Brussels, 09/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - The regulation establishing a Committee on Safe Seas and pollution from ships (COSS) and amending the regulations in this connection was published in the Official Journal L3241/1 of 29 November, and will take effect on the twentieth day after its publication. The aim of the regulation is to improve the implementation of Community legislation on maritime security, the prevention of pollution from vessels and the working conditions on board ships by centralising the tasks via a single committee, the COSS, and by speeding up the updating of Community law in relation to the evolution of international instruments in this respect. A conformity control procedure between the Community and international legislations has been set in place. At the request of a Member State (or otherwise), the Commission may initiate this procedure if any change brought to an international instrument threatens to be incompatible or to lower the levels of maritime security, prevention of pollution and working conditions established in this respect at Community level. The Commission therefore submits a proposal to COSS aimed at excluding the change in question from the Community text. Pending the outcome of this procedure, the Member States abstain from modifying their national legislation or applying the modification.