The European parliament has been accused of diluting new rules relating to the levels of pollution in the atmosphere.

The parliament has come in for criticism from both environmentalists and the European commission, which first drew up the proposals, over the final regulations which have been established.

Tighter limits on the allowable level of particulate emissions were approved by the parliament, but changes made during the debate have raise concerns at the commission, particularly an amendment giving more time for compliance on current regulations.

Among the changes made by the parliament was the ability for communities to exceed daily limits for 55 days per year, as opposed to the planned 35 days.

Finnish Green MEP Satu Hassi commented in a statement: "It seems almost unthinkable that the current rules would be relaxed, but that is exactly the situation we are facing."

The new regulations had been proposed by the commission in an effort to bring the EU into line with the US in its capping of particulate emissions.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd