Effective today, Hans Regenauer assumes the Presidency of the Association of the European Self-Medication Industry (AESGP). Mr Regenauer is the Worldwide Head of Consumer Care at Boehringer Ingelheim and past Chairman of the Wold Self-Medication Industry (WSMI), the umbrella organisation of manufacturers of self-care products on a global level.

On assuming the AESGP Presidency, Mr Regenauer said “It is an honour and pleasure for me to become President of AESGP in light of the strength of the association and its established role in the European health and policy environment. Self-care is today an important part of European healthcare systems. However, there are still many unresolved issues that need to be addressed before the contribution of the consumer healthcare industry to the health and wellbeing of citizens across Europe can reach its full potential.”

“Based on AESGP’s proposals laid down in Smart Regulation 2015 we will work with all concerned stakeholders to make concrete progress in areas such as market access and communication. Unfortunately the particularities of non-prescription medicines are still not fully understood, and this has reduced the competitiveness of the self-care industry and does not allow for sufficient innovation. Accepting new self-care indications are important for better healthcare systems in Europe”.

Mr Manfred Scheske ‑ President, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Europe and Mr Alan Main ‑ Head of Europe, Bayer Consumer Care will serve as Vice-Presidents of AESGP. Mr Regenauer succeeds Hans van Zoonen, who held the AESGP Presidency for the past four years. Hans van Zoonen will continue to serve on the AESGP Board and takes over the Chairmanship of the AESGP Food Supplements Committee.

Brussels, 1 July 2009

7, avenue de Tervuren · B-1040 Brussels · Belgium · Tel.: + 32 (0)2 735 51 30 · Fax: + 32 (0)2 735 52 22

E-mail: info@aesgp.be · http://www.aesgp.be