the propagating material and harvested material of a new variety for a number of years.With these rights, the breeder can choose...
, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is an independent agency of the European Union aimed at strengthening Europe's defences against infectious diseases. It was established in 2005 and is located in Solna, Sweden....
(ECDC), which helps the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
combat communicable diseases and other serious health threats.
Health-EU Portal
Health-EU Portal is an official web portalWeb portal
A web portal or links page is a web site that functions as a point of access to information in the World Wide Web. A portal presents information from diverse sources in a unified way....
of the Health and Consumers Directorate-General that facilities the access of public-related health information to European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
citizens, launched in 2006. The site contains material on 47 health-related subjects and is in the 22 official languages of the EU. The Health-EU portal complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.
See also
- Global Health Security InitiativeGlobal Health Security InitiativeThe Global Health Security Initiative is an international partnership between countries in order to supplement and strengthen their preparedness to respond to threats of biological, chemical, radio-nuclear terrorism and pandemic influenza....
(GHSI) - European Public Health AllianceEuropean Public Health AllianceThe European Public Health Alliance is a European non-profit association registered in Belgium. Its members are non-profit organisations active in public health. The EPHA has 92 member organisations based in 21 European countries...
(EHPA) - European Centre for Disease Prevention and ControlEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and ControlThe European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is an independent agency of the European Union aimed at strengthening Europe's defences against infectious diseases. It was established in 2005 and is located in Solna, Sweden....
(ECDC) - Health Threat UnitHealth Threat Unit (European Commission)The Health Threat Unit of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection , is responsible for terrorism surveillance and early warning of biological, chemical, and radiological threats within the European Union...
- TRACESTRACESTRACES is a web-based veterinarian certification tool controlling the import and export of live animals and animal products to and from the European Union. This network is under the responsibility of the European Commission...
External links
- Health & Consumers DG
- The Scientific Committees of DG-SANCO
- Health-EU Portal the official public health portal of the European Union