COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 15.05.1996 
COM(96) 222 final 
95/0238 (COD) 
Amended proposal for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 
adopting a 
programme of Community action on health monitoring in the context of the framework for 
action in the field of public health 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 
Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision adopting a programme of 
Community action on health monitoring in the context of the framework for action in the field 
of public health (1997-2001) 
1. The initial proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision adopting a 
programme of Community action on health monitoring was adopted by the 
Commission on 16 October 1995. 
2. The Economic and Social Committee1 and the Committee of the Regions2 delivered 
favourable opinions on this initial Commission proposal. 
3. In light of the European Parliament's opinion after its first reading on 17 April 1996, 
an amended proposal for a decision was submitted by the Commission in accordance 
with Article 189A of the Treaty. The text incorporates essentially two types of 
amendments: 
amendments that clarify or broaden the recitals 
amendments that clarify and broaden the actions covered by the programme. 
In particular, a feasibility study of a health observatory has been included, and 
an Annex (II) has been added, containing a list of potential domains in which 
the health indicators may be established. 
4. The European Parliament adopted 44 amendments when it voted on 17 April 1996, of 
which 28 were acceptable in toto (12, 16-18, 20, 23, and 29) or in part (1, 3, 4, 6-11, 
13, 19, 25, 33-40, and 42) by the Commission. 
5. The amendments which are not acceptable by the Commission can be divided into 5 
groups: 
amendments that pose legal problems because they do not conform with the 
wording or intent of Art. 129 (15, 21, 31), or because they are inconsistent with 
the analogous provisions of the other public health programmes (43, 46, 47) 
amendments that propose changes which fall outside the scope of the proposed 
programme (2, 32) 
amendments that propose a less flexible wording than that proposed by the 
Commission and/or which unduly limite-the scope of the proposed programme 
(5, 14, 30, and 45) 
amendments that are covered elsewhere (26-28) 
one amendment (22) that would result in difficulties over budgetary matters. 
1 Opinion delivered on 27 March 1996. 
2 Opinion delivered on 18 January 1996. 
Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision adopting a 
programme of Community action on health monitoring in the context of the 
framework for action in the field of public health 
COM(95) 449 AMENDED PROPOSAL 
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
UNION, 
Having regard to the treaty establishing the 
European Community, and in particular 
Article 129 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the 
Commission1, 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
Economic and Social Committee2, 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
Committee of the Regions3, 
Acting in according with the procedures 
referred to in Article 189b of the Treaty, 
1. Whereas, in accordance with point (o) of 
Article 3 of the Treaty, Community action 
must include a contribution of the 
Community towards the achievement of a 
high level of health protection; whereas 
Article 129 expressly provides for 
Community competence in this field, in 
particular by encouraging cooperation 
between the Member States and, if 
necessary, lending support to their action; 
2. Whereas the Council, in its resolution4 
of 27 May 1993 on future action in the 
field of public health, considered that 
improved collection, analysis and 
distribution of health data, as well as an 
improvement in the quality and 
compatibility of available data, are 
essential for the preparation of future 
programmes; 
i OJNo. 
2 OJNo. 
3 OJ No. 
4 OJNo. C 174, 25.6.1993, p.l 
3. Whereas, the European Parliament, in its 
report on public health policy after 
Maastricht5, has stressed the importance of 
having sufficient and relevant information 
as a basis for the development of 
Community actions in the field of public 
health; whereas the European Parliament 
called on the Commission to collect and 
examine health data from Member States 
and analyse trends and assess the effects of 
public health policies, as well as the impact 
of other policies; 3. Whereas, the European Parliament, in its 
resolution on public health policy after 
Maastricht5, has stressed the importance of 
having sufficient and relevant information 
as a basis for the development of 
Community actions in the field of public 
health; whereas it called on the 
Commission to collect and examine health 
data from the Member States in order to 
assess the effects of public health policies, 
as well as the impact of other policies, on 
the state of health in the European 
Community. 
4. Whereas the Commission, in its 
Communication of 24 November 1993 on 
the framework for action in the field of 
public health6, identified increased 
cooperation on standardisation and 
collection of comparable/compatible data 
on health, and the promotion of systems of 
health monitoring and surveillance as a 
prerequesite for the establishment of a 
framework for supporting Member States' 
policies and programmes; and whereas the 
area of health monitoring, including health 
data and indicators, has been identified as 
a priority area for proposals on multi-
annual Community programmmes in the 
field of public health; 
OJ No. C 329, 6.12.1993, p.375 
COM(93) 559 final OJNo. C 329, 6.12.1993, p.375 
5. Whereas in its resolution of 2 June 
1994, the Council7 indicated that the 
collection of health data should be 
accorded priority and invited the 
Commission to present relevant proposals; 
whereas the Council considered that data 
and indicators used should include 
measures relating to the quality of life of 
the population, accurate assessments of 
health needs, estimations of the avoidable 
deaths from the prevention of diseases, 
socio-economic factors in health among 
different population groups, and, where 
appropriate and if the Member States judge 
it necessary, health aid, medical practices, 
and the impact of reforms; 
6. Whereas health monitoring at the 
Community level is essential for the 
planning, monitoring, and assessment of 
Community actions in the field of public 
health, and the monitoring and assessment 
of the health impact of other Community 
policies; 
7. Whereas health monitoring, in this 
context, encompasses the establishment of 
Community health indicators, the 
collection, dissemination, and analysis of 
Community health data and indicators; 6a. (new) Whereas on the basis, inter 
alia, of knowledge of the facts of public 
health in Europe, obtained by setting up a 
Community health monitoring system, it 
will be possible to monitor public health 
trends and define public health priorities 
and objectives; 
OJNo. C 165, 17.6.94, p. 1 
8. Whereas in its Decision on the 
framework programme for priority actions 
in the field of statistical information 1993 
to 1997 the Council8 has identified under 
the heading "health and safety" analysis of 
mortality and morbidity by cause as one of 
the fields of priority actions under the 
sectoral programmes for social policy, for 
economic and social cohesion and 
consumer protection; 
9. Whereas the Council9 in its Decision 
adopting a specific programme on research 
and technological development, including 
demonstration, in the field of biomedicine 
and health (1994-1998) identified a specific 
research task on coordination and 
comparison of European health data, 
including nutritional data, from the 
Member States, and whereas this was taken 
up in the relevant research work 
programme; 
10. Whereas health monitoring at 
Community level should enable 
measurements of health status, trends and 
determinants to be carried out, facilitate the 
planning, monitoring and evaluation of 
Community programmes and actions, and 
provide Member States with health 
information supporting the development 
and evaluation of their health policies; 
11. Whereas, in order to give full effect to 
requirements and expectations in this area 
a Community health monitoring system 
should be developed, comprising the 
establishment of health indicators and the 
collection of health data, a network for 
transmission and sharing of health data and 
indicators, and a capacity for analysis and 
dissemination of health information; 
OJNo. L219, 28.8.93, p. 1 
OJNo. L361, 31.12.94, p. 40 
12. Whereas available options and 
possibilities for developing the various 
parts of a Community health monitoring 
system should be carefully assessed with 
respect to the desired performance, 
flexibility and the costs and benefits 
involved; whereas a Community health 
monitoring system should include the 
definition of sets of Community health 
indicators and the collection of the data 
necessary for the establishment of such 
indicators; 12. Whereas available options and 
possibilities for developing the various 
parts of a Community health monitoring 
system, including that of enhancing 
existing capabilities and/or setting up an 
observatory, should be examined with 
respect to the desired performance, and the 
costs and benefits involved; and whereas a 
flexible system is required which can 
incorporate features which are valuable at 
present while adapting to new requirements 
or other priorities; whereas a Community 
health monitoring system should include 
the definition of sets of Community health 
indicators and the collection of the data 
necessary for the establishment of such 
indicators; 
13. Whereas, Community health data and 
indicators should draw from readily 
available European data and indicators, 
such as those held by Member States or 
transmitted by them to international 
organisations, so as to avoid unnecessary 
duplication of work; 13. Whereas Community health data 
and indicators should draw from existing 
European data and indicators, such as 
those held by Member States and/or 
transmitted by them to international 
organisations, so as to avoid unnecessary 
duplication; 
13a. (new) Whereas the situation with 
regard to the collection of data varies from 
Member State to Member State: 
14. Whereas a Community health 
monitoring system would benefit from the 
establishment of a network, the backbone 
of which relies on telematics, for the 
collection and distribution of Community 
health data and indicators; 14. Whereas the Community health 
monitoring system would benefit from 
being based on a network, the backbone of 
which relies on telematics, for the 
collection and distribution of Community 
health data and indicators; 
15. Whereas a Community health 
monitoring system should be capable of 
encouraging and assisting in the production 
of analyses of health status, trends, and 
health problems throughout the 
Community, and in the availability and 
dissemination of health information; 15. Whereas the health monitoring 
system should provide material for regular 
reports on health status in the European 
Community, analyses of trends, and health 
problems, and assist in the availability and 
dissemination of health information; 
16. Whereas overriding considerations in 
the development of a Community health 
monitoring system are the respect of 
legislative provisions on data protection, 
and the implementation of appropriate 
confidentiality and security arrangements; 
17. Whereas a multiannual programme 
should be launched within the context of 
the framework for action in the field of 
public health, in order to permit the 
development of a Community health 
monitoring system and of appropriate 
mechanisms for its evaluation; 
18. Whereas, by reason of its scale and 
effects, Community action in support of 
health monitoring enables the desired 
objectives to be reached more effectively; 
19. Whereas policies and programmes 
formulated and implemented at Community 
level, in particular those undertaken in the 
context of the framework for action in the 
field of public health, should be compatible 
with the targets and objectives of 
Community action on health monitoring; 
whereas the implementation of Community 
actions on health monitoring should be 
coordinated with and take account of 
relevant research activities under the 
Community's Framework Programme for 
Research and Technological Development; 
whereas projects on telematics applications 
in the health field under the Community's 
RTD Framework must be closely 
coordinated with Community actions on 
health monitoring; whereas actions under 
the Community's framework programme 
for statistical information, the Community 
projects in the field of telematic 15a. (new) Whereas importance must be 
attached to cooperation in the field of 
health and occupational health and safety, 
from which a picture of the prevalence of 
occupational diseases and accidents at work 
can be built up; 
16. Whereas it is necessary to ensure 
the respect of legislative provisions on data 
protection, and the implementation of 
appropriate confidentiality and security 
arrangements; 
interchange of data between administrations 
(IDA) and G-7 health-related projects must 
be closely coordinated with the 
implementation of Community actions on 
health monitoring; whereas the work 
undertaken by the specialised European 
agencies, such as the EMCDDA and the 
European Environment Agency, should be 
taken into account; 
20. Whereas cooperation in this area with 
the competent international organisations 
and with third countries should be fostered; 
21. Whereas it is important that the 
Commission ensure implementation of the 
programme in close cooperation with the 
Member States; 20a. (previously recital 23) Whereas, from 
an operational point of view, the 
investments made in the past both in terms 
of the development of Community 
networks and cooperation with international 
organisations competent in this field should 
be safeguarded and further developed; 
21. Whereas it is important that the 
Commission implement this programme in 
close cooperation with the Member States; 
22. Whereas an agreement on a "modus 
vivendi" between the European Parliament, 
the Council and the Commission 
concerning measures implementing acts 
adopted in accordance with the procedure 
laid down in Article 189b of the EC Treaty 
was reached on 20 December 1994; 
23. Whereas, from an operational point of 
view, the investments made in the past 
both in terms of the development of 
Community networks and cooperation with 
international organisations competent in 
this field should be safeguarded and further 
developed; 23. Deleted 
10 
24. Whereas unnecessary duplication of 
effort should be avoided by the joint 
development of methodologies, comparison 
and conversion criteria and techniques, 
progressively harmonised data collection 
tools such as surveys, questionnaires or 
parts thereof, and content specifications for 
health information to be shared using in 
particular a telematics network; 
25. Whereas, in order to increase the value 
and impact of the programme, a continuous 
assessment of the measures undertaken 
should be carried out, with particular 
regard to their effectiveness and the 
achievement of objectives both at national 
and Community level and, where 
appropriate, the necessary adjustments 
should be made; 24. Whereas at present data are 
insufficiently comparable, and unnecessary 
duplication of effort should be avoided by 
the joint development of methodologies, 
comparison and conversion criteria and 
techniques, progressively harmonized data 
collection tools such as surveys, 
questionnaires or parts thereof, and content 
specifications for health information to be 
shared using in particular a telematics 
network; 
26. Whereas this Decision lays down, for 
the entire duration of the programme, a 
financial framework constituting the 
principal point of reference, within the 
meaning of point 1 of the Declaration of 
the European Parliament, the Council and 
Commission of 6 March 1995, for the 
budgetary authority during the annual 
budgetary procedure; 
27. Whereas this programme must be of 
five-year duration in order to allow 
sufficient time for actions to be 
implemented to achieve the objectives set, 
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
Establishment of the programme 
1. A programme of Community action on 
health monitoring, hereinafter referred to as 
"this programme", is hereby adopted for 
the period 1 January 1997 to 31 December 
2001 within the framework for action in 
the field of public health. 
11 
2. The aim of this programme is to 
establish a Community health monitoring 
system which allows the measuring of 
health status, trends and determinants 
throughout the Community, facilitates the 
planning, monitoring, and evaluation of 
Community programmes and actions, and 
provides Member States with appropriate 
health information to make comparisions 
and to support their national health 
policies. 
3. The actions to be implemented under 
this programme and their specific 
objectives are set out in the Annex under 
the headings: 
A. Establishment of Community health 
indicators 
B. Development of a Community-wide 
network for sharing health data 
C. Analyses and reporting 3. The actions to be implemented 
under this programme and their specific 
objectives are set out in Annex 1 under the 
headings: 
Article 2 
Implementation 
1. The Commission shall ensure 
implementation, in close cooperation with 
the Member States, of the actions set out in 
the Annex in accordance with Article 5. 1. The Commission shall ensure 
implementation, in close cooperation with 
the Member States, of the actions set out in 
Annex I in accordance with Article 5. 
2. The Commission shall cooperate with 
institutions and organisations active in the 
field of health monitoring. 
Article 3 
Budget 
1. The total appropriation for 
implementation of this programme for the 
period referred to in Article 1 shall be 
ECU 13.8 Million. 
12 
2. The annual appropriations shall be 
established by the Budgetary Authority in 
accordance with the financial perspectives. 
Article 4 
Consistency and complementarity 
The Commission and the Member States 
shall ensure that there is consistency and 
complementarity between actions to be 
implemented under this programme and 
other relevant Community programmes and 
initiatives, including the framework 
programme for statistical information, the 
projects in the field of telematic 
interchange of data between 
administrations, and the framework 
programme for research and technological 
development and in particular the 
telematics applications of the latter. The Commission shall ensure that there is 
consistency and complementarity between 
actions to be implemented under this 
programme and other relevant Community 
programmes and initiatives, including the 
framework programme for statistical 
information, the projects in the field of 
telematic interchange of data between 
administrations, and the framework 
programme for research and technological 
development and in particular the 
telematics applications of the latter. 
Article 5 
Committee 
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a 
Committee composed of two members 
designated by each Member State and 
chaired by a representative of the 
Commission, hereinafter referred to as "the 
Committee". 1. The Commission shall be assisted by a 
Committee of an advisory nature. 
composed of two members designated by 
each Member State and chaired by a 
representative of the Commission, 
hereinafter referred to as "the Committee". 
2. The representative of the Commission 
shall submit to the Committee draft 
measures concerning, in particular: 
(a) the Committee's rules of procedure; 
(b) an annual work programme 
indicating the priorities for action; 
13 
(c) the arrangements, criteria, and 
procedures for selecting and 
financing projects under this 
programme, including those 
involving cooperation with 
international organisations 
competent in the field of public 
health and participation of the 
countries mentioned in Article 6(2); 
(d) the evaluation procedure; 
(e) the arrangements for reporting, 
conversion, and harmonisation of 
the data; 
(f) the arrangements for the definition 
and selection of indicators; 
(g) the arrangements for the content 
specifications necessary for the 
development and operation of the 
relevant networks. 
3. In addition, the Commission may consult 
the Committee on any other matter 
concerning the implementation of this 
programme. 
The representative of the Commission shall 
submit to the Committee a draft of the 
measures to be taken. The committee shall 
deliver its opinion on the draft within a 
time limit which the chairperson may lay 
down according to the urgency of the 
matter, if necessary by taking a vote. 
The opinion shall be recorded in the 
minutes; in addition, each Member State 
shall have the right to ask to have its 
opinion recorded in the minutes. 
The Commission shall take the utmost 
account of the opinion delivered by the 
Committee. It shall inform the Committee 
of the manner in which its opinion has 
been taken into account. 
14 
4. The representative of the Commission 
shall keep the Committee regularly 
informed about: 
financial assistance granted under 
this programme (amounts, duration, 
breakdown, and recipients); 
Commission proposals or 
Community initiatives and the 
implementation of programmes in 
other policy areas which are 
relevant to the achievement of the 
objectives of this programme, with 
a view to ensure the consistency 
and complementarity required under 
Article 4. 
Article 6 
International cooperation 
1. In the course of implementing this 
programme, cooperation with non-member 
countries and with international 
organisations competent in the field of 
public health, in particular the World 
Health Organization and the Organization 
for Economic Cooperation and 
Development shall be fostered and 
implemented in accordance with Article 5. 
2. This programme shall be open to 
participation by the associated countries of 
Central and Eastern Europe (CCEE), in 
accordance with the conditions laid down 
in the Additional Protocols to the 
Association Agreements relating to 
participation in Community programmes to 
be concluded with those countries. This 
programme shall be open to participation 
by Cyprus and Malta on the basis of 
additional appropriations in accordance 
with the same rules as those applied to the 
EFTA countries, in accordance with 
procedures to be agreed with those 
countries. 1. In the course of implementing this 
programme, cooperation with third 
countries and with international 
organisations competent in the field of 
public health, in particular the World 
Health Organization and the Organization 
for Economic Cooperation and 
Development, shall be fostered and 
implemented in accordance with Article 5. 
15 
Article 7 
Monitoring and evaluation 
1. The Community, taking into account the 
reports drawn up by the Member States 
and with the participation, where necessary, 
of independent experts, shall ensure that an 
evaluation is made of the actions 
undertaken. 
2. The Commission shall submit to the 
European Parliament and the Council an 
interim report halfway through, and a final 
report on completion of this programme. It 
shall incorporate into these reports 
information on Community financing in the 
various fields of action and on 
complementarity with the other actions 
referred to in Article 4, as well as the 
results of the evaluations. It shall also send 
them to the Economic and Social 
Committee and the Committee of the 
Regions. 
ANNEX ANNEX I 
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS 
A. ESTABLISHMENT OF 
COMMUNITY HEALTH 
INDICATORS 
Objective: To establish Community 
health indicators by a 
critical review of existing 
health data and indicators, 
and develop appropriate 
methods for the collection 
of comparable and 
progressively harmonised 
health data. 
16 
1. Carrying out an identification, review 
and critical analysis of existing health 
indicators and data at the European and 
Member States' level in order to identify 
their relevance, quality and coverage with 
regard to the establishment of Community 
indicators. 
2. Creation of a set of Community health 
indicators, including a sub-set of core 
indicators for the monitoring of 
Community programmes actions in public 
health, and a sub-set of background 
indicators for the monitoring of other 
Community policies programmes and 
actions, and for providing Member States 
with common measures for making 
comparisons. 2. Creation of a set of Community 
health indicators, including a sub-set of 
core indicators for the monitoring of 
Community programmes actions in public 
health, and a sub-set of background 
indicators for the monitoring of other 
Community policies programmes and 
actions, and for providing Member States 
with common measures for making 
comparisons. 
Details of these indicators are given in 
Annex II to this programme. 
3. Development of the routine collection of 
comparable and/or progressively 
harmonised data in the Member States, 
including support for the elaboration of 
data dictionaries, and the establishment of 
appropriate conversion methods and rules. 
4. Contributing to the collection of 
comparable data by supporting the 
elaboration of surveys including 
Community-wide surveys in support of 
Community policies, or modules or agreed 
forms of words for questions in existing 
surveys. 
5. Foster co-operation with international 
organizations competent in the field of 
European health data and indicators and 
networks for the exchange of health data 
covering specific areas in public health, in 
order to enhance comparability of data. 
17 
6. Support for the assessment of the 
feasibility and cost-effectiveness of 
developing standardised health resource 
statistics with the aim of including them in 
a future Community health monitoring 
system. assessment of the feasibility and cost-
effectiveness of developing standardised 
health resource statistics with the aim of 
including them in the Community health 
monitoring system. 
B. DEVELOPMENT OF A 
COMMUNITY-WIDE NETWORK 
FOR SHARING HEALTH DATA 
Objective: To enable the establishment 
of effective and reliable 
transfer and sharing of 
health data and indicators 
using telematic interchange 
of data as the principal 
means. 
7. Encourage and support the development 
of a network for sharing health data, 
mainly using telematic interchanges and a 
system of distributed databases, in 
particular by the establishment of data 
specifications and of procedures with 
regard the to the access, retrieval, 
confidentiality and security for the different 
types of information to be included in the 
system. 7. Encouragement of and support for 
the development of a network for 
transferring and sharing health data, mainly 
using telematic interchanges and a system 
of distributed databases, in particular by the 
establishment of data specifications and of 
procedures with regard to the access, 
retrieval, confidentiality and security for 
the different types of information to be 
included in the system. 
C. ANALYSES AND REPORTING 
Objective: To develop methods and 
tools necessary for analysis 
and reporting, and support 
analyses and reporting on 
health status, trends, 
determinants, and the effect 
of policies on health. 
18 
8. Encourage the development of a capacity 
for analyses, including comparative and 
predictive methodologies and tools, the 
testing of hypotheses and models and the 
evaluation of health scenarios and 
outcomes. 8. Encouragement of and support for 
the development of a capacity for analyses, 
enhancing existing capabilities, and for 
feasibility studies for possible new 
structures, comparative and predictive 
methodologies and tools, the testing of 
hypotheses and models and the evaluation 
of health scenarios and outcomes. 
9. Support for the analysis and evaluation 
of the impact of Community actions and 
programmes in public health. 9. Support for the analysis,. 
preparation, and dissemination of reports 
evaluating the impact of Community action 
and programmes in the field of public 
health. 
10. Support for the production and 
dissemination of reports and other 
information material on health status and 
trends, health determinants and the impact 
on health of other policies. 10. Support for the preparation. 
production and dissemination of reports 
and other information material on health 
status and trends, health determinants and 
the impact on health of other policies. 
ANNEX II 
Non-Exhaustive list of domains in which 
health indicators may be established under 
the Community health monitoring system 
Health Status 
1. Life expectancy: 
- life expectancy at certain 
ages 
- health expectancies 
2. Mortality: 
- overall 
- causes of death 
- disease-specific survival 
3. Morbidity: 
- disease-specific morbidity 
- co-morbidity 
4. Functioning and quality of life: 
- self-perceived health 
- physical disability 
- activity limitations 
- functional status/ability 
- health-related work loss 
19 
- mental health 
5. Anthropometric characteristics 
B. Life Style and Health Habits 
1. Tobacco consumption 
2. Alcohol consumption 
3. Illicit drug consumption 
4. Physical activities 
5. Diet 
6. Sexual behaviour 
7. Other health promotion-related 
activities 
C. Living and working conditions 
1. Employment/unemployment: 
- occupation 
2. Work environment: 
- accidents 
- exposure to carcinogenic 
and other dangerous 
substances 
- occupational health 
3. Housing conditions 
4. Home and leisure activities: 
- accidents at home 
- leisure 
5. Transport: 
- automobile accidents 
6. External environment: 
- air pollution 
- water pollution 
- other types of pollution 
- radiation 
- exposure to carcinogenic 
and other dangerous 
substances outside the work 
environment 
D. Health Protection 
1. Sources of financing 
2. Facilities / Manpower 
20 
- Health resource utilisation 
- Health care personnel 
Cost / Expenditure 
- In patient care 
- Out patient care 
- Pharmaceutical products 
Consumption / uses 
- In patient care 
- Out patient care 
- Pharmaceutical products 
Health promotion and disease 
prevention 
£. Demographic and Other Social 
Factors 
1. Gender 
2. Age 
3. Civil status 
4. Region of residence 
5. Education 
6. Income 
7. Population subgroups 
8. Health insurance status 
F. Miscellaneous 
1. Product safety 
2. Others 
21 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 222 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 05 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-232-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-04220-X 
Office for Officiai Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
2<L