Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations implement Council Directive 2011/97/EU (OJ No. L 328, 10.12.11, p 49) which amends Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste (OJ No. L 182, 16.7.99, p 1) (“the Landfill Directive”) as regards specific criteria for the storage of metallic mercury. The aim of Directive 2011/97/EU is to specify safe storage conditions for metallic mercury considered as waste.
Regulation 3(1) amends the Landfill Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (S.R. 2003/496) by inserting a definition of “the Directive” as the Landfill Directive so as to take account of that Directive's amendment by Council Directive 2011/97/EU. Regulation 3(2) and (3) amends those Regulations to allow the temporary storage of metallic mercury as waste for more than 12 months.
Regulation 4 amends the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. 2000/93) to bring sites used for the temporary storage of metallic mercury within the scope of those Regulations.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this Rule as no impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.