EU drops proposed law to tackle illegal trade in wildlife and toxic waste

Cross-border monitoring and inspections regime to clamp down on environmental crime worth billions is stymied by fears of UK objections, EU officials say

The EU has quietly dropped plans for stronger environmental inspections to tackle illegal trade in wildlife and toxic waste across Europe, the Guardian has learned.

Senior levels of the European commission feared opposition from the UK to the proposed law on cost and red tape grounds, sources told the Guardian.