Brussels, 12/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has confirmed by a large majority the amendments brought to European legislation on pharmacovigilance by adopting the reports by MEP Linda McAvan (S&D, United Kingdom). The amendments aim to plug the loopholes in the new regulation and the new directive (which came into force in July 2012), following the Mediator scandal which occurred in the intervening period (see EUROPE 10685). The amendments brought to the European laws will strengthen the European system for picking up and evaluating potential problems with medicinal products in all member states, the Parliament says. The new rules, agreed in a co-decision procedure with the Council of the EU, will come into force in 2013. (IL/transl.fl)