Brussels, 13/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - The Council of Ministers the European Union failed, on Monday 13 July, to take position on proposals by the European Commission to ban three substances - bifenthrin, diphenylamine and triazoxide - and to withdraw authorisations for phyto-pharmaceutical products containing these substances. This means that it will be up to the European Commission itself to take these decisions. The European ministers did, however, adopt by qualified majority the text aiming to ban metham (Denmark, Ireland, Romania and Slovenia voted against; Belgium abstained), but with one derogation (until 31 December 2014) for the use of this substance for essential purposes. Lastly, the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted without debate, and by qualified majority, two directives authorising the use of certain paraffin oils in phytosanitary products, on condition that purity criteria are observed (Poland, Denmark and the United Kingdom voted against), and of certain other paraffin oils, under the same conditions (Denmark voted against). (L.C./transl.fl)