News

National Inspectorates - Ireland

The Chemicals Act 2008 as amended in 2010 facilitates enforcement of the REACH, CLP and Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulations in Ireland.

The Act sets out the details of the national authorities with responsibility for each of the Regulations as well as the powers of inspectors. Further details on the Act may be found on the Health and Safety Authority website.

Enforcement of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation and the Biocidal Products Regulation is carried out by national authorities as set out below.

1.Authorities responsible for REACH enforcement in Ireland under the Chemicals Act 2008 (as amended):

  • The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) - Lead Competent Authority for enforcement of REACH in Ireland, covering all elements of REACH, including registration, authorisation, restriction, and downstream user obligations etc., in relation to all substances and mixtures (as relevant) except those which are generally termed as pesticides (i.e. plant protection products or biocides), for which the Pesticide Registration and Control Division have exclusive responsibility.
  • The Pesticide Registration and Control Division (PRCD) of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for implementing the regulatory system for plant protection products and biocidal products, and the national regulations controlling pesticide residues in food. PRCD is responsible for enforcement of all relevant aspects of the REACH Regulation in relation to plant protection products or biocides including restrictions and downstream user obligations.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - It has responsibilities for a wide range of licensing, enforcement, monitoring and assessment activities associated with environmental protection. The EPA has responsibility for enforcement of REACH in relation to specific restrictions and authorisations (PBTs and vPvBs) relating to environmental pollution.

2.Authorities responsible for CLP enforcement in Ireland under the Chemicals Act 2008 (as amended):

  • The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) - Main Competent Authority for enforcement of CLP in Ireland, covering all elements of the Regulation including classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures as well as notification of classification and labelling information to the inventory at ECHA in relation to all substances except those which are generally termed as pesticides (i.e. plant protection products or biocides), for which the Pesticide Registration and Control Division have exclusive responsibility.
  • The Pesticide Registration and Control Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for covering all elements of the CLP Regulation including classification, labelling, packaging and notification of classification and labelling information to the inventory at ECHA in relation to all substances which are generally termed as pesticides (i.e. plant protection products or biocides).
  • The National Poisons Information Centre of Beaumont Hospital Board has been appointed as the body responsible for receiving information relating to emergency health response under Article 45 of the CLP Regulation.

3.Authorities responsible for the PIC Regulation in Ireland under the Chemicals Act 2008 (as amended):

  • The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is one of the Designated National Authorities (DNAs) with responsibility for implementing the PIC Regulation for industrial chemicals in Ireland and is responsible for enforcement of all relevant aspects of the Regulation in relation to industrial chemicals.
  • The Pesticide Registration and Control Division (PRCD) of the Department of Agriculture, Food  and the Marine is responsible for implementing the regulatory system for plant protection products and biocidal products, and the national regulations controlling pesticide residues in food. PRCD is responsible for enforcement of all relevant aspects of the PIC Regulation in relation to plant protection products or biocides.

4.Authorities responsible for enforcement of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation in Ireland:

  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The Irish EPA is responsible for the enforcement of controls on production, placing on the market and use of POPs. The EPA also monitors the proper management of POP-containing stockpiles. Additionally, the EPA is charged with updating the National Implementation Plan on POPs and is responsible for fulfilling some of the recommended tasks outlined in its Action Plan. The EPA is also tasked with meeting Irelands reporting obligations under the Regulation including those associated with release inventories. Relatedly the EPA issues, and enforces compliance with permits regarding Directive 2010/75/EU (Industrial Emissions Directive) within Ireland.
  • The Pesticide Registration and Control Division (PRCD) of the Department of Agriculture, Food  and the Marine is responsible for implementing the regulatory system for plant protection products and biocidal products, and the national regulations controlling pesticide residues in food. PRCD is responsible for enforcement of all relevant aspects of the POPs Regulation in relation to plant protection products or biocides.

Further details on responsibilities under POPs can be found in Environmental Protection Agency's website.

5.Authorities responsible for enforcement of the Biocidal Products Regulation in Ireland: