Consultation opens on streamlining chemical regulations

Date:

20 December 2012

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today (20 December 2012) launched a six week consultation on changes to chemicals legislation.

HSE is inviting comments on proposals to update and simplify the domestic regulations which support EU legislation on Biocides, Export and Import of Hazardous Chemicals (PIC) and Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (CLP) Regulations.

The consultation sets out how HSE proposes to simplify the regulations without adding new responsibilities or reducing important protection for workers, the public or the environment from hazardous substances. Views are also being sought on suggested changes to how HSE enforces regulations governing the import and export of chemicals to make enforcement more proportionate.

The proposed changes will deliver the recommendation to consolidate biocides sector legislation set out in the Löfstedt report published in November 2011.

Deborah Traynor, HSE's consultation manager, said:

"Simplifying and consolidating the regulatory requirements concerning biocides, CLP and PIC will make it more straightforward for businesses in the chemical industry to understand and comply with their responsibilities.

"The proposed statutory instrument will update and largely mirror existing regulatory provisions for biocides, PIC and CLP. There will be no reduction in the protection from hazardous substances for workers, the public or environment.

Full details are contained within the consultation document available on the HSE website. www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd249.htm

The consultation is open until 31 January 2013. The HSE Board will make recommendations to ministers after consideration of the consultation responses.

Notes to editors

1. In the Löfstedt report, it was recommended that: "HSE undertakes a programme of sector-specific consolidations to be completed by April 2015. This will reduce the number of regulations by about 35 per cent. "This should be given priority and the resources necessary to ensure there are no unintended consequences." The full report is available on the Department for Work and Pensions website: www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lofstedt-report.pdf
2. The Government response to Löfstedt is also available on the Department for Work and Pensions websitewww.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lofstedt-report-response.pdf
3. HSE's consultation document on proposals to replace seven existing sets of domestic regulations with one new Statutory Instrument to provide regulatory support for EU Chemicals legislation on Biocides, Import and Export of Chemicals (PIC) and Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (CLP) Regulations is available on the HSE website: www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd249.htm
4. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk

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