The Chemicals Interdepartmental/Agency Group
The Chemicals Interdepartmental/Agency Group is an informal cooperation network that a) acts as a forum for the exchange of information in relation to the chemicals remit of each Government Department or Agency represented on the Group, b) discusses chemicals issues that affect the remit of more than one Government Department and/or Agency represented on the Group and c) discusses issues arising from the implementation of the Chemicals Acts 2008 and 2010.
Membership of the group comprises of the following Government Departments and Agencies; the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Health and Safety Authority, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Marine Institute, the Department of Defence, Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Health, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, the National Poisons Information Centre and the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
Meetings are chaired by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Chemicals Regulation across Government
There are a wide range of Government Departments and Agencies involved in the regulation of chemicals in Ireland.
Section 8 of the Chemicals Act 2008 (as amended by Section 4 of the Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010) designates the national/competent authorities in the State for a number of EU Regulations, as follows:
Rotterdam Regulation
The Health and Safety Authority is the lead national authority, with clearly defined roles for the Revenue Commissioners, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine set out in the Act (as amended).
Detergents Regulation
The Health and Safety Authority is the lead competent authority, with clearly defined roles for the Environmental Protection Agency, Beaumont Hospital Board (that is, the National Poisons Information Centre), and the Irish National Accreditation Board (now a committee of the Health and Safety Authority) set out in the Act (as amended).
REACH Regulation
The Health and Safety Authority is the lead competent authority with clearly defined roles for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Environmental Protection Agency, as set out in the Act (as amended).
CLP Regulation
The Health and Safety Authority is the lead competent authority, with clearly defined roles for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Beaumont Hospital Board (that is, the National Poisons Information Centre), as set out in the Act (as amended).
In addition, the Safety, Health and Chemicals Policy Unit also liaises with a range of other Government Departments and Agencies on chemicals matters such as: the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Health, together with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The information above is not intended to be exhaustive in nature. The websites of the various Government Departments and Agencies should be consulted for information on any chemicals responsibilities they may have.