Self-care has always been an important part of healthcare. However non-prescription medicines got a place in the EU Pharma Law only by 1992, together with the first ever EU wide rules for public advertising and labelling. AESGP was instrumental in shaping this new legislation. It provided the ground for a phenomenal development of self-care all over Europe and was even a point of reference in other parts of the world.

In the early part of this century, AESGP was closely involved in the drafting of EU rules for food supplements and substance-based medical devices. The current EU legislation as a whole – ideally with amendments in the details – is an excellent basis for a bright future for the consumer health industry.