<s>[INST] The next text is a question of a member of the European parliament:"In France, special arrangements apply to the retail purchase of metals: it is assumed that a purchase and sale transaction occurs between a recycling professional and an individual making occasional sales and therefore not having a professional status. Since 1August2011, cash retail purchases of ferrous and non-ferrous metals are prohibited, regardless of the amount of the transaction.  This measure has been welcomed by French recycling professionals for four reasons:      1.  It enhances the security of enterprises since they no longer deal in cash;      2.  It discourages the theft of metals;      3.  It combats parallel recycling channels that disregard existing environmental obligations in order to upgrade raw materials; and      4.  It combats tax fraud, since only payments from one account to another provide financial traceability.    The fight against the theft of metals and the international networks involved is common to all Member States, as is the fight against tax fraud and against the development of illegal recycling sites which tend to evade environmental regulations.  What is the Commission’s position regarding the European harmonisation of modes of transaction in the retail purchase of ferrous and non-ferrous waste? What action will it take in this area?"
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>
In France, special arrangements apply to the retail purchase of metals: it is assumed that a purchase and sale transaction occurs between a recycling professional and an individual making occasional sales and therefore not having a professional status. Since 1August2011, cash retail purchases of ferrous and non-ferrous metals are prohibited, regardless of the amount of the transaction.  This measure has been welcomed by French recycling professionals for four reasons:      1.  It enhances the security of enterprises since they no longer deal in cash;      2.  It discourages the theft of metals;      3.  It combats parallel recycling channels that disregard existing environmental obligations in order to upgrade raw materials; and      4.  It combats tax fraud, since only payments from one account to another provide financial traceability.    The fight against the theft of metals and the international networks involved is common to all Member States, as is the fight against tax fraud and against the development of illegal recycling sites which tend to evade environmental regulations.  What is the Commission’s position regarding the European harmonisation of modes of transaction in the retail purchase of ferrous and non-ferrous waste? What action will it take in this area?