Health and Safety Executive

Importers - Aims and requirements of EC Regulation 689/2008

Aims of the EC Regulation 689/2008

  • To implement the Rotterdam Convention in the European Union
  • To promote shared responsibility and co-operation in the international trade of dangerous chemicals
  • To protect human health and the environment by providing developing countries with information on how to store, transport, use and dispose of dangerous chemicals safely.

Requirements of the regulation

The regulation requires that importers of banned or severely restricted chemicals in the EU provide information to their Designated National Authority (DNA).

In the first quarter of each year report the quantity of each chemical imported from each country during the preceding year.

The report should specify:

  • Exporter (address);
  • Chemical or Chemical/Preparation name or Chemical/Article;
  • CAS-No.;
  • EINECS-No.;
  • Importing Country;
  • Address of Importer; and
  • Quantity in kg.

Send the information to the DNA of the EU country in which the importer is a registered company, not the DNA of the country into which the import occurs.

The Health and Safety Executive is the lead Designated National Authority for Great Britain (GB PIC DNA)

If you import chemicals, you need to consider the type of export (substance, preparation or article and follow our guidance on How to identify restricted or banned imports - step-by-step.

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30.11.09