GMC decides not to relax its guidelines to permit broader prescribing of off-label and unlicensed medicines, including on cost-saving grounds *

European Union, United Kingdom - December 6 2012
Across Europe, as public budgets are tightened, there is pressure to lower spending on prescription medicines.

Co-authors: James Killick.

The European Court affirms that public safety comes first: financial considerations cannot justify the placing on the market of unlicensed medicines *

European Union - July 17 2012
On 29 March 2012, the European Court of Justice (CJEU) issued a ruling in a case brought by the European Commission against Poland declaring unlawful the supply of unlicensed medicines on financial grounds as a cost containment measure.

Co-authors: James Killick.

Renewable energy: a major player in the European energy market *

European Union - June 12 2012
In what appears to be an effort to restore the confidence of investors in the renewable energy sector, on 6 June 2012 the European Commission presented a Communication on its renewable energy policy, assessing the current market and outlining options for the period beyond 2020.

Co-authors: Jacquelyn F. MacLennan, David S. Strelzyk Herzog.

Commission adopts the first-ever international definition of nanomaterials for regulatory purposes *

European Union - October 31 2011
The European Commission's hesitation to provide a legal definition of nanomaterials came to an end last week when its services adopted and released a long-awaited and much-debated recommendation for a regulatory definition for nanomaterials on 18 October.

Co-authors: Jacquelyn F. MacLennan.