EFA

The Global Alliance against Respiratory Diseases Assembly, was held in Toronto, Canada on the 1^st and 2^nd of June. Otto Spranger from the Austrian Lung Association, EFA GARD representative, participated on behalf of EFA. From the 5 to 9 June EFA President Marianella Salapatas and Board Member Breda Flood participated to the 29^th European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress in London and EFA held a stand there. On the 7 and 8 of July the Directorate General for Research of the European Commission held a workshop on harmonised framework on indoor material labelling schemes in Ispra, Italy. It was followed on the 9^th by Directorate Health and Consumers expert group meeting on indoor air quality. Giorgio Salerni from Federasma participated as a representative for EFA. The aim of this Workshop was to elaborate a harmonized framework of indoor material labelling schemes in Europe. Emissions from construction products can constitute a significant source of indoor pollution; therefore allowing consumer to make more informed choice could have important health benefits. On the 16^th of June Lina Buzermaniene, EFA Board Member attended the European Medicines Agency Patients and Consumers Working Party meeting in London. On the 23^rd of June EFA also participated to the European Public Health Alliance and the Royal College of Physicians (UK) event on “Passive smoking & children’s health: New evidence & call for action” at the European Parliament, hosted by MEPs Marina Yannakoudakis and Theodoros Skylakakis. The findings of the report“ Passive smoking and children” by the Royal College of Physicians were presented. The report shows the ill-effects of tobacco exposure on children’s health, as well as its economic burden. Recommendations from the report were also presented, with both measures needed to lower tobacco consumption in young adults and prevention against smoke as well as changing the acceptability of smoking. During the panel discussion it was reminded that according to the latest EU barometer survey on tobacco 38 percent of people still allow smoking in their home. EPHA and RCP joint press statement: Passive smoking – a major health threat to children On the 5^th of July, Susanna Palkonen, EFA Executive Officer, attented the kick off Meeting of the Health based Ventilation guidelines for Europe, a new project from EU Public Health Programme in which EFA is a partner. More on this project follows for members.