Chemicals Policy Unit
Role | Work | Publications and Files | Contact
Role of the Unit
The role of the Chemicals Policy Unit is to formulate policy on regulating chemicals and includes:
- Introducing chemicals enforcement legislation, in the form of a Chemicals Act, to put in place the necessary measures to enforce particular pieces of EU chemicals legislation in Ireland, including REACH;
- Managing the process of negotiation and transposition of EU Legislation relating to Chemicals; and
- Reviewing the Dangerous Substances Acts 1972 and 1979.
Latest News
Public Consultation - Draft Chemicals (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2009
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is consulting interested parties on the draft Chemicals (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2009(PDF.298kb).
The Chemicals Act 2008 (No. 13 of 2008) came into effect on 15 July 2008. The Act, in addition to making provision for the enforcement of several directly applicable EU Regulations, including the ‘REACH’ Regulation, provides in Section 5(2)(b) for the making of Regulations to cover the so called “Seveso” Directive. The Seveso Directive is aimed at preventing major accidents involving dangerous substances and limiting the consequences in the event of such a major accident. The draft Chemicals (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2009 would replace the current Regulations which transpose the Seveso Directive into Irish law. This should facilitate more streamlined enforcement. It would also mean that the levels of penalties set out in the Chemicals Act would apply. The Draft Regulations reflect the requirements of the Seveso Directive, and, with some provisions clarified and simplified, reflect the content of the current Regulations. A public consultation paper(PDF 242kb) sets out the main changes to the current Regulations.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment invites views on the draft Regulations. Submissions should be sent by email to chemicals@entemp.ie to arrive no later than 31 December 2009. Please note that all submissions will be published.
Links to Seveso Directives
- Council Directive 2003/105/EC (PDF 131KB)
Public Consultation - Review of Dangerous Substances Acts – updating the regulatory regime applying to petroleum spirit (petrol) and other fuels
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment held a public consultation as part of its review of the Dangerous Substances Acts and related Regulations (PDF, 6KB), with a view to updating the regulatory regime applying to petrol and other fuels.
A Report by ARUP Consulting Engineers, commissioned by the Department as part of the review, contains recommendations for consideration. The Department invited views on the possible ways forward set out in the consultation document (PDF, 95KB), which have regard to the ARUP Report (PDF, 1.6MB).
Submissions were received from the following:
Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration (PDF, 2 MB)
Chief Fire Officers Association (PDF, 24KB)
Department of Transport (PDF, 63KB)
Forecourt Systems Ltd (PDF, 910KB)
Health and Safety Authority (PDF, 285KB)
Irish Petroleum Industry Association (PDF, 394KB)
Irish Ports Association (PDF, 32KB)
Maurice Fitzgerald (PDF, 22KB)
Michael O’Kane and Associates (PDF, 576KB)
R & M Technologies (PDF, 486KB)
Revenue Board Chairman’s Office (PDF, 45KB)
Unattended Payment terminals Ltd (PDF, 40 KB)
- Other referenced legislation: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (PDF)
Other News
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launches its Newsletter
- The Health and Safety Authority publishes its Guide to the Chemicals Act 2008.
- Chemicals Act 2008 (No. 13 of 2008), signed by President on the 9th of July 2008 and commenced by An Tánaiste on the 15th July 2008. Read the Press Release.
- Tánaiste signed Regulations to transpose Directive 2006/121/EC on 15th July 2008.
- 1st June 2008 - REACH pre-registration commences. Further information on how businesses should prepare for REACH is available on the Health and Safety Authority’s website. Companies may also contact the REACH Helpdesk in the Health and Safety Authority by calling – 1890 289 389.
- Chemicals Bill 2008 published on 18 April 2008. Read the Press Release.
- Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 [REACH] and Directive 2006/121/EC agreed.
Last modified: 26/11/2009
| © 2010 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Privacy Statement |
,
