Chemicals Regulation Policy Unit

New HSA information sheet on the Export and Import of Chemicals

The Health and Safety Authority have produced a new information sheet on the export and import of chemicals to help companies understand if they fall within the scope of the Rotterdam Regulation. The information sheet is available on the website of the HSA and can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

HSA information sheet on the export and import of chemicals

Public Consultation – “Chemical Handling” (amendment of five Health and Safety Directives in order to adapt them to the EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008)

The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is consulting interested parties on the European Commission’s “Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 92/58/EEC, 92/85/EEC, 94/33/EC, 98/24/EC and Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, in order to align them to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures”.

The five Health and Safety Directives refer to EU classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) requirements for chemicals to define either the scope or specific requirements of the Directives. These five Directives need to be amended in order to update the references to EU CLP legislation from the requirements set down in EU Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC (both of which are due to be repealed in June 2015) to the new requirements set down in the EU CLP Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008.

The five Directives on health and safety at work to be amended are:

1. Council Directive 98/24/EC - chemical agents at work,

2. Directive 2004/37/EC - carcinogens or mutagens at work,

3. Council Directive 92/58/EEC - the provision of safety and/or health signs at work,

4. Council Directive 92/85/EEC - the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding,

5. Council Directive 94/33/EC - protection of young people at work.

If you would like to comment, please send your submission to the Department by 5pm on Friday 3 May 2013 either by emailtochemicals@djei.ieorby post to:

Name: Cliona Ryan

Address: Chemicals Regulation Policy Unit, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Davitt House, 65A Adelaide Road, Dublin 2.

Please note that submissions received will be published on the Department’s website.

Further information can be found in the Department’s Consultation Paper and in the Explanatory Memorandum from the Commission (on pages 2-6 of the Commission’s Proposal), both of which can be accessed from the links below:

• Department’s Consultation Paper (PDF 50.4KB)

• Commission Proposal COM (2013) 102 (PDF 76.3KB)

• EU CLP Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008

• Council Directive 92/58/EEC(the provision of safety and/or health signs at work)

• Council Directive 92/85/EEC(the safety and health at work of pregnantworkers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding)

• Council Directive 94/33/EC(protection of young people at work)

• Council Directive 98/24/EC(chemical agents at work)

• Council Directive 2004/37/EC(carcinogens or mutagens at work)

European Commission's proposal for a Directive amending Council Directives 92/58/EEC, 92/85/EEC, 94/33/EC, 98/24/EC and Directive 2004/37/EC

The European Commission's proposal for a Directive amending Council Directives 92/58/EEC, 92/85/EEC, 94/33/EC, 98/24/EC and Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, in order to align them to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures was published on 26 February 2013.

A press release, with further detail, can be found on the website of the European Commission.

European Commission’s proposed Directive (PDF 76.4KB).

REACH Review

The European Commission adopted the General Report "Review of REACH" on 5 February 2013.

Further details on the REACH Review can be found on the website of the European Commission.

Nanotechnology – Second Regulatory Review

The European Commission adopted the Communication on the Second Regulatory Review on Nanomaterials on 3 October 2012.

Further details on the Nanotechnology Second Regulatory Review can be found on the website of the European Commission.