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The article reports on an increase in the leading indicator for the chemical industry. Production has been weakest in building materials, followed by paper and petroleum refining. The average stock price of the chemical industry gained for the fifth consecutive month, and industrial production in the chemical process industries rose 0.3%, after an 0.8% fall in April.

The article reports on the development of a new kind of paper by the Technical Research Centre of Finland in January 2006. This was done by replacing oil-based fillers and coating pigments with materials derived from potato starch. The center has chemically modified the potato starch, making it as hydrophobic as the oil-based materials it is replacing, but at a lighter weight.

Reports on the opposition of the U.S. government and industry representatives to the European Commission's White Paper on chemicals, which outlines evaluation and registration scheme for all high-risk substances. Meeting of the U.S. regulators with European Union officials; Potential for arbitrary discrimination against chemicals; Possible impact of the White Paper on importation to European Union countries.