Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 April 2004
126 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will consider setting up a task force on allergies and asthma with a view to initiating a strategy on these matters in order to reduce the number of persons suffering from allergies and asthma and to help those who do suffer to manage their problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10917/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is aware of a number of recent references both in the general media and in the medical literature to an increase in the prevalence of conditions which may be related to allergies. These conditions include food allergies resulting in gastrointestinal symptoms, allergies to substances in the environment which may lead to a variety of skin conditions, and the one which has been most widely researched and reported, that of an apparent increase in the prevalence of asthma in both children and adults. It is accepted that some of the factors which may influence this include environmental factors, not only smoking and workplace exposure to respiratory irritants, but a more general level of exposure to environmental substances which cause allergies to occur.
The Deputy may wish to note that the Competitiveness, Internal Market, Industry and Research, Council on 22 September 2003 approved a directive regarding the labelling of the ingredients present in foodstuffs. In particular, the new labelling rules aim to ensure that consumers suffering from food allergies, or who wish to avoid eating certain ingredients for any other reason, are informed of the ingredients present. The new directive also establishes a list of ingredients liable to cause allergies or intolerances. The new rules will also extend to alcoholic beverages if they contain an ingredient on the allergens list.
The European Commission is currently developing an action plan on environment and health which is expected to be adopted later this year. The plan is intended to reduce the disease burden caused by environmental factors in the EU with special emphasis on children, to identify and to prevent new health threats caused by environmental factors and to strengthen EU capacity for policy making in this area. Officials of my Department and of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government are involved in this issue.
An expert workshop on childhood asthma organised by the joint research centre of the European Commission will be held in Cork on 22-23 April 2004. This will examine approaches to research on childhood asthma from a genetic and environmental perspective, which is part of a major research initiative ongoing at EU level. It is hoped to agree Council conclusions on this issue at the June Employment, Social Protection, Health and Consumer Affairs Council.
At the recent meeting of EU chief medical officers, the chief medical officer of my Department placed the issues of food and asthma on the agenda in order to share experiences, information and knowledge with our EU partners on these issues. In addition, my Department has contacted the Health Research Board to discuss the issue of research into the incidence of asthma in the Irish population and the establishment of an asthma register is under discussion between professionals dealing with asthma and the ERHA. These initiatives should help to clarify some of the causative factors relating to these conditions and, more specifically, to identify contributing factors. Thus, preventative and treatment strategies can be more effectively developed and implemented.
