The Development of UK and European Major Hazards Legislation and the Review of the Seveso Directive

Abstract

Describes the development of major hazard controls, first domestically in the UK and more recently in the European Community. Traces UK developments are traced from the early concerns of the 1960s, the Flixborough disaster and the work of the Advisory Committee on Major Hazards on which the current philosophy for controlling major hazards is based. Describes in detail the evolution of European Community legislation from the Seveso Directive to the proposed new Directive for the control of major accident hazards (COMAH). The proposed COMAH Directive will be considered in the CEC′s Environment Working Group and Environment Council over the coming months. If these negotiations are successful in reaching common position by the end of 1994, the new Directive is likely to be adopted by the Council of Ministers in 1995. The UK will have to implement the new Directive within 18 months of its adoption.