<s>[INST] The next text is a question of a member of the European parliament:"The new Directive 2019/904 aims to bring about an ambitious reduction in the impact that plastics and plastic products have on nature. The aim of the Directive is desirable, but the definition of natural polymers is unclear. The issue of which materials, including raw materials, are regarded as single-use plastics under this Directive and which are not remains unresolved.According to the definition of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), natural polymers are polymers that are the result of a polymerisation process that has taken place in nature, independently of the extraction process. Bacteria produce many polymers, for example alginate, bacterial cellulose, xanthan, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), etc. Whether a given polymer, for example PHA, is produced with the aid of bacteria in nature or by a biotechnological process in a production plant, it is the same substance and its chemical composition is the same.Therefore, should it not be classified as a natural polymer in both cases?Does the Commission intend to clarify the Directive’s interpretation of the definitions of natural polymers and plastic? If so, within what time frame?"
Analyze carefully the text and assign it to the most relevant policy area among those listed below. Do not explain your answer and return only a number.
Policy area numbers: 1 = Macroeconomics
2 = Civil Rights, Minority Issues and Civil Liberties
3 = Health
4 = Agriculture and Fisheries
5 = Labour, employment and pensions
6 = Education
7 = Environment
8 = Energy
9 = Immigration
10 = Transportation
12 = Law and Crime
13 = Social welfare
14 = Regional and Urban issues and Planning
15 = Banking, finance and domestic commerce issues
16 = Defence
17 = Space, science, technology, and communications issues
18 = Foreign trade
19 = International affairs and foreign aid
20 = Governance and government
21 = Public Lands, Water Management and Territorial Issues
23 = Culture and media
[/INST]. Answer = [7]. </s>
The new Directive 2019/904 aims to bring about an ambitious reduction in the impact that plastics and plastic products have on nature. The aim of the Directive is desirable, but the definition of natural polymers is unclear. The issue of which materials, including raw materials, are regarded as single-use plastics under this Directive and which are not remains unresolved.According to the definition of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), natural polymers are polymers that are the result of a polymerisation process that has taken place in nature, independently of the extraction process. Bacteria produce many polymers, for example alginate, bacterial cellulose, xanthan, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), etc. Whether a given polymer, for example PHA, is produced with the aid of bacteria in nature or by a biotechnological process in a production plant, it is the same substance and its chemical composition is the same.Therefore, should it not be classified as a natural polymer in both cases?Does the Commission intend to clarify the Directive’s interpretation of the definitions of natural polymers and plastic? If so, within what time frame?