Brussels, 03/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has just launched the fifth phase of the simplification of legislation in the Internal Market ("SLIM" actions). This series of actions concerns the shipment of radioactive waste, the level of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables, and the directive on cosmetics. Community legislation in each of these three fields will be examined in view of identifying provisions whose implementation is particularly burdensome and costly for users and that could be modified without compromising the objectives of the legislation concerned. Launched in 1996 as a pilot project, the SLIM initiative has already facilitated examination of 14 legislative fields. The recommendations made by the SLIM team have provided the basis for Commission proposals aimed at simplifying Community legislation in fields such as VAT, banking, recognition of professional qualifications, the combined nomenclature for external trade, ornamental plants and social security.