European Union (EU) officials are deliberating on whether to apply the “precautionary principle” to nearly all chemicals in commerce within the EU—a move that could stall scientific innovation and eventually ban many existing products.  Under the proposed EU Chemicals Policy, manufacturers would have to conduct studies showing that chemicals used in their products are safe before sale.  Chemicals already in commerce would remain on the market while new health studies are underway.  But once studies are complete, EU regulators will decide which to register for legal sale and which to ban.  New products would not even enter markets at all until they are studied and approved.  In July, the EU collected about 6,000 comments on this policy from individuals and groups around the world, and they are slated to make a final decision by early 2004.