EU will not change methane regulation but there is some flexibility, official says

An EU official said on Tuesday that the bloc's methane regulation has come up in U.S. trade talks but the EU stands "firmly" behind its legislation.

The official said that questions relating to energy still need to be ironed out in a joint statement on EU-U.S. trade that is expected to be finalised soon.

From this year, the EU requires importers of oil and gas to monitor and report the methane emissions associated with these imports. Methane, which escapes from leaky gas infrastructure, is the second-biggest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide emissions.

"We stand firmly by this regulation, it is the first of its kind," the official said.

"Basically within the framework of the regulation, we can be flexible in its implementation for instance in reporting. We are not going to open the regulation, we stand by it."

In June, EU countries considered asking Brussels to simplify the law.

The official said Brussels has already held technical workshops with its gas suppliers to ensure the rules are not problematic.