These Regulations extend the reference to dangerous substances in Article 3(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (“the Order”) to include environmentally hazardous substances (as defined).

This is to enable Regulations, under Article 17 of that Order, to be made to implement Council Directives 94/55/EC (O.J. No. L319, 12.12.94, p. 7) on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road and 96/49/EC (O.J. No. L235, 17.9.96, p. 25) on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by rail, and European Parliament and Council Directive 94/63/EC (O.J. No. L365, 31.12.94, p. 24) on the control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations.