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		Medicines for Africa to be dumped Tuesday, 11th July 2006 Local Leicestershire charity threatened with closure by EU rules A long established Leicestershire charity that helps to save thousands of lives in Africa faces criminal prosecution, thanks to the bizarre interpretation of EU waste rules by officials of the Environment Agency. Intercare, a small charity based in Leicestershire, was founded by a local GP over thirty years ago when he realised that large quantities of surplus drugs could be used to save lives in poverty-stricken Africa. Now the Environment agency has decided that EU rules mean these medicines must now be classified as 'waste' and must be destroyed and Intercare has been summoned to interview under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. Local MEP Roger Helmer today met with Intercare Chief Executive Dr McDonald and has undertaken to take up the charity's case, by writing to the Department of the Environment and by submitting a Written Question to the European Commission. Speaking today, Mr Helmer said: "This is an unnecessary and damaging measure. We are urged to recycle yet EU rules will force these surplus medicines to go to landfill. Time and time again we are seeing these knock-on effects and perverse consequences of ill-considered EU regulations. "Dr McDonald deserves a medal. We should be helping her, not putting obstacles in her way."