FAQ

  • What are the main areas of work the Safety, Health and Chemicals Policy Unit deals with in relation to chemicals?

    • Act as a liaison mechanism between the Department and the Health and Safety Authority,
    • Manage the implementation of the Chemicals Acts 2008 and 2010 which provide for the implementation and enforcement of a number of EU Regulations. These are:
      • REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals);
      • Detergents;
      • Rotterdam (export/import); and
      • CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures);
    • Review the Dangerous Substances Acts 1972 and 1979 & associated Regulations;
    • Develop national legislation on chemicals, including that implementing EU chemicals Regulations and Directives;
    • Manage the process of negotiation of relevant EU legislation;
    • Represent Ireland at the ESPG Sub-Group on REACH and CLP (the ESPG is a consultative group of experts on Enterprise and SME Policies established by the European Commission);
    • Involvement in other work areas such as: asbestos, biological agents, chemical agents, ADR (carriage of dangerous goods by road), chemical weapons, and nanotechnology.