The Council of State has overturned a Zoetermeer town council decision to close down a company which sterilizes medical equipment and clothing for breaking environmental rules.

Sterigenics denies it is emitting too many cancer causing substances and the Council of State ruled on Monday it will take too long to establish whether the company or council is correct.
Shutting down the plant will also impact on customers who will not be able to get enough sterile equipment, news agency ANP quoted the Council of State as saying.
According to ANP, the company plans to move its operations abroad by the end of the year.
At the end of 2009, it emerged the company had for years been emitting high concentrations of cancer-causing ethylene-oxide.
An official investigation at the end of June concluded Sterigenics should never have been given a licence to operate.