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EU: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Anne Milton) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will meet on 1 and 2 December. The health and consumer affairs part of the council will be taken on 2 December. The presidency is expected to propose the adoption of council conclusions on the following: closing the gap in health between member states through action on determinants of health, especially nutrition and physical activity; non-communicable diseases: prevention and control of respiratory diseases in children; and prevention and control of communication disorders in children, including innovative approaches to treatment. The United Kingdom supports the adoption of these council conclusions. There is also expected to be an exchange of views on the Commission’s new public health programme, Health for Growth, to take effect from 2014-20. Under any other business, the presidency is likely to provide information on the information to patients legislative package: proposal for a regulation and a directive as regards information to the general public on medicinal products for human use subject to medical prescription and as regards pharmacovigilance. The UK supports the adoption of both of these proposals, while recognising the strong opposition from other member states towards them. In addition, information will be provided from the presidency on several matters including a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the council on food intended for infants and young children and on food for special medical purposes, on the Senior Level Group and on the European Innovation Partnership. The Danish delegation will also give information on the priorities for their forthcoming presidency, which will run from January until July 2012.