Luxembourg (EAHC) - The Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC) is the new name of what has been until now the Public Health Executive Agency (PHEA). On 20 June 2008, the European Commission took a decision to prolong the mandate of the Agency until 2015, entrust it with the implementation of the new EU Health Programme, and give it responsibilities in the field of consumer protection and food safety.

The EAHC, in addition to managing new Health programme and remaining projects of the old Public health programme, will be in charge of implementation of the programme of Community action in the field of consumer policy (2007-2013) - the EU Consumer Programme - with its annual call for proposals. The Programme constitutes the financial framework of Consumer policy with a total of 156.8 million euro in funding for its duration.

The goal of the Consumer programme is to ensure a high level of consumer protection, through improved information on consumer-related data, better consultation and better representation of consumers' interests. With this programme the Commission also tries to enhance effective application of consumer protection rules through cooperation between authorities and key consumer organisations, disseminating information, education and dispute resolution.

The EAHC will also manage Commission's initiative "Better Training for Safer Food", which sets a Community training strategy in the areas of food law, feed law, animal health and animal welfare rules, as well as plant health rules.