Updated to 18 February 2026 (Act No. 1 of 2026 and S.I. No. 54 of 2026)
All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.
Chemicals Act 2008
No. 13 of 2008
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement/Effective Date Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Act | 15 July 2008 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Commencement) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 273 of 2008), art. 2 |
Amendments and other effects
| How Affected | Affecting Provision | Affecting Provision Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application extended | Chemicals (Asbestos Articles) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 248 of 2011), regs. 8(4), 9(6) | 31 May 2011 | Chemicals (Asbestos Articles) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 248 of 2011) |
| Transfer of certain functions under | Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 1(2), 3, schedule 1 | 29 July 2011 | Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), art. 1(2), |
| S. 2(1) amended | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019), reg. 3(b) | 10 May 2019 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019) |
| Data Protection Act 2018 (7/2018), ss. 1(3), 209 | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 | |
| Chemicals Act (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 209 of 2015), regs. 5, 6(1)(a), (b) | 27 May 2015 | Chemicals Act (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 209 of 2015) | |
| Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 2(a)-2(g), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 | |
| S. 2(1)(a) substituted | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019), reg. 3(a) | 30 April 2019 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019) |
| S. 2(1)(c) amended | Chemicals Act 2008 (Clp Regulation) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 723 of 2024), reg. 2 | 17 December 2024 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Clp Regulation) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 723 of 2024) |
| S. 5(2)(a) substituted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 3(a), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 5(3)(a) substituted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 3(b)(i), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 5(3)(b)(i) deleted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 3(b)(ii), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 5(3)(d) amended | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 3(b)(iii), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 5(5)(b), (6)(a) functions transferred | Climate Action and Environment (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 393 of 2016), arts. 1(2), 3(1)(a) and sch. 1 | 22 July 2016 | Climate Action and Environment (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 393 of 2016), art. 1(2) |
| S. 5(7) deleted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 3(c), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 8(1)(a) substituted | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019), reg. 4(a)(i) | 30 April 2019 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019) |
| S. 8(1)(b) amended | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019), reg. 4(a)(ii) | 30 April 2019 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019), |
| S. 8(1)(c) amended | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019), reg. 4(a)(iii) | 30 April 2019 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019), |
| S. 8(2)(c) substituted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 4(a), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 8(3)(c) amended | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023), reg. 3(a) | 26 October 2023 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023) |
| S. 8(3)(d) inserted | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023), reg. 3(b) | 26 October 2023 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023) |
| S. 8(3A) inserted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 4(b), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 8(3B) inserted | Chemicals Act (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 209 of 2015), regs. 5, 6(2) | 27 May 2015 | Chemicals Act (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 209 of 2015), reg. 5 |
| S. 8(6) amended | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019), reg. 4(b) | 30 April 2019 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019), |
| S. 9(8)(b) substituted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 5, 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 10 applied | Chemicals (Asbestos Articles) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 248 of 2011), reg. 13 | 31 May 2011 | Chemicals (Asbestos Articles) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 248 of 2011) |
| S. 14(1) amended | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 6(a), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 14(2)(b) amended | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 6(b), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 14(3) substituted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 6(c), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 14(4) inserted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 6(d), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 14(5) inserted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 6(d), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 14(6) inserted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 6(d), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 14(7) inserted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 6(d), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 15(1)(b) substituted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 7(a), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 15(1)(c) inserted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 7(b), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 15(1)(d) inserted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 7(b), 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 16(1) substituted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 8, 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 25 renumbered as s. 25(1) | Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (No. 14 of 2014) ss. 1(2), 24(1), schedule 4, pt. 1, item 9 | 15 July 2014 | Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (Commencement) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 327 of 2014), art. 2 |
| S. 25(2) inserted | Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (No. 14 of 2014) ss. 1(2), 24(1), schedule 4, pt. 1, item 9 | 15 July 2014 | Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (Commencement) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 327 of 2014), art. 2 |
| S. 26(1A) inserted | Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (No. 14 of 2014) ss. 1(2), 24(1), schedule 4, pt. 1, item 9 | 15 July 2014 | Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (Commencement) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 327 of 2014), art. 2 |
| S. 26(2) references construed | Workplace Relations Act 2015 (No. 16 of 2015) ss. 1(2), 66(2), 66(3) | Not yet commenced. Requires commencement order under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 26(2)-(3) amended | Workplace Relations Act 2015 (No. 16 of 2015), ss. 1(2), 52(1), 52(3), schedule 7, pt. 1, item 25 | 1 October 2015 | Workplace Relations Act 2015 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 410 of 2015), art. 2 |
| S. 26(4) repealed | Workplace Relations Act 2015 (No. 16 of 2015), ss. 1(2), 8(1), 8(2), 8(7), schedule 2, pt. 1, ref. 24 | 1 October 2015 | Workplace Relations Act 2015 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 410 of 2015), art. 2 |
| S. 26(5) substituted | Workplace Relations Act 2015 (No. 16 of 2015), ss. 1(2), 52(1), 52(3), schedule 7, pt. 1, item 25 | 1 October 2015 | Workplace Relations Act 2015 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 410 of 2015), art. 2 |
| S. 26(6) repealed | Workplace Relations Act 2015 (No. 16 of 2015), ss. 1(2), 8(1), 8(2), 8(7), schedule 2, pt. 1, ref. 24 | 1 October 2015 | Workplace Relations Act 2015 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 410 of 2015), art. 2 |
| S. 26(6A) inserted | Workplace Relations Act 2015 (No. 16 of 2015), ss. 1(2), 52(1), 52(3) schedule 7, pt. 1, item 25 | 1 October 2015 | Workplace Relations Act 2015 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 410 of 2015), art. 2 |
| S. 29(3)(e) amended | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023), reg. 4(a) | 26 October 2023 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023) |
| S. 29(3)(f) amended | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023), reg. 4(b) | 26 October 2023 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023) |
| S. 29(3)(g) inserted | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023), reg. 4(c) | 26 October 2023 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023) |
| S. 29(3A) inserted | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 9, 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 30(1) amended | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023), reg. 5(a) | 26 October 2023 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023) |
| S. 30(1)(a) amended | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 32 of 2010), ss. 10, 13(4) | 10 December 2010 | Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010, (No. 591 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 30(2A) inserted | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023), reg. 5(b) | 26 October 2023 | Chemicals Act 2008 (Lead in Gunshot in or around Wetlands) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 517 of 2023) |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| S. 5 | Chemicals (Asbestos Articles) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 248 of 2011) |
| S. 5(2)(a) | Chemicals Act 2008 (Rotterdam Regulation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 213 of 2019) |
| Chemicals Act (CLP Regulation) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 102 of 2011) | |
| S. 5(2)(b) | Chemicals Act (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 209 of 2015) |