Brussels, 28/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament's committee on the environment (ENVI) discussed, on 26 February, issues relating to the protection of information gained from genetic testing. Although such testing can more easily establish a diagnosis and therefore help to treat patients, information obtained should not be divulged without the patients' consent and must come under greater protection, the participants at the meeting felt. The committee also discussed new rules for medical devices as part of the recommendations that it is preparing further to the Commission's proposals of 26 September last (see EUROPE 10697). Although they are clearly in favour of an effective system for patient safety, various stakeholder groups - such as Eucomed, which represents the interests of medical device manufacturers - said a centralised authorised system for high-risk devices would not lead to the desired increase in safety but would bring unnecessary delays in patient access of medical technologies. (IL/transl.jl)