On 23 September 2002, the European Parliament and the Council adopted the programme for Community action in the field of public health. The programme came into effect on 1 January 2003 and its three main areas of activity are improving health education, responding rapidly to health threats and tackling health determinants. Commissioner David Byrne has played a pro-active role and has been heavily involved in the drafting and enforcement of EU policy in the field of public health. Some €300 million has been devoted to the programme. This new public health programme embodies an integrated approach towards better health policies. The Opticians (Amendment) Bill 2002 is yet another example of the positive effects of the Europe Union on member states.