On the last day of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Member States approved a legislative proposal preserving the previous approach to classifying essential oils, which Bulgaria also contributed to.

At a meeting of the Council, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, who is a world-renowned scientist in the field of chemistry and physical chemistry, defended the Bulgarian rose oil and other natural essential oils. He pointed out a significant omission in the draft Regulation on the Classification, Labeling and Packaging of Chemicals (CLP), placing essential oils in the column of dangerous chemical mixtures and described such European regulation as being a misuse of science.

The decision is to be voted on by the European Parliament.