Review of the Seveso II Directive

The European Commission (EC) has carried out a review of the Seveso Directive to assess its effectiveness and identify possible improvements.  This was separate to the work to consider the effect of the new EU CLP Regulation on Seveso. The review was carried out through two studies. 

First study

The first, carried out in 2008, is known as the 'F-Seveso' study. It sought information from Competent Authorities, industry and other organisations on the level and quality of implementation of the Directive, especially:

• the adequacy of duties on site operators,
• the real impact of the main requirements, and how they can be measured, and
• how Member States and different industrial sectors have complied with the Directive and whether it has created any market distortions.

Overall, the findings of the first study showed no real need for legislative change but identified inconsistent implementation throughout the EU and within individual Member States.

Second study

The main conclusions from the second study were:

• no fundamental changes to the Directive are necessary
• the existing approach should be maintained
• there is a need to clarify/update some provisions
• improvements could be made to the implementation and enforceability of the Directive, and
• any changes should avoid adding administrative burdens.

The European Commission has published reports of both studies.

• Reports of the first and second study

The UK Competent Authority sent written comments to the EC on both reports.

• Response to the F-Seveso (1st) study of the effectiveness of requirements on operators
• Response to ERM (2nd) study of the effectiveness of requirements on public authorities