Whilst some Seveso sites already meet these rules under the Industrial Emissions Directive, this means that others will be inspected more often in future.

BBC: Dangerous substances debate

The committee's recommendation called for updates to the Seveso Directive rules - first introduced in the 1970s after an accident in the Italian town, Seveso.

BBC: Dangerous substances debate

MEPs have called on the Commission to examine whether the scope of the Seveso Directive should be extended to include offshore oil exploration, pipelines and certain nanomaterials.

BBC: Dangerous substances debate