Chemicals Act (No. 61 of 2013).

The objective of the present Act is, on the one hand, to ensure that the treatment of substances, mixtures and articles containing substances, cause neither damage to human and animal health nor to the environment and, on the other hand, to fulfill Iceland's obligations to ensure the free flow of goods in the internal market of the European Economic Area with regard to those substances. It also aims at preventing illegal marketing. The Act contains 71 articles organized in the following chapters: I. Objectives, scope and definitions; II. Governance; III. Regulatory authority; IV. General duties; V. Production and marketing; VI. Classification, labelling, packaging and advertising; VII. Plant protection products and biocidal products; VIII. Cosmetics; IX. Fluorinated greenhouse gases; X. User license; X(A) Electrical and electronic equipment; X(B) Fuel; X(C) Mercury; XI. Supervision; XII. Fees; XIII. Compulsory measures and interim measures; XIV. Penalties; XV. Implementation and entry into force.
This Act applies to the production, marketing, export, transport, chemical registration, licensing, labeling, use, restriction and prohibition of use, as well as to other treatment of substances and chemical mixtures, as well as objects containing those substances. As a general rule, during the production, import and other treatment of substances covered by this Act, taking into account the quantity and danger of the substances, caution and care must be exercised so that damage to health and the environment is prevented. The manufacturer, importer, end-user or distributor of a substance, chemical preparation or part containing a substance, as well as the operator responsible for placing it on the market or releasing it for use, must obtain information sufficient to enable him or her to fulfill the obligations of this Act and ensure safe use. If possible, substances or chemical preparations that are considered to have an undesirable effect on human health or harm the environment should be replaced. Hazardous substances must be stored in the manufacturers' packaging. They must be stored securely and in such a way that they are separated from food, animal feed, medicines and cosmetics and so that unauthorized persons cannot reach them. It is prohibited to put dangerous substances in or mix them with food and other consumer products, feed products or seed products, unless it is specifically authorized in a regulation according to this Act, the food Act or other Acts. Hazardous substances, including plant protection products and biocides, as well as their packaging, must be disposed of in accordance with the law on waste management or cleaned in such a way that humans, animals and the environment do not pose a risk.
A manufacturer or importer of a substance, whether pure, in a mixture or in parts, who manufactures or imports a substance for marketing in the European Economic Area in quantities greater than one tonne per year must register the substance with the European Chemicals Agency. The production, marketing, export and use of ozone-depleting substances is prohibited. The marketing, export and use of equipment and parts containing ozone-depleting substances is also prohibited. If there is a risk to health or the environment, the minister shall by regulation limit authorizations for the production, marketing, export and use of certain substances. The manufacturer or importer of an item containing a substance classified as particularly hazardous must notify the European Chemicals Agency if the concentration of the substance in the item is greater than 0.1% by weight and the total amount is over one ton per year. Before a substance and chemical mixture is placed on the market, the manufacturer, importer and end-user must, in cooperation with each other, classify the substance and chemical mixture with regard to environmental and health hazards, as well as physical hazards. Suppliers must ensure that materials and chemical preparations that are ready for use are labeled according to their hazard classification.
The minister shall issue a general action plan for the use of plant protection products for 15 years at a time which applies to the whole country. The plan must include measurable objectives, information on the use of plant protection products in the country and a timetable, actions and strategy to systematically reduce the use of plant protection products and promote their sustainable use. Plant protection products and biocidal products may be placed on the market after acquiring a marketing license issued by the Environment Agency. The marketing license must specify the product covered by the license, its permitted use and the restrictions that apply. Use of plant protection products and biocidal product )must not cause damage to health or the environment outside of the one being treated and efforts must be made to prevent negative environmental effects. Individuals who use plant protection products due to their work in pest control, agriculture or horticulture must apply for a user license to the Environment Agency. The Environmental Agency oversees the implementation of this law and the regulations that are enacted pursuant to it. It shall prepare a control plan for three years at a time.