The Explosives Regulations 2014 No. 1638

[F1 SCHEDULE 12 U.K. ENFORCEMENT POWERS IN RESPECT OF TRANSFERS, AND THE PLACING ON THE MARKET, OF CIVIL EXPLOSIVES, MARKET SURVEILLANCE, COMPLIANCE, WITHDRAWAL AND RECALL NOTICES, DEFENCE OF DUE DILIGENCE, APPEALS AGAINST NOTICES AND FURTHER PROVISIONS IN RELATION TO ENFORCEMENT

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 12 substituted (20.4.2016) by The Explosives Regulations 2014 (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/315), reg. 1, Sch. 1 (with regs. 2(1), 15)

PART 1 U.K. ENFORCEMENT POWERS IN RESPECT OF TRANSFERS, AND THE PLACING ON THE MARKET, OF CIVIL EXPLOSIVES AND MARKET SURVEILLANCE

Enforcement powers, market surveillance and designation of market surveillance authority U.K.

1.   This Part applies in relation to—

(a) the enforcement of regulation 8 by the Executive or the ONR; and

(b) the enforcement of Part 13, and market surveillance in relation to that Part by the Executive.

2.   In Great Britain, the Executive is designated as the market surveillance authority for the purposes of [F2 these Regulations] and RAMS in respect of civil explosives.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in Sch. 12 para. 2 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(a) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

3.   In its enforcement of Part 13, the Executive must enforce RAMS in respect of its application to civil explosives.

4.   When enforcing Part 13, the enforcing authority must exercise its powers in a manner which is consistent with—

(a) paragraph 8 (evaluation of civil explosives presenting a risk);

(b) paragraph 9 (enforcement action in respect of civil explosives which are not in conformity and which present a risk);

F3 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d) paragraph 11 (enforcement action in respect of civil explosives which are in conformity, but present a risk);

(e) paragraph 12 (enforcement action in respect of formal non-compliance); and

(f) paragraph 13 (restrictive measures).

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in Sch. 12 para. 2 omitted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(b) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

5.   Subject to paragraph 7, and to the extent that they would not otherwise do so in the case of regulation 8, the provisions of the 1974 Act referred to in paragraph 6 apply to regulation 8 and Part 13 for the purposes of their enforcement as if that regulation and that Part were health and safety regulations for the purposes of that Act.

6.   In relation to the enforcement of the provisions referred to in paragraph 1—

(a) sections 19 to 28, 33 to 35, 38, 39, 41 42 and 46 of, and Schedule 3A to, the 1974 Act apply as provided in paragraph 7; and

(b) sections 36(1) and (2) and 37 of the 1974 Act apply in relation to offences under section 33 of the 1974 Act as applied by paragraph (a) and the modifications specified in paragraph 7.

7.— (1) For the purposes of the enforcement of the provisions referred to in paragraph 1, and in respect of any related proceedings for a contravention of any of those provisions, the provisions of the 1974 Act mentioned in paragraph 6 apply as if—

(a) any reference to the relevant statutory provisions in those provisions were a reference to—

(i) those provisions as modified by this paragraph; and

(ii) regulation 8 and Part 13 of these Regulations;

(b) references to “risk” were references to “risk” within the meaning of regulation 2(12);

(c) in section 19—

(i) in subsection (1)—

(aa) “Every enforcing authority” were a reference to the Executive or the ONR, as the case may be; and

(ab) “within its field of responsibility” were omitted;

(ii) in subsection (2), paragraph (b) were omitted; and

(iii) in subsection (3)—

(aa) “the enforcing authority” were a reference to the Executive or the ONR, as the case may be; and

(ab) “which appointed him” were omitted;

(d) in section 20—

(i) in subsection (1), “within the field of responsibility of the enforcing authority which appointed him” were omitted;

(ii) in subsection 2(c)(i), “his (the inspector’s) enforcing authority” were a reference to the Executive or the ONR, as the case may be;

(iii) in subsection 2(h), the reference to any article or substance which appears to an inspector to have caused or to be likely to cause danger to health or safety included a reference to any civil explosive item which an inspector has reasonable cause to believe will contravene the relevant statutory provisions, present a risk or be unlawfully acquired, used or dealt in;

(iv) in subsection (2)(i), the reference to “the preceding paragraph” included a reference to subsection (2)(h) as modified by this paragraph;

(v) subsection (3) were omitted;

(vi) in subsections (4) and (5), the reference to subsection (2)(h) included a reference to subsection (2)(h) as modified by this paragraph; and

(vii) in subsection (6), the reference to subsection (2)(i) included a reference to subsection (2)(i) as modified by this paragraph;

(e) in section 21—

(i) before paragraph (a), there were inserted—

“(za) is making available on the market a civil explosive which presents a risk;”;

(ii) after “specifying the”, there was inserted “risk, or”; and

(iii) after “requiring that person to”, there were inserted “address the risk or”;

(f) in section 22, as well as permitting an inspector to serve a prohibition notice in the circumstances specified in subsection (2), it permitted an inspector to serve a prohibition notice on a person if, as regards any activities to which the section applies, the inspector is of the opinion that, as carried on or likely to be carried on by or under the control of that person, the activities involve or, as the case may be, will involve a risk or a contravention of any of the relevant statutory provisions (as referred to in this paragraph);

(g) in section 23, subsections (3), (4) and (6) were omitted;

(h) in section 25A, in subsection (1)—

(aa) “an enforcing authority” were a reference to the Executive or the ONR, as the case may be; and

(ab) before “inspector” where it first appears, there were inserted “an”;

(i) in section 26—

(aa) “the enforcing authority” were a reference to the Executive or the ONR, as the case may be; and

(ab) “which appointed him” were omitted;

(j) in section 27, in subsection (1)—

(i) paragraph (b) were omitted; and

(ii) “or, as the case may be, to the enforcing authority in question” were omitted;

(k) in section 27A, in subsection (2)—

(i) for “an enforcing authority” there were substituted “the Executive”; and

(ii) the words from “, other than the Office for Nuclear Regulation” to the end were omitted;

(l) in section 28—

(i) in subsection (1)(a)—

(aa) “, other than the Office for Nuclear Regulation (or an inspector appointed by it),” were omitted; and

(bb) “, by virtue of section 43A(6) below” were omitted;

(ii) in subsection (3)(a), “or any enforcing authority” were omitted;

(iii) in subsection (4)—

(aa) “or an enforcing authority” were omitted; and

(bb) “, (including in the case of an enforcing authority, any inspector appointed by it)” were omitted;

(iv) in subsection (5)(a), “or the purposes of the enforcing authority in question in connection with the relevant statutory provisions” were omitted;

(v) in subsection (7)—

(aa) “14(4)(a) or” were omitted; and

(bb) for paragraph (b), there were substituted—

“(b) for the purposes of any legal proceedings or for the purposes of a report of any such proceedings;”; and

(vi) subsection (9B) were omitted;

(m) in section 33—

(i) in subsection (1), paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) were omitted; and

(ii) subsection (2) has effect subject to a subsection (2A) as follows—

“(2) The maximum penalty for an offence under this section involving a contravention of Part 13 of the Explosives Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1638) is—

(a) on summary conviction—

(i) in England and Wales, imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine, or both;

(ii) in Scotland, imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both; and

(b) on conviction on indictment, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.”;

(iii) subsection (3) were omitted;

(n) in section 34—

(i) in subsection (1)—

(aa) paragraphs (a) and (b) were omitted;

(bb) for the words from “and it appears” to the end, there were substituted—

“and it appears from the investigation or, in a case falling within paragraph (d), from the proceedings at the inquiry, that any of the relevant statutory provisions was contravened at a time which is material in relation to the subject-matter of the investigation or inquiry, summary proceedings against any person liable to be proceeded against in respect of the contravention may be commenced at any time within three months of the conclusion of the investigation or inquiry.”; and

(ii) in subsection (3)—

(aa) the reference to six months were a reference to twelve months; and

(ab) “a responsible enforcing authority”, “an enforcing authority” and “the enforcing authority” were each, respectively, a reference to the Executive or the ONR, as the case may be;

(iii) in subsection (4)—

(aa) the reference to “the designer, manufacturer, importer or supplier of any thing” were a reference to an economic operator within the meaning of regulation 2(1); and

(bb) “and in that subsection” to the end were omitted; and

(iv) subsection (6) were omitted;

(o) in section 35, “any enforcing authority” were a reference to the Executive or the ONR, as the case may be;

(p) in section 39—

(aa) “the enforcing authority” were a reference to the Executive or the ONR, as the case may be; and

(ab) “which appointed him” were omitted; and

(q) in section 42, the reference in subsection (3A) to “an explosive article or substance” were a reference to a civil explosive article or substance within the meaning of regulation 33(8).”.

(2) The provisions of the 1974 Act referred to in paragraph 6, except sections 19 and 20, do not apply in relation to the performance of the functions of the Secretary of State under Sub-Part C of Part 13 or the functions under that Part of a notified body which is a public body performing its functions on behalf of the Crown.

Evaluation of civil explosives presenting a risk U.K.

8.   Where the Executive has sufficient reason to believe that a civil explosive presents a risk, the Executive must carry out an evaluation in relation to the civil explosive covering the relevant requirements of Part 13 applying in respect of that civil explosive.

Enforcement action in respect of civil explosives which are not in conformity and which present a risk U.K.

9.— (1) Where, in the course of the evaluation referred to in paragraph 8, the Executive finds that the civil explosive is not in conformity with Part 13, it must, without delay, require a relevant economic operator to—

(a) take appropriate corrective actions to bring the civil explosive into conformity with those requirements within a prescribed period;

(b) withdraw the civil explosive within a prescribed period; or

(c) recall the civil explosive within a prescribed period.

(2) The Executive must inform the [F4 approved body] which carried out the conformity assessment procedure in respect of the civil explosive of—

(a) the respect in which the civil explosive is not in conformity with Part 13; and

(b) the actions which the Executive is requiring the relevant economic operator to take.

(3) Where the Executive considers that the lack of conformity referred to in sub-paragraph (1) is not restricted to the United Kingdom, it must notify the Secretary of State of—

(a) the results of the evaluation; and

(b) the actions which it has required the economic operator to take.

F5 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Where the relevant economic operator does not take adequate corrective action within the prescribed period, the Executive must take appropriate measures to—

(a) prohibit or restrict the civil explosive being made available on the market in the United Kingdom;

(b) withdraw the civil explosive from the United Kingdom market; or

(c) recall the civil explosive.

(6) Where the Executive takes measures under sub-paragraph (5), it must notify the Secretary of State of those measures without delay.

F6 (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8) [F7 The notice in sub-paragraph (6)] must include details about the civil explosive and, in particular—

(a) the data necessary for the identification of the civil explosive which is not in conformity with Part 13;

(b) the origin of the civil explosive;

(c) the nature of the lack of conformity alleged and the risk involved;

(d) the nature and duration of the measures taken;

(e) the arguments put forward by the relevant economic operator; and

(f) whether the lack of conformity is due to either of the following—

(i) failure of the civil explosive to meet requirements relating to a risk;

(ii) shortcomings in the [F8 designated] standards referred to in regulation 65 (presumption of conformity) conferring a presumption of conformity.

(9) In this paragraph, “prescribed period” means a period which is—

(a) prescribed by the Executive; and

(b) reasonable and commensurate with the nature of the risk presented by the civil explosive.

(10) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (5), “take appropriate measures” includes the Executive making arrangements with the [F9 relevant authority] for Northern Ireland as to measures referred to in that sub-paragraph being taken there by that authority.

Textual Amendments

F4 Words in Sch. 12 para. 9(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(c) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F5 Sch. 12 para. 9(4) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(d) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F6 Sch. 12 para. 9(7) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(e) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F7 Words in Sch. 12 para. 9(8) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(f)(i) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F8 Word in Sch. 12 para. 9(8)(f)(ii) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(f)(ii) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F9 Words in Sch. 12 para. 9(10) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(g) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

EU safeguarding procedure U.K.

F10 10.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F10 Sch. 12 para. 10 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(h) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Enforcement action in respect of civil explosives which are in conformity, but present a risk U.K.

11.— (1) Where, having carried out an evaluation under paragraph 8, the Executive finds that, although a civil explosive is in conformity with Part 13 it presents a risk, the Executive must require a relevant economic operator to take appropriate measures to—

(a) ensure that the civil explosive concerned, when placed on the market, no longer presents a risk;

(b) withdraw the civil explosive within a prescribed period; or

(c) recall the civil explosive within a prescribed period.

(2) Where the Executive takes measures under sub-paragraph (1), it must notify the Secretary of State immediately.

F11 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) [F12 The notice referred to in sub-paragraph (2)] must include details about the civil explosive and, in particular—

(a) the data necessary for the identification of the civil explosive concerned;

(b) the origin and the supply chain of the civil explosive;

(c) the nature of the risk involved; and

(d) the nature and duration of the measures taken by the Executive.

(5) In this paragraph, “prescribed period” means a period which is—

(a) prescribed by the Executive; and

(b) reasonable and commensurate with the nature of the risk presented by the civil explosive.

Textual Amendments

F11 Sch. 12 para. 11(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(i) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F12 Words in Sch. 12 para. 11(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(j) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Enforcement action in respect of formal non-compliance U.K.

12.— (1) Where the Executive makes one of the following findings relating to a civil explosive, it must require a relevant economic operator to put an end to the non-compliance concerned within a specified period—

(a) the [F13 UK marking]—

(i) has not been affixed; or

(ii) has been affixed otherwise than in accordance with regulations 64 (prohibition on improper use of [F13 UK marking]) and 68 ([F13 UK marking]);

(b) where [F14 an approved body] is involved in the production control phase for the civil explosive, the identification number of [F15 the approved body]—

(i) has not been affixed; or

(ii) has been affixed otherwise than in accordance with regulation 68;

(c) the [F16 declaration of conformity]—

(i) has not been drawn up; or

(ii) has been drawn up otherwise than in accordance with regulations 41 ([F16 declaration of conformity] and [F17 UK marking]) and 67 ([F16 declaration of conformity]);

(d) the technical documentation is either not available or not complete;

(e) the following information that is required in respect of the civil explosive is absent, false or incomplete—

(i) the information specified in regulation 44 (traceability of civil explosives to which regulations 33, 34 and 36 do not apply);

(ii) the information specified in regulation 50 (information identifying importer); or

(f) any other administrative requirement imposed on the manufacturer or importer under Part 13 has not been fulfilled.

(2) Until the specified period has elapsed, the Executive must not commence proceedings in relation to Part 13 of these Regulations, or take any other enforcement action in relation to that Part, against the relevant economic operator in respect of the non-compliance concerned.

(3) Where the non-compliance referred to in sub-paragraph (1) persists, the Executive must take appropriate measures to—

(a) restrict or prohibit the civil explosive being made available on the market;

(b) ensure that the civil explosive is withdrawn; or

(c) ensure that the civil explosive is recalled.

(4) This paragraph does not apply where a civil explosive presents a risk.

Textual Amendments

F13 Words in Sch. 12 para. 12(1)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(k)(i) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F14 Words in Sch. 12 para. 12(1)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(k)(ii) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F15 Words in Sch. 12 para. 12(1)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(k)(iii) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F16 Words in Sch. 12 para. 12(1)(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(k)(iv) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F17 Words in Sch. 12 para. 12(1)(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 16 para. 32(k)(i) (with Sch. 16 para. 29) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Restrictive measures U.K.

13.   When enforcing Part 13, the Executive must comply with the requirements of Article 21 of RAMS, as amended from time to time, in relation to any measure to—

(a) prohibit or restrict a civil explosive being made available on the market;

(b) withdraw a civil explosive; or

(c) recall a civil explosive.]