Development of the activities of the Council of Europe relating to pharmaceutical products, foodstuffs and cosmetics

Recommendation 828 (1978)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 24 January 1978 (21st Sitting) (see Doc. 4093, report of the Committee on Social and Health Questions). Text adopted by the Assembly on 24 January 1978 (21st Sitting).

Thesaurus

The Assembly,

1. Considering that the protection of public health is a major factor in the promotion of man's well-being, and that the Council of Europe has focused its attention for many years on the "quality of life" in a European society ;

2. Considering that technology has advanced rapidly in the field of pharmaceutical products, foodstuffs and cosmetics, and that manufacturing processes are based on the use of many new substances ;

3. Considering that certain modern medicaments, residues, pesticides, flavouring and colouring substances used in foodstuffs, and certain cosmetic products expose the public to a great many new dangers ;

4. Noting that for a number of years measures have been adopted both nationally and internationally to deal with the dangers inherent in certain products in the above-mentioned fields, and regretting the lack of co-ordination of those measures ;

5. Gratified by the existing close co-operation within the Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe, but convinced of the need for a harmonised policy in areas of such vital importance applicable to the twenty member states of the Council of Europe ;

6. Convinced, lastly, that it is necessary for the Council of Europe, which attaches fundamental importance to the development of democratic institutions in general, to set in motion a process whereby the work of government experts in this sector is completed by an open, democratic dialogue between the interested parties,

7. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers take the necessary steps to set up a European forum for pharmaceutical products, foodstuffs and cosmetics, bearing in mind the following principles :

a the forum needs to be placed under the aegis of the Public Health Committee of the Partial Agreement, although it must be possible for the member states not covered by the Partial Agreement to take part in its activities ;

b the forum must have flexible structures and membership, so that discussion between the different groups concerned- members of parliament, government experts, representatives of consumer and producer organisations- can be frank and open ;

c the forum must have a twofold aim : to provide participants with information about the way in which work in the different fields is proceeding and to study the different measures needed in order to provide users with better health protection ;

d the forum must meet regularly, for example once a year, and should be empowered to make suggestions about the action to be pursued in the Council of Europe.