The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7379 p713
10 December 2005

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News summary

EU cross-border service provision plan now excludes health services

Controversial EU plans to allow services to be provided across borders, subject only to the laws of the country of origin (PJ, 19 March, p326), have been revised. Health services are now excluded.

The European Parliament’s Internal Market Committee voted last week to accept a new draft of the planned directive that excludes from the plans all health services, along with the activities of various professions, including lawyers, and audio-visual services, gambling and lotteries.

The next step for the revised form of the directive is a debate and vote in the European Parliament, which is expected to take place in January or February next year. After that it will be considered by the EU Council of Ministers and returned to the parliament for reconsideration.