Brussels, 10/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 July, the EP's civil liberties committee adopted a compromise negotiated with the Council on the new rules to prevent chemical products being misappropriated by drug traffickers. These rules should help to ensure that the chemical products used in industrial processes, such as the manufacture of plastics, textiles, perfumes or aspirin, are not misappropriated for the illegal production of heroin and other drugs. The new rules oblige all companies using acetic anhydride to be registered with the appropriate authorities. Currently, this obligation only affects companies producing or marketing this substance. MEPs gave their support to setting up a new European database on drug precursors (list of companies registered in the EU) in an effort to compile data on the confiscations of this substance. The proposal includes stricter controls on the imports of medicines and the toughening up of customs inspections in the trade of medicines containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. (SP/transl.fl)