HSE and the Environment Agency in England and Wales, and HSE and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland, acting jointly as the Competent Authority. Other departments also have an interest, including in the N. Ireland HSE and the Environment and Heritage Service, and Defra.
The application of the Seveso II Directive is partly determined through reference to the system for classifying substances Dangerous Substances Directive and the Dangerous Preparations Directive (DSD/DPD).
A new EU Regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP) came into force on 20 January 2009 through which the EU has adopted the UN Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling (GHS). CLP will be phased in over a transitional period, ultimately replacing DSD/DPD in 2015 and breaking the legislative link between Seveso and the current classification system. A new method of determining the scope of the Directive will need to be found which will necessitate an amendment to Seveso.
The EC has set up a Technical Working Group to collect information and advise on the impact of CLP on Seveso with a view to maintaining, as far as possible, the scope of the Directive. The UK Competent Authority is actively involved.
Two separate reviews being carried out by the EC (on the effectiveness of Seveso II, and on administrative costs incurred by businesses) may lead to additional changes to the Directive.
HSE will continue to:
The EC is expected to publish a proposal in 2010 to amend Seveso.
