Solvent Regulations

• Solvent Regulations 2002 - Irish Statute Book
• Solvent Regulations 2006 - Irish Statute Book
• Solvent Regulations 2010 - Irish Statute Book

• Solvents Regulations - Registration of an Installation Form 

These regulations require businesses, which use solvents or solvent containing materials to determine if the regulations apply to them. If they do the business must have a Certificate of Compliance. The following business sectors come under the remit of the regulations:

•Dry cleaning;
•Vehicle coating and vehicle refinishing;
•Coil coating;
•Winding wire coating;
•Other coating, including metal, plastic, textile, fabric, film, leather, wood, and paper surfaces;
•Wood impregnation;
•Footwear manufacture;
•Wood and plastic lamination;
•Adhesive coating;
•Rubber conversion;
•Vegetable oil and animal fat extraction and vegetable oil refining activities;
•Manufacturing of pharmaceutical products;
•Manufacturing of coating preparations, varnishes, inks and adhesives;
•Surface cleaning using compounds with risk phrases R45, R46, R49, R60, R61, or R40 and halogenated compounds;
•Other surface cleaning;
•Printing.

Solvent records -  All solvent users must determine if the regulations apply to their specific operation. This depends on your business sector, and the type and amount of solvent you use in a year. At least 12 consecutive months of solvent purchase records are required to determine if the regulations apply to you. Should you exceed the annual solvent consumption threshold for your sector, your operation comes under the remit of the regulations, and you will be required to achieve compliance by October 31st 2007.

Accredited Inspection Contractor  - In order to attain compliance, an Accredited Inspection Contractor (AIC) must review your operation, and produce a report on the level of compliance with the regulations. This report will state if you are in compliance or otherwise with the regulations.

Certificate of Compliance - An AIC report demonstrating compliance with the regulations must be submitted to Meath County Council, together with the completed registration form and a fee of €50. On the basis of this documentation, Meath County Council will make a decision on the issue of a Certificate of Compliance for your operation. Failure to obtain a Certificate of Compliance by October 31st 2007 may result in Meath County Council initiating enforcement proceedings under the Air Pollution Act 1987.

Further Information: 

• http://www.epa.ie/whatwedo/advice/air/solvents/
• http://www.environ.ie/
• www.envirocentre.ie