The Heavy Fuel Oil (Amendment) Regulations 2014

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement Article 30 of Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances (O.J. No. L 197, 24.7.2012, p.1) (the “Seveso III Directive”).

Article 30 of the Seveso III Directive deals with uncertainty in relation to the correct classification of heavy fuel oils, by adding heavy fuel oils to the table in Part 2 of Annex 1 to Council Directive 96/82 (O.J. No. L 10, 14.1.1997, p. 13) as amended by Directive 2003/105 of the European Parliament and of the Council (O.J. No. L 345, 31.12.2003, p.97) (the “Seveso II Directive”) under the heading Petroleum Products with qualifying quantities of 2,500 tonnes for column 2 and 25,000 tonnes for column 3. This removes the uncertainty that existed as regards the appropriate qualifying quantities for heavy fuel oils for the purposes of implementing Seveso II.

Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (the “1999 Regulations”) by adding heavy fuel oils to the list of named substances in Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the 1999 Regulations. The effect of this is that an establishment where heavy fuel oils are present in a quantity equal to, or exceeding the qualifying quantity in column 2 (2,500 tonnes) becomes subject to the 1999 Regulations and an establishment where heavy fuel oils are present in a quantity equal to, or exceeding the quantity in column 3 (25,000 tonnes) becomes subject to additional requirements as set out in regulation 3(1) of the 1999 Regulations.

Regulation 3 amends the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 1992 (the “1992 Regulations”) and makes a similar amendment by adding heavy fuel oils to the list of named substances in Part A of Schedule 1 to the 1992 Regulations. The effect of this is that an establishment where heavy fuel oils are present in a quantity equal to, or exceeding the controlled quantity (2,500 tonnes) becomes subject to the 1992 Regulations. It also makes saving provision to ensure that existing hazardous substances consents and other specified matters are not affected by the amendment.

Regulation 4 requires the Secretary of State to review the operation and effect of regulation 2 of these Regulations and publish a report within five years after they come into force and within every five years after that. Following a review it will fall to the Secretary of State to consider whether these Regulations should remain as they are, or be revoked or be amended. A further instrument would be needed to revoke these Regulations or to amend them.

A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the Health and Safety Executive, Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Merseyside, L20 7HS and is available in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament, and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.