Seveso III DirectiveMoving from Seveso II to Seveso III

Background to Seveso Directive1. Seveso I adopted in 1982 to control major accident hazards2. Current COMAH Regs 1999 and planning legislation implement

Seveso II3. Seveso III necessary as CHIP being replaced by CLP by 20154. Overall purpose & approach to stay the same

– Identification of sites, controls and mitigation5. European Commission also took opportunity to modernise the

Directive– Public info– Access to justice– Public participation– Inspections

Current situation

1. Seveso III adopted on 4th July 2012 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/seveso/index.htm

2. New COMAH Regs to be in force from 1June 20153. Heavy fuel oil - amendment to current COMAH

Regs from 15 Feb 20144. Main areas of change:

• Scope • Public information• Inspection• Lack of correction system for substances moving in

or out of scope

Scope

1. Early indications – only a small movement of sites coming into/going out of scope

2. Helpful amendments on named substances

3. Determining whether the Directive applies will be more complex

Toxicity - Seveso III alignment

EU

Oralmg/kg

Inhalaton vapourmg/l

Inhalation aerosolmg/l

Inhalation gasppmV

Dermalmg/kg

1 2 3 4

41 2 3

2 3 41? ?

2 3 41

32 41

T XnT+

Public information

1. More requirements than before

2. Public info on safety measures for all establishments (not just top tier as present)

3. Extra provisions for top tier re safety reports

4. Available electronically and kept up to date

Public information

1. Culture shift!

2. Confidentiality & security issues

3. Access to justice – difficult issue

Inspections

1. Will maintain current system - frequency of site visits based on risk/hazard profile

2. Relevant findings of inspections under other EU legislation to be taken into account in hazard/risk assessment of sites

3. Inspections where poss to be coordinated with other EU legislation inspections

Other key issues

1. Notifications

2. Safety reports

3. Emergency plans

4. Transitional arrangements

Timetable

1. Now – end of 2013 –informal consultation with industry and stakeholders

2. Early 2014 – formal consultation; heavy fuel oils amendment to COMAH Regs 1999

3. Early 2015 – lay Regulations & publication of guidance

4. 1 June 2015 – new COMAH Regs enter into force

Sources of information

1. Seveso website www.hse.gov.uk/seveso/ revised and will continue to be updated. Current features include; - information about Seveso III- implications for business- FAQs

2. Seveso ebulletin http://www.hse.gov.uk/seveso/ebulletin.htm

3. Guidance http://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/index.htm

Questions & discussion

If any questions are raised which cannot be answered they can be sent by e-mail to Seveso.III.Enquiries@hse.gsi.gov.uk or by post to HSE, Hazardous Installations Directorate, Chemical Industries Policy, 5S2 Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside L20 7HS