Brussels, 24/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - In its first reading examination of two reports by Swedish Conservative Christofer Fjellner on Community rules on information to patients, the European Parliament (EP), on Wednesday 24 November, voted to keep in place the strict ban on advertising of medicines. By an overwhelming majority (558 votes to 42, with 53 abstentions), the EP followed the lead of its environment, public health and food safety committee, which is fiercely opposed to any relaxation of the current rules. The strict ban on any form of communication on medicines is retained for audiovisual media and the press. However, under the supervision of national public authorities, pharmaceutical companies may now provide some information on the characteristics (those which appear on the package insert), packaging and price of the medicine. Scientific assessment reports by marketing authorisation agencies may also be put on line. In its initial proposal, the Commission was looking to introduce much greater relaxation in communication on medicines, in particular with regard to the internet and the press. The two texts, a regulation and a directive, will now be discussed by the Council of Ministers. (O.L./transl.rt)