The Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India has notified the rules under title “Manufacture Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989 to deal with the safety and environmental aspects associated with hazardous chemicals. The salient features of the rules are as follows:

• This rule applies to an industrial activity in which a hazardous chemical, subject to schedule 1,is or may be involved

• The occupier is required to inform to the authority, in schedule 6 ,of any major accident caused due to hazardous chemicals occurring on a site or in a pipeline.

• The concerned authority shall undertake full analysis of the major accident and send the requisite information to the MoEF.

• The criteria of industries coming under preview of isolated storage is given in the schedule 2.

• The occupier is required to submit a written report in schedule 7, to the concerned authority.

• The occupier is required to submit safety report as specified in schedule 8.

• The occupier shall prepare and keep updated on site emergency plan as per schedule 11, detailing how major accident will be dealt in the industry on the site.

•  An off site emergency plan shall be prepared by the concerned authority, as in schedule 5, to deal with the emergencies.

• The importer of hazardous chemicals shall inform to the authority in the prescribed form.

• Authority at the state is to advice to the importer and the concerned port authority for regarding safety measures to be observed by them.

•  The importer shall maintain the records of hazardous chemicals as specified in schedule 10.

• The road transportation of hazardous chemicals should be in accordance in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989.