Mairead McGuinness Fine Gael MEP

A more urgent EU-wide approach to the current breast implants health scare has been called for today by Ireland East Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness.

In a letter to EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli, McGuinness asks if the time has now come for manufacturers and suppliers of medical devices, such as implants, to get the same sort of authorisation to sell their products as suppliers of prescription medicines.

Such implants are currently classified as Class III medical devices in the EU Directive on Medical Devices.

The MEP highlights the divergent approaches of EU countries on the current health scare. The French authorities are investigating the issue of the Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) as a criminal matter and the French, German and Dutch authorities have all recommended that women fitted with these now banned implants should have them removed as a precaution while the Irish and UK authorities have said there is no need for routine removal.

“In this instance the disparity between Member States’ approaches has created confusion and further anxiety,” she tells the Commissioner.

Seeking clarification from him on the current correct approach to such an EU-wide scare she continues: “In the area of food and feed safety Member States are helped to act more rapidly and in a coordinated manner by way of a Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF).

“Do you consider that the creation of a similar system to exchange information about medical issues could help to reassure the public,” she asks.

She asks the Commissioner to clarify if he envisages a tougher approach to be taken with Class III medical devices.