The European Union has given its final approval to far-reaching EU rules governing the chemicals industry.
The law, which is expected to come into force next year, will ban some of the most dangerous chemicals.
At least 30,000 other substances used in products ranging from detergents to toys will have to be registered in a central EU database.
The European Parliament voted for the bill last week and EU environment ministers have now completed the approval process in Brussels.
Getting agreement on the legislation took years of haggling marked by intense lobbying by the chemicals industry and environmental groups.
The law, a compromise balancing health and environmental concerns against fears that excessive red tape would stifle business, puts the burden of proof on companies to show that industrial chemicals and substances used in everyday products are safe.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/776497/eu_to_ban_danger_chemicals/index.html?source=r_science
