MPs are calling for a thorough investigation into the supervision of the chemical industry following the closure of the Norwegian tank storage company Odfjell.

Labour, Christian Democrat and Green party MPs are asking why Odfjell’s Rotterdam site was only closed down last Thursday when problems with safety at the facility were known about for some time, reports the AD.
Government inspectors ordered 30 tanks to be shut down a week ago because of the risk of leaks and the lack of proper safety measures. A further 50 tanks were closed last Thursday.
The MPs say supervision of the chemical industry is a sham, with inspections rarely leading to tough action and inspectors having ‘a quiet word’ with the management.
They are now calling for an independent investigation into the supervision.
According to professor Lucas Reijnders of Amsterdam university, chemical industry management has been leaning on inspectors for years not to be too hard on high-risk facilities, says the AD.