14 October 2005

WRITTEN QUESTION by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

In June 2003, the Commission produced a Communication entitled ‘A European Environment and Health Strategy’ (COM(2003)0338 final). This was followed in June 2004 by the European Environment and Health Action Plan (2004-2010).

How does the Environment and Health Action Plan propose to address neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism?

How are the March 2004 recommendations of the Technical Working Group on priority diseases (subgroup neurodevelopmental disorders) incorporated into the Action Plan?

Answer given by Mr Kyprianou on behalf of the Commission (29.11.2005)

Neurodevelopmental disorders have been identified as a priority disease, together with childhood cancers and respiratory diseases, asthma and allergies within the work plan of the EU Environment and Health Programme. However, for neurodevelopmental disorders and endocrine disruption effects, health monitoring is much less advanced than for the other priority diseases. Research is needed to identify the health outcomes related to endocrine disruption, and those neurodevelopmental disorders particularly linked to environmental factors. Further, harmonisation of diagnostic criteria for neurodevelopmental disorders is needed.

Responding to similar needs, the Public Health Programme has selected for funding in 2005 the project ‘European Autism Information System ‘ which will start on 1 January 2006. This project will develop mechanisms for obtaining systematic, reliable and consistent data for ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorders) in Europe and to strengthen the early diagnosis of ASD. A network of professionals and stakeholders in the field of ASD will be established and recommendations for a common European information system on ASD will be made and validated in a pilot study. This will provide a starting point for systematic and consistent indicators in the future. A strategy for strengthening early diagnosis will be implemented by evaluating all available tools and evidence-based arguments, then proposing and validating a harmonised tool for early diagnosis of ASD across Europe.