Brussels, 16/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - Last Thursday the Council of Ministers of the EU approved all the amendments of the legislative proposal on detergents adopted by the European Parliament in its second reading on 14 January. The European Commission had also agreed to them en bloc in an opinion given on 26 February. The way ahead is therefore clear for the formal adoption of this text, the objective of which is to ensure free movement of detergents in the internal market while establishing a high level of protection to human health and the environment. The directive updates existing provisions, notably those concerning bio-degradability of surface agents used in detergents and product labelling rules. The new bio-degradability tests increasing the level of protection of aquatic cells are included and the range of tests is extended to all categories of surface agents, as well as 10% of agents that are not covered by current legislation. The directive completes labelling rules in a way that includes perfumed substances that could cause allergies. Manufacturers will be obliged to send full lists of the ingredients they use to doctors treating patients suffering from allergies.