National Inspectorates - Slovakia

Obligations to carry out investigations according to the REACH, CLP, BPR, POP and PIC Regulations are divided among several national authorities and inspectorates in the Slovak Republic. The objectives of the control activity carried out by the national institutions depend on the competencies of each of them. The scope of competencies is specified in the laws that govern the competence of the concrete institutions.

Authorities responsible for REACH, CLP and PIC enforcement

The state administration in the field of REACH, CLP and PIC Regulations is performed by these authorities:

• Ministry of Economy with the Centre for Chemical Substances and Preparation is the main competent authority responsible for REACH, CLP, PIC and BPR Regulations. The Ministry coordinates cooperation with the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency. Additionally, the Ministry provides advice to state administration authorities and entrepreneurs.
• Ministry of Environment provides a standpoint on the import of selected hazardous substances and mixtures according to the PIC procedure. It collaborates with the Centre for Chemical Substances and Preparation for the assessment of environmental risks and in preparing a proposal for the harmonized classification and labelling of substances regarding their environmental impact.
• Ministry of Health accepts SDS by the Poison Centre (National Toxicological Information Centre) and receives information from manufacturers and importers or downstream users who place mixtures on the market. It takes appropriate treatment measures if there is a risk of damage to health due to the effects of substances.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development substances and mixtures to be used in plant protection and determines the conditions of their use.

The enforcement of REACH, CLP and PIC Regulations is performed by these authorities:

• The Slovak Trade Inspection focuses on the obligations of economic operators for placing chemicals on the internal market especially in relevant areas of consumer protection.
• Public Health Authority focuses on the obligations of economic operators in the field of public health protection and addresses the import of selected hazardous chemicals under the PIC procedure.
• The Slovak Environmental Inspection focuses on the obligations of economic operators in the manufacturing process of chemicals to ensure a high level of environmental protection.
• National Labour Inspectorate focuses on the obligations of manufacturers and downstream users, when they are working with chemicals in relation to safety and health protection at work.
• Main Mining Administration focuses on the obligations of economic operators in the area of pyrotechnic articles and explosives.
• Financial Administration focuses on the obligations of importers and exporters during the import and export of chemicals (such as labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures during import and export) and provides to other enforcement authorities with information about importers, imported goods, and imports of hazardous chemicals.
• Ministry of Defence focuses on activities resulting from the tasks in the field of defence the armed forces.

Authorities responsible for BPR enforcement

The enforcement of the BPR Regulation such as placing of biocidal products on the market and treated articles their use and the evaluation of active substances in biocidal products falls within the competence of the following authorities:

• Ministry of Economy is an authorisation and registration body for biocidal products and an evaluating competent authority for evaluation of applications for approval of active substances; within the Ministry the department Centre for Chemical Substances and Preparations is responsible for BPR tasks and biocidal product transitional registration scheme.
• Ministry of Environment issues a binding opinion on granting exemption for making available or using a biocidal product that does not comply with the conditions of authorization and adopts temporary measures in the field of environmental protection.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issues a binding opinion on the granting of an exemption for the making available or use of a biocidal product that does not meet the conditions of authorization and adopts temporary measures in the field of animal protection.
• Ministry of Health accepts SDS for biocidal products by the Poison Centre (National Toxicological Information Centre) and informs about occurrences of poisoning and diseases caused by biocidal products in field of reducing the risk of poisoning.
• Ministry of Defence checks compliance with the provisions for making biocidal products available in the armed forces.

The enforcement of the BPR Regulation is performed by these authorities:

• The Slovak Trade Inspection checks the compliance duties regarding registration, authorization, classification, labelling, packaging, safety data sheets with the conditions of the placing of biocidal products, active substances and treated articles on the market, decides on measures and withdrawal of biocidal products and treated articles from the market in the field of consumer protection.
• The Slovak Environmental Inspection carries out inspections and takes corrective measures in the manufacturing process of biocidal products, treated products and active substances. It carries out the inspections regarding the use of the authorized biocidal products according to the Article 55 of the BPR.
• National Labour Inspectorate focuses on occupational safety and health protection when working with biocidal and treated products and active substances.
• Financial Administration focuses on the obligations of importers and exporters during the import and export of biocidal products, active substances and treaded articles and provides to other enforcement authorities with information about importers, imported goods, and imports of hazardous biocides.
• State Veterinary and Food Administration ensures the supervision of the use of a biocidal product that has been granted an exemption under the Article 55 of the BPR for the use of a biocidal product in the area of animal safety protection.

Authorities responsible for POP enforcement

Ministry of Environment is the competent authority responsible for the POP Regulation. It is a coordination and notification authority in field of persistent organic substances and fulfils tasks of a contact point for the exchange of information of matters on persistent organic pollutants.

The enforcement of the POP Regulation is performed by these authorities:

• The Slovak Environmental Inspection carries out inspections of the intentional production of persistent organic substances listed in Annexes I and II and handling of reserves.
• The Slovak Trade Inspection checks the obligations of economic entities in the reduction and release of persistent organic substances listed in Annex III of the POPs in the field of placing chemical substances and mixtures on the market intended for sale to consumers.
• Central Control and Testing Institute in Agriculture checks the obligations of economic entities in the reduction and release of persistent organic substances listed in Annex III of the POPs in the field of phytosanitary care.
• Public Health Authority checks the obligations of economic entities in the reduction and release of persistent organic substances listed in Annex III of the POPs in the field of placing cosmetic products on the market.