15/02/2019 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission welcomed the agreement reached by EU Member States' representatives on Thursday 14 February regarding the compromise between the European Parliament and the Council on the proposal to strengthen EU regulations on explosive precursors, which better regulate the sale of dangerous chemicals that could be misused in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (see EUROPE 12187). The new provisions approved by the European Parliament and the Council provide for the prohibition of two new chemicals that were added to the list of restricted substances (sulphuric acid and ammonium nitrate), the harmonisation of rules governing off-line and online purchases with reporting procedures regarding suspicious transactions within 24 hours or even the requirement to obtain a licence from the general public to obtain certain restricted precursors. (SP)