Brussels, 19/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission launched an Internet consultation (till 8 February 2002) to gather stakeholders's views on a working document in preparation for a draft directive on the use of arsenic in the preservation of wood. The issue is a possible ban for the sale of arsenic-treated wood to consumers and a restriction of its use to a limited number of essential industrial applications. A scientific report has identified a number of risks considered as unacceptable, inter alia to childrens' health, from the use of arsenic to preserve wood in playground equipment and sandpits and from the disposal of wood containing arsenic through burning. Persons interested are invited to consult the following website: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/consultations/list.htm.