Source: SPECIALIST PRINTING WORLDWIDE : ISSUE 4: 2013
Elaine Campling evaluates the background, the scope and the latest revisions
The new Seveso III Directive on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances entered into force on the 13 August 2012 and requires national transposition by 31 May 2015 for implementation on 1 June 2015.
A revision to the directive was necessary to align the hazard classification criteria with changes to EU legislation on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (Regulation EC No.1272/2008), the CLP Regulation implementing the UN GHS criteria.
The original Seveso Directive was prompted by the accident at a chemical plant in Seveso, Italy in 1976, when significant quantities of dioxin was released as an unwanted by-product from a runaway chemical reaction, causing significant environmental contamination. More than 600 people were evacuated following the incident due to health concerns. Council Directive 82/501/EEC was enacted in 1982 on the major accident hazards of certain industrial activities and became more commonly known as the Seveso Directive.
