Iceland’s Chemicals Act establishes the general legal framework for chemicals, chemical mixtures and articles containing chemicals. Its principal objectives are to ensure that the handling of such substances does not harm human or animal health or the environment, to fulfil Iceland’s obligations concerning the free movement of goods within the European Economic Area, and to prevent unlawful marketing. The Act covers activities including manufacture, import and export, marketing, registration, licensing, classification, labelling, use, restrictions and prohibitions, while excluding areas governed principally by other legislation, such as medicines, food, tobacco, narcotics and radioactive substances The Act regulates a broad range of chemical risks and products and implements major elements of the EEA/EU chemicals regime. It provides a basis for rules on registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals; classification, labelling and packaging; safety data sheets; hazardous and toxic substances; plant protection products and biocides; cosmetics; ozone-depleting substances; fluorinated greenhouse gases; mercury; fuels; and restrictions on hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The Environment and Energy Agency has the central role in implementation and supervision, including monitoring the manufacture and marketing of chemicals, issuing certain marketing and user permits, maintaining information on regulated actors and products, coordinating national inspection plans and informing the public about chemical risks. Other bodies—including municipal health committees, the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health, customs authorities, the Consumer Agency and the National University Hospital Poison Centre—have complementary responsibilities. The Act also establishes extensive inspection and enforcement mechanisms. The Environment and Energy Agency may inspect regulated products and activities, require samples and testing, and take action where substances or products fail to comply with legal requirements. Violations of obligations concerning registration, authorisation, marketing, labelling, fluorinated greenhouse gases, fuel standards and other requirements may result in administrative fines, while specified serious offences—including breaches of registration requirements or rules governing ozone-depleting substances and plant protection or biocidal products—may be punishable by fines or imprisonment for up to two years. Decisions under the Act may generally be appealed to the minister, and the legislation expressly implements EEA instruments including the EU REACH Regulation.
Islandia · 2013-04-08