Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

1.  These Regulations, which come into operation on 29th September 1997, further amend the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 (S.R. 1995 No. 60) (“the principal Regulations”).

2.  Regulation 3 and the Schedule amend the principal Regulations in that—

(a) by paragraphs 1(a) and (3) of the Schedule, they introduce references to a new edition of the approved classification and labelling guide and supplement to the third edition of the approved supply list (thereby implementing for Northern Ireland part of the Council Directive 96/54/EC (O.J. No. L248, 30.9.96, p. 1), the 22nd adaptation to technical progress (“ATP”) to the Council Directive 67/548/EEC (O.J. No. L196, 16.8.67, p. 1) (“the Dangerous Substances Directive”));

(b) by paragraphs 2 and 7 of the Schedule, they apply regulations 8 to 11 and regulation 13 of the principal Regulations to liquefied petroleum gas, butane and propane and provide a defence in certain circumstances for an offence arising out of the supply of such substances under regulation 9 or 10 of the principal Regulations (thereby implementing for Northern Ireland part of the Dangerous Substances Directive);

(c) by paragraphs 1(d) and 5(c) of the Schedule, they change certain references in the principal Regulations from “EEC” to “EC” (thereby implementing for Northern Ireland the Council Directive 96/56/EC (O.J. No. L236, 18.9.96, p. 35), the 8th Amendment to the Dangerous Substances Directive);

(d) by sub-paragraphs (d) and (e) of paragraph 5 of the Schedule, they introduce an exemption in certain circumstances for substances and preparations marketed for research and development or analysis purposes (thereby implementing for Northern Ireland part of the Council Directive 76/769/EEC (O.J. No. L262, 27.9.76, p. 201) (“the Marketing and Use Directive”));

(e) by paragraph 5(d) of the Schedule, they introduce a new labelling phrase “For use in industrial installations only” for use in certain circumstances (thereby implementing for Northern Ireland the Commission Directive 96/55/EC (O.J. No. L231, 12.9.96, p. 20), the 2nd ATP to the Marketing and Use Directive);

(f) by paragraphs 6 and 9(a) and (c) of the Schedule, they introduce a new Risk Phrase for the aspiration hazard (thereby implementing for Northern Ireland part of the Council Directive 96/65/EC (O.J. No. L265, 18.10.96, p. 15), the 4th ATP to the Council Directive 88/379/EEC (O.J. No. L187, 16.7.88, p. 14) (“the Dangerous Preparations Directive”) and part of the Commission Directive 96/54/EC (O.J. No. L248, 30.9.96, p. 1.);

(g) by paragraphs 5(a), 8 and 9(b) of the Schedule, they correct some minor textual inaccuracies of the principal Regulations.

3.  Copies of the approved supply list (ISBN 0-7176-1116-7 and 0-7176-1378-X) and the approved classification and labelling guide (ISBN 0-7176-1366-6) are available from Dillons Books, 44-46 Fountain Street, Belfast, BT1 5EE or from HSE Books, P.O. Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 6FS.

4.  In Great Britain the corresponding Regulations are the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 1997. The Health and Safety Executive has prepared a cost benefit assessment in relation to those Regulations and a copy of that assessment, together with the Northern Ireland Supplement prepared by the Department of Economic Development, is held at that Department’s offices at 83 Ladas Drive, Belfast, BT6 9FJ, from where copies may be obtained on request.