This Week in Healthcare — Brussels (#29, 2026)
European Health Data Space: new technical rules; Commission authorises biocidal products; Surveillance network procedures adopted; Feed additive approvals; GM soybean decisions.
September 21, 2026 to September 27, 2026
European Health Data Space: new technical rules; Commission authorises biocidal products; Surveillance network procedures adopted; Feed additive approvals; GM soybean decisions.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Committee on Public Health (SANT): On September 28, the European Parliament's Committee on Public Health (SANT) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Coordinators' meeting; Date of next meetings.
European Commission
Commission greenlights Luxembourg's third payment request for €92.2 million under NextGenerationEU
On 24 September 2026, the European Commission completed the preliminary assessment of Luxembourg’s third payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), amounting to €92.2 million. The request covers reforms and investments in healthcare, including legal reforms for healthcare professions and hospital structures, as well as the deployment of the ‘Wëllkomm’ digital solution for remote medical follow-up of asylum seekers and individuals under international protection. The Commission confirmed that Luxembourg had fulfilled all 5 milestones and 4 targets, including measures supporting nature and biodiversity protection, digitalisation, and financial integrity. The Economic and Financial Committee now has four weeks to deliver its opinion, after which the Commission can adopt a payment decision. Luxembourg’s RRF plan, financed by €241 million in grants, prioritises healthcare resilience, upskilling, digital administration, and nature protection. With this payment, Luxembourg will have received €182 million, fulfilling 87% of all milestones and targets.
EU advances Global Health Resilience Initiative with new Global Gateway investments in Africa and Latin America
On 23 September 2026, the European Commission announced three Global Gateway investments under the EU Global Health Resilience Initiative during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week. The package features a €63.5 million EU guarantee for the First Mover Health Investors Fund, aimed at mobilising investment in health and nutrition businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, a €15 million European Investment Bank loan will support vaccine and biological medicines production in Colombia, and €60 million in EU funding will be allocated to strengthen primary health care in Ethiopia. The initiative, adopted in May 2026, prioritises resilient health systems, diversified supply chains, and countering disinformation. From 2021 to 2025, the EU mobilised over €6 billion in global health funding, with more than €2 billion invested in African regional vaccine and medicines manufacturing.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Technical rules for MyHealth@EU adopted under European Health Data Space
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2083 of 18 September 2026 establishes technical, interoperability and cybersecurity requirements for MyHealth@EU, the central platform for cross-border exchange of personal electronic health data. The regulation, adopted under Article 23(4) and (8) of Regulation (EU) 2025/327, details roles and responsibilities of Member States and the Commission, compliance checks, and management procedures. The rules apply from 26 March 2027 and cover patient summaries, electronic prescriptions, and later medical imaging and test results.
Minimum metadata requirements set for secondary use of health data
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2098 of 18 September 2026 specifies the minimum metadata elements health data holders must provide for dataset descriptions for secondary use of electronic health data under Article 77(4) of Regulation (EU) 2025/327. The HealthDCAT-Application Profile is the designated metadata framework. The regulation is effective from 26 March 2029.
Cross-border identification and authentication rules for healthcare data exchange
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2099 of 21 September 2026 establishes requirements for interoperable identification and authentication of natural persons, health professionals, and healthcare providers in cross-border electronic health data exchange under Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) 2025/327. The regulation applies from 26 March 2027, with additional provisions effective from 2029 and 2032.
Commission approves biocidal product family Christeyns Peracetic Acid
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2116 of 8 September 2026 grants Union authorisation for Christeyns Peracetic Acid Biocidal Product Family under Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. Authorisation number EU-0035834-0000 is valid from 15 October 2026 to 30 September 2036.
Expiry date for hydrogen peroxide approval in biocidal products postponed
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2131 of 24 September 2026 postpones the expiry date for hydrogen peroxide approval in biocidal products of product-types 1–5 to 31 July 2029 under Regulation (EU) No 528/2012.
Epidemiological surveillance network procedures adopted
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2096 of 18 September 2026 sets procedures for the operation of the network for epidemiological surveillance, as required by Regulation (EU) 2022/2371, including roles for ECDC and Member States.
Updated list and case definitions for communicable diseases surveillance
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2097 of 18 September 2026 revises the list of communicable diseases and related health issues subject to epidemiological surveillance, updating case definitions and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/945. The regulation applies from 1 July 2028.
Feed additive authorisations: rosemary and citronella essential oils
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2113 of 23 September 2026 authorises rosemary essential oil from Salvia rosmarinus as a feed additive for all animal species under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2128 of 18 September 2026 authorises citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus as a feed additive for all animal species.
eur-lex.europa.eu | eur-lex.europa.eu
Definitive anti-dumping duties imposed on Chinese alkyl phosphonic acids
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2088 of 18 September 2026 imposes definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of certain alkyl phosphonic acids and their sodium salts from China under Regulation (EU) 2016/1036. Duties range from 156.7% to 192.2%.
Commission authorises genetically modified soybean GMB151×DAS-44406-6 and MON 94313
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2112 of 23 September 2026 authorises the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified soybean GMB151×DAS-44406-6 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2117 of 23 September 2026 authorises similar products for soybean MON 94313.
eur-lex.europa.eu | eur-lex.europa.eu
What We're Reading This Week
- As the US investigates German drug prices, here’s why Europe should care: US scrutiny of German drug pricing could prompt broader reforms and impact pharmaceutical markets across Europe.
