New rules came into force yesterday (13 August) aimed at providing better information for EU citizens about major threats posed by industrial plants in their immediate vicinity.
The changes are part of an update of the Seveso Directive, which is being adapted to reflect recent changes in the international and European classification of chemicals. The Directive, which was first introduced in 1982, obliges Member States to draw up emergency plans for areas surrounding industrial installations where very large quantities of dangerous substances are to be found.
The revisions mean that all establishments covered by the legislation will need to provide electronically available information about how alerts will be sounded, and about how the public should act in the event of a major accident. In such an event, the relevant authorities will need to inform anyone likely to be affected by it and explain the main measures taken to address it.
Changes to land-use planning laws will see the introduction of an appropriate ‘safety’ distance in plans for new establishments and infrastructure near existing sites.
When authorities and establishments assess the potential for major accidents and adopt measures to address this, they will need to take better account of the risks arising out of the proximity to other industrial sites and potential repercussions on nearby installations.
The updated Seveso Directive will also impose stricter standards for inspections of industrial sites that fall under the legislation.
Environment commissioner Janez Potocnik said: “Seveso III will mean better protection against major accidents for citizens and the environment. It will also mean that citizens are better informed and more involved in land-use planning decisions.”
Seveso legislation is considered to have been instrumental in reducing the likelihood and consequences of major accidents involving dangerous substances. Between 2000 and 2008 the number of reported accidents fell by 10 per cent, notwithstanding an increase in the number of sites.
Member States will have until 1 June 2015 to align their national legislation with the new rules; the deadline coincides with the date when the new chemicals classification legislation – the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP Regulation) – becomes fully applicable in Europe.
HSE guidance on the implcations of Seveso III can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/seveso/implications.htm
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