Lexikon

a process which predicts the magnitude and importance of effects of a proposed activity on the environment, and on human health, and establishes conditions under which the activity may be undertaken. The results of the process may prevent the activity from proceeding if the potential effects are unacceptable.

Source: http://www.iisd.org/sd/glossary.aspx

impact of transportation-related activities on the environment, in particular, those impacts dealing with air pollution, noise, displacement of people and businesses, disruption of wildlife habitats, and overall growth-inducing effects.

environmental microbiology is the study of the composition and physiology of microbial communities in the environment, their role and function. The environmental compartments, such as soil, water, air and sediments are habitatas of plant and animals as well as microorganisms.

An average gram of soil contains approximately one billion (1,000,000,000) microbes representing probably several thousand species. Microorganisms have special impact on the whole biosphere, on the element-cycles, organic matter degradation (decomposers) and reuse (nutrient recycling), they are the backbone of ecosystems of the zones where light cannot approach. Microbes have a special role in biogeochemical cycles. Microbes, especially bacteria, are of great importance and influence on the whole ecosystem.

Microorganisms are used for in-situ microbial biodegradation or bioremediation of domestic, agricultural and industrial wastes and subsurface pollution in soils, sediments and marine environments. Since most sites typically have multiple pollutant types, the most effective approach to microbial biodegradation is to use a mixture of bacterial species and strains, each specific to the biodegradation of one or more types of contaminants. It is vital to monitor the composition of the indigenous and added bacteria in order to evaluate the activity level and to permit modifications of the nutrients and other conditions for optimizing the bioremediation process.

The most important events of the development of environmetal microbiology:

1887 Sergei Winogradsky studies Beggiatoa and establishes the concept of autotrophy.

1888 Martinus Beijerinck develops the technique of enrichment culture.

1891 Winogradsky discovers the organisms responsible for nitrification is soil, which is of great importance in agriculture because nitrogen is a limiting nutrient in the soil.

1904 Martinus Beijerinck obtains the first pure culture of sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, Thiobacillus denitrificans.

1904 Cornelius Johan Koning suggests that fungi are critical for the decomposition of organic matter.

1909 Sigurd Orla-Jensen proposes the use of physiological characteristics for the classification of bacteria. He later publishes a monograph on lactic acid bacteria that establishes the criteria for assignment.

1920 The Society of American Bacteriologists presents a report on the characterization and classification of bacterial types that becomes the basis for Bergey's manual in 1923.

1961 Brian McCarthy and E. T. Bolton describe a method to compare genetic material from different species using hybridization. Using this technique it is possible to quantitatively compare the relatedness of the two species.

1965 Emile Zuckerkandl and Linus Pauling publish "Molecules as documents of evolutionary history", making a compelling case for the use of molecular sequences of biological molecules to determine evolutionary relationships.

1969 Don Brenner and colleagues establish a more reliable basis for the classification of clinical isolates among members of the Enterobacteriaceae. They use nucleic acid reassociation, where DNA of one organism is allowed to hybridize with another organism. This technique is used to help define a species.

1977 Carl Woese uses ribosomal RNA analysis to identify a third form of life, the Archaea, whose genetic makeup is distinct from but related to both Bacteria and Eucarya.

1977 Holger Jannasch discovers abundant life at the bottom of the ocean near deep sea hydrothermal vents. The entire system is dependent upon sulfur oxidizing microorganisms. Light and photosynthesis do not drive the process.

1982 Karl Stetter isolates hydrothermophilic microbes (Archaea) that can grow at 105°C. The discovery redefines the upper temperature at which life can exist.

1994 Gary Olsen, Carl Woese and Ross Overbeek summarize the state of phylogeny in prokaryotes. This causes scientists to rethink the classification of life and emphasizes the importance of microbes.

Source:

http://www.microbiologytext.com/index.php?module=book&func=displayarticl...

environmental objectives laid down in Article 4(1) of WFD require Member States to prevent deterioration of the status of all bodies of surface water and groundwater and to achieve good status as a rule by 2015. In addition, pollution from priority substances has to progressively be reduced, emissions of hazardous substances shall be ceased or phased out, and any significant upward trend in pollution in groundwater has also to be reversed by appropriate measures.

environmental protection is a practice of protecting the environment, on individual, organizational or governmental level, for the benefit of the natural environment and humans. Governments try to protect environment from human activities of adverse effects by legal tools. The most risky human activities are waste production and pollution due to industrial, mining and agricultural activities. Science and technology offer traditional and new methods for studying, managing and engineering environment.

Environmental protection includes the assessemtn and monitoring of the environment and keep it in a condition which does not endager biodiversity and humans.

provides a selection of techniques to take solid, liquid or gasous samples for measurements. (Source: EUGRIS)

the results of environmental toxicology are mainly used for the prediction of hazard and risk of single chemical substances or contaminated environment at local, regional and global scale. Their important role is supporting decision making in environmental management and policy by setting risk based priorities, establishing environmental quality criteria, to design monitoring systems, to select risk reduction measures, to establish land use specific target values and so on. Environmnetal toxicity results are suitable for direct decision making, when building decision only on the effects.

environmental toxicology is the science and practice of the adverse effects – mainly of chemicals and other man-made agents – in the environment and through the environment. The targeted receptors of these adverse effects maybe both ecosystem and human.

Environmental toxicology includes the study of chemical substances – potential and actual contaminants – polluting air, water, soil and food, their impacts upon the structure and function of ecological systems, including man as well as the use of these results for decision making and environmental management.

technology, method, service or activity, which has minimal load on the environment due to energy-consumption and discharge of contaminating substances or agents, and is socio-economically efficient at the same time.

epigenetics refers to mechanisms that persistently alter gene expression without actual changes to the gene/DNA sequence. DNA methylation is an example of an epigenetic mechanism. Scientists have shown that DNA methylation is an important component in a variety of chemical-induced toxicities, including carcinogenicity, and is a mechanism that should be assessed in the overall hazard assessment

Source: Watson, R.E. & Goodman, J.I. (2002). Epigenetics and DNA methylation come of age in toxicology. Toxicol. Sci. 67, 11−16.

ergonomics is the science of designing the job, equipment, and workplace to fit the worker. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability.

The International ergonomics Association defines ergonomics as follows: "ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance."

ergonomics is employed to fulfill the two goals of health and productivity. It is relevant in the design of such things as safe furniture and easy-to-use interfaces to machines.

see 67/548/EEC dangerous substance directive

see 2001/59/EC directive on classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances

see 1999/45/EC directive on classification, packaging, labelling

air pollution in Europe is regulated by several policies, which are targeting the various types - and sources - of pollutants. Also, in 2005 the Commission proposed a thematic strategy for reducing the number of deaths linked to air pollution by 40% (of 2000 levels) by 2020.

The European policies are enlisted in the followings with active links.

• Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air
• National emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Phaseout of CFCs in metered dose inhalers
• Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
• Protocol on Heavy Metals
• Elimination and minimisation of production, use and release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) resulting from the storage of petrol

the action undertaken by the European Community in the field of chemical products is part of an ongoing process launched a long time ago. The first Directive, which is concerned with the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances, dates back to 1967. The REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals) Regulation, adopted at the end of 2006, establishes an enhanced framework which aims to guarantee the free movement of chemical products and the protection of human health and the environment.

• DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES AND PREPARATIONS
  • Regulatory framework for the management of chemicals (REACH), European Chemicals Agency
  • Classification, packaging and labeling of chemicals and their mixtures
  • Classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances
  • Classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations
  • Prior Informed Consent Procedure for the export of chemicals
  • Detergents
  • Community strategy for endocrine disrupters, COM/99/0706 and COM/2001/0262
  • Community strategy concerning mercury
  • Export and storage of mercury
• PESTICIDES
  
  • Biocidal products
  • Towards a thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticidesArchives
• FERTILISERS
  • Community scheme for fertilisers
• CONTROL OF THE RISKS
  • Major accidents involving dangerous substances
  • The fight against bioterrorism (communication)
  • Good laboratory practice: tests on chemical substances
  • Good laboratory practice: inspection and verification of laboratory studies on all chemicals
  • Exposure to chemical agents
• MANAGEMENT OF POLLUTANTS AND WASTE
  • Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
  • Elimination and minimisation of production, use and release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
  • Controlled management of hazardous waste (until the end of 2010)
  • Basel Convention
  • Community strategy for dioxins, furans and PCBs
  • Disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs)

Source: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/internal_market/single_market_for_goods/chemical_products/index_en.htm

increased urbanisation and the spread of human infrastructures, over-exploitation of natural resources, pollution are the main factors, which highly damage biodiversity. Introduction of exotic species into the native ecosystems pose also a hazard. As a result, 42% of mammals, 15% of birds and 52% of freshwater fish across Europe are under threat. In addition, nearly 1000 plant species are at serious risk or on the verge of disappearing completely. In order to safeguard biodiversity and combat the extinction of animal and plant species, the European Union has set up a vast network of protected sites (the Natura 2000 network) and made the protection of biodiversity one of the key objectives of the Sixth Environment Action Programme.

• BIODIVERSITY
  • Action Plan for biodiversity
  • Biodiversity strategy
  • Biodiversity Action Plan for the Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Biodiversity Action Plan for Agriculture
  • Biodiversity Action Plan for FisheriesArchives
  • Biodiversity Action Plan for Economic and Development Co-operation
  • Bern Convention
  • The Rio de Janeiro Convention on biological diversity
• MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
  • Strategy on the sustainable use of natural resources
  • Environment and sustainable management of natural resources, including energy
  • Action plan for an integrated maritime policy
  • Biofuels
    • EU strategy for biofuels
    • Motor vehicles: use of biofuels
  • Management of marine resources
    • Conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources
    • Conservation of highly migratory fish: safeguards
    • Conservation and management of sharks
• FAUNA AND FLORA
  • Natural habitats (Natura 2000)
  • Conservation of wild birds
  • Conservation of wild birdsArchives
  • Endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES)
  • Conservation of Antarctic marine living resources
  • Conservation of migratory species - Bonn Convention
  • The keeping of wild animals in zoos
  • Protection of animals used for experimental purposes
  • Accidental catches of cetaceans
  • Protection of certain seal species
  • International Dolphin Conservation Programme
  • Whaling
  • Protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems in the high seas from bottom fishing
  • Destructive fishing practices in the high seas and the protection of ecosystems
  • Aquaculture: use of alien and locally absent species
  • Humane trapping standards
  • Convention on the Protection of the Alps
  • Ban on trade in cat and dog fur
  • Trade in seal products
• FORESTS
  • European Union forest action plan
  • Combating deforestation
  • The EU forestry strategy
  • Forest Focus (2003−2006)
• GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
  • Contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs)
  • Directive on the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
  • Transboundary movement of genetically modified organisms
  • Novel foods and novel food ingredients
  • Traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
  • GM Food and Feed

Source: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/nature_and_biodiversity/index_en.ht

Some 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by seas and oceans, and these produce almost three quarters of the oxygen we breathe. We can use directly only 1% of this water, however, and many forms of human activity put water resources under considerable pressure. Polluted water, whatever the source of the pollution, flows one way or another back into our natural surroundings – into the sea or water tables – from where it can have a harmful effect on human health and the environment. One of the most important pieces of legislation in this area is the Water Framework Directive.

• GENERAL FRAMEWORK
  • Water Framework Directive
  • Pricing and long-term management of water
  • Flood management and evaluation
  • Water scarcity and droughts in the European Union
• SPECIFIC USES OF WATER
  • Quality of drinking water
  • Bathing water
  • Urban waste water treatment
  • Water suitable for fish-breeding
  • Quality of shellfish waters
• MARINE POLLUTION
  • Strategy for the marine environment
  • Accidental marine pollutionArchives
  • Maritime safety: compensation fund for oil pollution damage
  • Maritime safety: prevention of pollution from ships
  • Maritime safety: Ship-source pollution and criminal penalties
  • Maritime safety: prohibition of organotin compounds on ships
  • Maritime safety: Bunkers Convention
• REGIONAL WATERS
  • Baltic Sea Strategy
  • Environment strategy for the Mediterranean
  • Strategy to improve maritime governance in the Mediterranean
  • Black Sea Synergy
  • Danube - Black Sea region
  • Regional convention
    • Barcelona Convention: protecting the Mediterranean Sea
    • Helsinki Convention on the protection of the Baltic Sea
    • Helsinki Convention: trans-boundary watercourses and international lakes
    • Convention for the Protection of the Rhine
    • OSPAR Convention
• DISCHARGES OF SUBSTANCES
  • Integrated pollution prevention and control: IPPC Directive
  • Priority substances in the field of water policy
  • Environmental quality standards applicable to surface water
  • Protection of groundwater against pollution
  • Biodegradability and labelling of detergents
  • Elimination and minimisation of production, use and release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
  • Pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources
  • Mercury
  • Protection of the aquatic environment against discharges of dangerous substances (until 2013)
  • Other substances: protection of groundwater

the items of EU legal background are enlisted in the followings and linked to the relevant pages of the EU-Lex portal:

• GENERAL FRAMEWORK
  • Thematic strategy for soil protection
  • Towards a strategy for soil protection
  • Integrated pollution prevention and control: IPPC Directive
  • Assessment of the environmental impact of projects
• MANAGEMENT OF SPECIFIC SOIL TYPES
  • Convention on the Protection of the Alps
  • Development and integrated management of coastal zones
  • Environment strategy for the Mediterranean
  • Thematic strategy on the urban environment
  • Financial framework for the urban environmentArchives
• DISCHARGES OF SUBSTANCES
  • Biodegradability and labelling of detergents
  • Elimination and minimisation of production, use and release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
  • Pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources
  • Mercury
• ACTIVITIES LEADING TO SPECIFIC RISKS
  • Carbon capture and geological storage
  • Landfill of waste
  • Promoting sustainable development in the non-energy extractive industry
  • Approaches to sustainable agriculture

see 2006/12/EC waste directive

In a modern Europe, efficient environmental management has to cover topics like sustainability and innovation, if future European industries and services want to be globally competitive. This has been recognized by the European Commission and was consecutively addressed in the 5^th 6^th and 7th Environmental Action Programmes. These Programmes have led to numerous activities and projects in the past and have considerably influenced today’s views on efficient environmental management. In order to understand the progress already made, past developments and the current situation shall be described for the field of contaminated land management. The following overview is meant to cover some relevant initiatives in a non-exhaustive way.
The topic of sustainability has come into focus in the 1990’s, and it was the title of the 5^th Environmental Action Programme, which was approved in 1993. One year later, in 1994, the COMMON FORUM was initiated with the general objectives to develop strategies for the management and treatment of contaminated sites and for land recycling with respect to “sustainable resource protection" for contaminated land and groundwater. Today the COMMON FORUM is recognized as representing the European regulatory and policymaking community and it contributes to the EU soil protection policy. In 1996, the COMMON FORUM initiated the EC funded project CARACAS in order to improve existing scientific knowledge on contaminated land risk assessment, coming from a governmental perspective. At the same time, a complementing project called NICOLE approached from the industrial perspective. Today NICOLE is a leading forum on contaminated land management in Europe which promotes co-operation between industry, academia and service providers on the development and application of sustainable technologies in order to manage contaminated sites more efficiently and cost-effectively.
As an offspring of CARACAS, the CLARINET project developed between 1998 and 2001 technical recommendations for sound decision making concerning the rehabilitation of contaminated sites in Europe, and developed a network for exchange of information on available methods, technologies and policy approaches. Starting in 2003, the project EUGRIS was initiated to be the European web portal for groundwater and contaminated land information. Today EUGRIS is a comprehensive and overarching information and innovation resource, collaborating with related projects, networks and organizations.
In 2002, the Sixth Environment Action Programme was published which promotes full integration of environmental protection requirements into all community policies and actions and provides the environmental component of the community"s strategy for sustainable development. The link is made between environment and European objectives for growth, competitiveness and employment. In the 2004 published Environmental Technologies Action Plan ETAP, the importance of innovation for growth, competitiveness and employment is stressed. In order to deliver the ETAP and to support innovation on the market, the EC as main player for European development has launched ETV networks of testing centres. The related projects addressing the field of soil and groundwater remediation are PROMOTE and EURODEMO. The overall aim of PROMOTE is to set up an efficiency control and performance verification system for soil-groundwater protection and rehabilitation which shall enable faster market introduction of new and novel monitoring and remediation technologies. EURODEMO is a contact point for Europe regarding information on innovative remediation demonstrations in the field of soil and groundwater remediation. By consolidating knowledge and experience on a European scale, innovative remediation practice shall be improved. The European Forum on Eco-Innovation¹, initiated by the EC, complements the ETV networks of testing centres. The European Forum on Eco-Innovation brings together business and policy perspectives in events that explore strategic orientations for eco-innovation and environmental technologies. Stakeholders are invited to debate and discuss relevant topics. Recommendations of the Forum provide suggestions for future action aimed at business and finance, as well as National and European policy makers.
Currently, there are other projects and initiatives supporting sustainability and innovation in fields related to contaminated soil and groundwater management. On an applied level, the NOWATECH project will contribute to ETV by providing four ETV test centres within the water technology sector. NOWATECH’s objective is to support the Nordic environmental technology industry in both the home market and the global market by giving access to accepted and comparable technology verification data.
As regards R&D funding, the SNOWMAN project has the objective to improve the coherence and coordination of research and innovation activities, making the European Research Agenda in the field of sustainable management of soil and groundwater contamination a reality. SNOWMAN has established a research programme and implemented a coordinated research call.
Starting as a polish RTD network in 2002, ENVITECH-NET works to integrate applied research with the needs of industry and to facilitate development of innovative environmental technologies. Its primary objective is to contribute to an effective implementation of the ETAP.
A broad environmental technology industry stakeholder network is EUCETSA, which has the mission to promote the international competitiveness of Europe"s environmental technology industry. Their activities aim at identifying the barriers to growth in order to propose solutions. Additionally, they promote awareness of commercial and environmental benefits of environmental technologies and strive to win general support for a favourable legislative and fiscal framework.
These past and present EC projects and existing stakeholder networks show that there is considerable interest in efficient environmental management. Due to coordinated efforts on European scale, relevant progress has been made on European and national levels to improve existing remediation practice. Currently, new developments are underway towards harmonizing and strengthening markets by raising confidence levels through verification measures. Besides these verification developments, a European demonstration network EURODEMO+, designed to connect and support national demonstration platforms in order to strengthen and improve demonstration practice across Europe, is currently in its design stage.
As the above described initiatives indicate, public and expert participation are essential components for such efforts to be successful and to deliver the targeted effects. Moreover, efforts on European scale need to be translated to national scales and into national frames in order to REACH the desired effect. Forrás: Yvonne Spira, EURODEMO

Technical Guidance Document in support of Commission Directive 93/67/EEC on Risk Assessment for new notified substances, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 on Risk Assessment for existing substances and Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market.

This technical guidance document is presented in four separate parts:

PART I: PDF ZIP
- Chapter 1 General Introduction.
- Chapter 2 Risk Assessment for Human Health.

PART II: PDF ZIP
- Chapter 3 Environmental Risk Assessment.

PART III: PDF ZIP
- Chapter 4 Use of (Quantitative) Structure Activity Relationships (Q)SARs).
- Chapter 5 Use Categories.
- Chapter 6 Risk Assessment Report Format.

PART IV: PDF ZIP
- Chapter 7 Emission Scenario Document.

Leaflet: PDF

"Occupational health should aim at: the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations; the prevention amongst workers of departures from health caused by their working conditions; the protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health; the placing and maintenance of the worker in an occupational environment adapted to his physiological and psychological capabilities; and, to summarize, the adaptation of work to man and of each man to his job."

Central role of OSHA is to contribute to the improvement of working life in the European Union.

* Working with governments, employers and workers to promote a risk prevention culture.

* Analysing new scientific research and statistics on workplace risks.

* Anticipating new and emerging risks through our European Risk Observatory.

* Identifying and shareing information, good practice and advice with a wide range of audiences, such as social partners - employers’ federations and trade unions.

European Chemicals Agency as established by the REACH Regulation.

the European Commission is the EU's executive body. It represents and upholds the interests of Europe as a whole. It drafts proposals for new European laws. It manages the day-to-day business of implementing EU policies and spending EU funds. The Commission also makes sure that everyone abides by the European treaties and laws.

http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm

the website of EFIC says as a subtitle „guide for food safety&quality, and health&nutrition for a balanced diet and helathy lifestyle.

The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) is a non-profit organisation which provides science-based information on food safety & quality and health & nutrition to the media, health and nutrition professionals, educators and opinion leaders, in a way that consumers can understand.

In response to the public's increasing need for credible, science-based information on the nutritional quality and safety of foods, EUFIC's mission is to enhance the public's understanding of such issues and to raise consumers' awareness of the active role they play in safe food handling and choosing a well-balanced and healthy diet.

All information that EUFIC publishes has been subject to a review process by members of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB comprises a group of renowned experts from across Europe who advise EUFIC on its information and communication programmes, ensuring that all information is based on scientific evidence, relevance and is factually correct. Given the broad range of subjects addressed in EUFIC’s popular newsletter, Food Today, a dedicated Editorial Board for this publication provides additional insights and feedback.

With its main offices located in Brussels (Belgium), EUFIC counts on and liaises with a European network to enhance the impact and outreach of its communication instruments and programmes in other countries.

EUFIC actively participates in European initiatives together with the European Commission Directorate Generals for Research and for Health and Consumer Protection, where it contributes to a number of projects as dissemination partner.

EUFIC is supported by companies of the European food and drinks industries, and receives project funding from the European Commission. It is governed by a Board of Directors which is elected from member companies. Current EUFIC members are: Barilla, Cargill, Cereal Partners, Coca-Cola HBC, Coca-Cola, Danone, DSM Nutritional Products Europe Ltd., Ferrero, Kraft Foods, Louis Bonduelle Foundation, McCormick Foods, Mars, McDonald's, Nestlé, Novozymes, PepsiCo, Pfizer Animal Health, Südzucker, and Unilever.

Source: http://www.eufic.org/

the mission of the European Medicines Agency is to foster scientific excellence in the evaluation and supervision of medicines, for the benefit of public and animal health.

The European Medicines Agency is the European Union body responsible for coordinating the existing scientific resources put at its disposal by Member States for the evaluation, supervision and pharmacovigilance of medicinal products.

The Agency provides the Member States and the institutions of the EU the best-possible scientific advice on any question relating to the evaluation of the quality, safety and efficacy of medicinal products for human or veterinary use referred to it in accordance with the provisions of EU legislation relating to medicinal products.

Principal activities of EMA

• Working with the Member States and the European Commission as partners in a European medicines network, the European Medicines Agency:
• provides independent, science-based recommendations on the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines, and on more general issues relevant to public and animal health that involve medicines;
• applies efficient and transparent evaluation procedures to help bring new medicines to the market by means of a single, EU-wide marketing authorisation granted by the European Commission;
• implements measures for continuously supervising the quality, safety and efficacy of authorised medicines to ensure that their benefits outweigh their risks;
• provides scientific advice and incentives to stimulate the development and improve the availability of innovative new medicines;
• recommends safe limits for residues of veterinary medicines used in food-producing animals, for the establishment of maximum residue limits by the European Commission;
• involves representatives of patients, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders in its work, to facilitate dialogue on issues of common interest;
• publishes impartial and comprehensible information about medicines and their use;
• develops best practice for medicines evaluation and supervision in Europe, and contributes alongside the Member States and the European Commission to the harmonisation of regulatory standards at the international level.

Source: http://www.ema.europa.eu