European Commissioner for Health

The Commissioner for Health is the member of the European Commission. The current Commissioner is Androulla Vasiliou.

The portfolio is responsible for matters of public health, food safety, animal health, welfare and consumer affairs.

Under the Barroso Commission

Markos Kyprianou was appointed to the Barroso Commission as European Commissioner for Health & Consumer Protection; however, with the accession of Bulgaria on 1 January 2007, the Consumer Protect portfolio was split off and given to Meglena Kuneva "(See: European Commissioner for Consumer Protection)". The post's Directorate-General is still merged with that office.

One policy is the promotion of warnings on tobacco packets, with the Commission moving towards pictorial warnings. [ [http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/Tobacco/warnings_en.htm Commissioner Kyprianou urges EU governments to use pictorial warnings on tobacco packets ] ec.europa.eu] Following several European Union member states enacting bans on smoking in public places Kyprianou proposed a plan for an EU-wide ban of that kind. [ [http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/commission-wants-eu-wide-smoking-ban-public-places/article-161299 Commission wants EU-wide smoking ban in public places] euractiv.com 30/01/07]

In May 2007, Kyprianou released a paper to tackle the shortage of organ donation in the Union. The plan included promotion, specially trained medical staff and an EU wide organ donor card. [ [http://euobserver.com/9/24153 Brussels to push for EU-wide organ donor card] euobserver.com 20/05/07]

After Kyprianou was appointed Foreign Minister of Cyprus, he was replaced by Androulla Vasiliou on March 3 2008.

List of commissioners

*Emma Bonino (of Italy) - Santer Commission (1995-1999)
*David Byrne (of Ireland) - Prodi Commission (1999-2004)
*Pavel Telička (of Czech Republic) - Prodi Commission (2004)
*Markos Kyprianou (of Cyprus) - Barroso Commission (2004-2008)
*Androulla Vasiliou (of Cyprus) - Barroso Commission (2008-2009)

ee also

* Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection
* European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

References

External links

* [http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/kyprianou/index_en.htm Commissioner's website]
* [http://ec.europa.eu/health/index_en.htm Commission's health website]
* [http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/index_en.htm EU Health portal]