EU Decision on serious cross-border threats to health

Decision No. 1082/2013/EU is based on the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union TFEU which demands a high level of human health protection across Union policies and a complementary role of the Union in supporting national health endeavours. The Decision „ … lays down rules on epidemiological surveillance, monitoring, early warning of, and combating serious cross-border threats to health, including preparedness and response planning related to those activities, in order to coordinate and complement national policies … “ The decision aims to support cooperation between member states where a spread of human diseases (or other serious health threats) across borders requires concerted action of national health agents. The Decision addresses to biological, chemical, environmental or „other“ health threats, communicable or not. Key chapters of the Decision are: planning (Art. 4–5), surveillance (Art. 6–7), early warning and response (Art. 8–11), emergency situations (Art. 12–14) and procedurals (Art. 15–19). Mechanisms for monitoring, notification of threats and response coordination feature prominently in Decision No. 1082/2013/EU. Notably, it establishes an Early Warning and Response System and defines the engagement of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority EFSA.