The European Parliament has blocked changes to nutrition labelling that would have allowed new "percentage less" claims on sugar, salt and fat content. The new labels could have confused or misled consumers, said a resolution voted by MEPs on Thursday.

The EU needs to improve its Emissions Trading System (ETS) and other policies to help its transition towards an economy less dependent on carbon, says a non-legislative report adopted by the Environment Committee on Tuesday.

Medical devices such as silicone breast implants, should be subject to stricter controls and better traceability, said MEPs and European Commission representatives at an Environment and Public Health Committee meeting this morning.

"Биоцидите" - независимо дали говорим за отрова за плъхове или дезинфектанти - ще бъдат предмет на по-стриктни проверки за безопасност след гласуването на изменение в правилата за използването им този четвъртък. Целта е по-добрата защита на човешкото здраве и природата, като същевременно бъдат стандартизирани процесите по допускане на продуктите до пазара.

Повече счупени европейски хладилници, телефони и други уреди ще бъдат събирани и рециклирането според приетите от депутатите в четвъртък нови цели, вече получили и одобрението на Съвета. Изменението на директивата относно отпадъци от електрическо и електронно оборудване (ОЕЕО) предоставя на потребителите нови възможности да връщат малки отпадъци в магазините за продажба на дребно, както и намалява административните процедури за бизнеса.

Emissions Trading System (ETS) credits should be taken out of the next phase of trading to help lift the sinking carbon price, said Environment Committee MEPs on Tuesday. MEPs also voted on measures aiming to get the EU on track to meet its 20% energy efficiency target by 2020.

New consumer-friendly labelling rules for fruit juices and nectars were approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday. They aim to prevent potentially misleading names for mixed juices and "no added sugar" claims.

Washing powders and dishwasher detergents will need to be almost phosphorus-free in future, following a vote in the European Parliament on Wednesday. The measures aim to protect aquatic life in waterways and seas around the EU.

The agreement reached at UN climate talks in Durban is a breakthrough that must be followed by firm action, says Jo Leinen (S&D, DE), Chair of the EU Parliament delegation to the summit (COP 17).

The European Parliament is calling for a binding global deal on climate change to be agreed by 2015. The "ping pong blame game" between the US and China is holding up progress towards this deal and must come to end, said Jo Leinen (S&D, DE), Chair of the EP delegation to the UN climate change summit in Durban (South Africa) on Wednesday.