Policy issues on the control of major accident hazards and the new Seveso II directive1The authors are employed in Directorate-General XI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection) of the European Commission. They are concerned with the area of industrial risks, including the Seveso I and II Directives as well as international activities in the field of accident prevention, preparedness and response (OECD, UN Economic Commission for Europe, UN Environment Programme). The contents of this article are the personal opinions of the authors and in no way commit the European Commission.1