Brussels, 24/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - By unanimously adopting the own-initiative report by British Labour MEP Catherine Stihler, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection of the European Parliament called for a ban on direct advertising for breast implants. Taking France's example, the Committee calls for commercial advertisements to be substituted by objective information disseminated by national health services. The report subscribes to the recommendations contained in the European Commission communication on the matter but goes further on certain aspects. MEPs call especially for better information on the risks linked to cosmetic surgery and consider that implants should only be authorised for women aged under 18 for medical reasons. They are also in favour of the creation of national registers so as to guarantee the traceability of implants. Surgical intervention should only performed at the end of a period of reflection of at least six weeks, and appropriate medical follow-up should be assured. This report will be voted on in plenary in Strasbourg without debate.