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EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1.  These Regulations correct certain errors in the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 (S.R. 2002 No. 301, as amended by S.R. 2005 No. 165, S.R. 2005 No. 463, S.R. 2006 No. 173, S.R. 2006 No. 425, S.I. 2007/386 and S.I. 2008/2108) (“the principal Regulations”) in transposing provisions of—

(a) Council Directive 1992/32/EEC (O.J. No. L154, 5.6.92, p.1) amending for the 7th time Council Directive 67/548/EEC (O.J. No. L196, 16.8.67, p.1) on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances; and

(b) Council Directive 1999/45/EC (O.J. No. L200, 30.7.99, p.1) on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations (“the preparations Directive”), concerning the labelling of single receptacles and receptacles in outer packagings where the national and international transport rules also apply.

2.  These Regulations—

(a) correct a cross-reference in regulation 9(2) of the principal Regulations (regulation 2(4)(a));

(b) amend the principal Regulations in accordance with the provisions of Commission Directive 2006/8/EC (O.J. No. L19, 24.1.2006 p.12) amending, for the purposes of their adaptation to technical progress, Annexes II, III and V to the preparations Directive (regulation 2(5) and (6)); and

(c) amend the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. 2000 No. 93) to provide for the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland to be the enforcing authority except in the circumstance provided for (regulation 3).

3.  In Great Britain the corresponding Regulations are the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2337). The Great Britain Health and Safety Executive has prepared a regulatory impact assessment in respect of these Regulations and a copy of that assessment together with a Northern Ireland Supplement prepared by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland is held at the offices of that Executive at 83 Ladas Drive, Belfast, BT6 9FR, from where a copy may be obtained on request.