The European Commission has banned 22 chemicals used in hair dyes, following research by its scientific committee that links long-term use of certain products to an increased risk of bladder cancer.

New alternative testing methods, which will reduce the need for testing certain drugs and chemicals on animals, were recently approved by a scientific committee. The Scientific Advisory Committee

The European Commission (ec) recently issued a second formal warning to Slovenia to implement European Union rules on the prevention of sea pollution. In case of further non-compliance, ec threatened to drag the East European country to the court of the European Communities in Luxembourg.

Royal Dutch/Shell has done it again. For the second time in three months, the Anglo-Dutch energy giant has been compelled to downgrade its reserves estimates. The latest revision saw Shell sliver its estimates of "proven' reserves of oil and gas for 2003 by 220 million barrels and by 250 million barrels for 2002. Earlier, in January, it had downgraded one-fifth of its reserves for 2003 amounting to nearly four billion barrels. This cost both the chairperson and vice-chairperson their jobs.