Section B – Domestic Legislation where it has not been possible to align with either of the common commencement dates

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) (Variation) Order 2009

This variation to the Order came into force on 5 August 2009 and enables HSE to fill two legislative gaps by making provisions for: the use of offshore installations for other purposes than initially intended and the construction of wind farms and related structures beyond our territorial seas. This action will allow HSE to have the jurisdiction to enforce standards, investigate incidents and administer justice in these areas.

Establishment of UK Competent Authority for Regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (Regulation (EC) no. 1272/2008)

The Regulation, known as the 'CLP Regulation', was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 31st December 2008, and entered into force on 20th January 2009. The Regulation adopts in the EU the Globally Harmonised System of the classification and labelling of chemicals or 'GHS', which aims to provide world-wide harmonised criteria for classifying substances and mixtures according to their health, environmental and physical hazards; and world-wide harmonised hazard communication elements.
The EU CLP Regulation requires each Member State to establish a Competent Authority. The Competent Authority will propose new EU-wide hazard classifications for dangerous substances and will also provide advice for businesses to help them understand the new Regulation. It is planned that HSE will act as UK Competent Authority.