Control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances. Seveso II

OBJECTIVE: replaces Directive 82/501/EEC, the Seveso directive, in order to strengthen the protection measures against major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances in certain types of industrial activity. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Directive 96/82/EC on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances. SUBSTANCE: the new 'Seveso II' Directive, strengthens the legislation in force in several respects, in particular by: - the drawing up by each establishment covered by the directive of a major-accident prevention policy; - the production of safety reports by establishments where there are quantities of dangerous substances as laid down in the annex to the directive (parts 1 and 2, column 3); - the taking into account of the objectives of preventing major accidents and limiting the consequences of such accidents in the land-use policies or other relevant policies of the Member States. The safety report must, interalia: - demonstrate that a major-accident prevention policy and a safety management system for implementing it have been put into effect in accordance with the information set out in one of the annexes to the directive; - demonstrate that major-accident hazards have been identified and that the necessary measures have been taken to prevent such accidents and to limit their consequences for man and the environment; - demonstrate that adequate safety and reliability have been incorporated into the design, construction, operation and maintenance of any installation, storage facility, equipment and infrastructure connected with its operation which are linked to major-accident hazards inside the establishment; - demonstrate that internal emergency plans have been drawn up and supply information to enable the external plan to be drawn up in order to take the necessary measure in the event of a major accident; - provide sufficient information to the competent authorities to enable decisions to be made in terms of the siting of new activities or developments around existing establishments. The Member States must ensure that the public is able to give its opinion in the following cases: - planning for new establishments; - modifications to existing establishments where such modifications affect land use; - developments around such existing establishments. Finally, the directive makes provision for an information system so that lessons can be learned from experience gained in order to improve prevention. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 03/02/1997 DEADLINE FOR TRANSPOSITION: 03/02/1999 �