Law No. 20 of 2023 concerning the establishment of Abu Dhabi Hazardous Materials Management Centre.

This Law consisting of 20 articles aims at establishing the Abu Dhabi Hazardous Materials Management Centre. The Law applies to hazardous substances handled in the Emirate, including free zones, excluding the following (i) radioactive, nuclear, and explosive materials; (ii) hazardous substances handled for the benefit of the Armed Forces, the General Headquarters, and any other entity determined by the Executive Council. The main tasks of the Centre as provided in article 5 are as follows (i) regulating hazardous substance handling by setting standards, classifying establishments, and proposing local substance lists; (ii) coordinating with local authorities to register unregulated activities; (iii) supervising handling operations, including transportation and storage, to safeguard public safety as well as the environment; (iv) developing tracking systems, a central operations room, and a comprehensive database for monitoring hazardous substances; (v) establishing training programs, conducting research, and managing confiscated substances securely. The Centre shall have a Director-General appointed by the Executive Council, and in charge of managing and supervising the Centre’s functions. Compliance requirements include the registration of workers handling hazardous substances and adherence to disclosure mechanisms for data related to these materials. The Centre must report quarterly on its activities and financial affairs. Enforcement mechanisms include administrative sanctions such as warnings, fines, and potential closure of establishments for non-compliance. Stakeholder involvement is emphasized through the requirement for entities handling hazardous substances to provide necessary documentation and information to the Centre, ensuring a collaborative approach to regulatory compliance.