14. 1. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 10/13 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 96/82/EC of 9 December 1996 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130s (1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty (%), (1) Whereas Council Directive 82/501/EEC of 24 June 1982 on the major-accident hazards of certain indus- trial activities (*) is concerned with the prevention of major accidents which might result from certain industrial activities and with the limitation of their consequences for man and the environment; (2) Whereas the objectives and principles of the Community’s environment policy, as set out in Article 130r (1) and (2) of the Treaty and detailed in the European Community’s action programmes on the environment (*), aim, in particular, at preserving and protecting the quality of the environment, and protecting human health, through preventive action; (3) Whereas the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, in their accompanying resolution concerning the fourth Action Programme on the Environment (%), highlighted the need for more effec- tive implementation of Directive 82/501/EEC and called for a review of the Directive to include, if necessary, a possible widening of its scope and a greater exchange of information on the matter between Member States; whereas the fifth Action Programme, the general approach of which was approved by the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, in their resolution of 1 February 1993 (), also presses for better risk-and-accident management; () OJ No C 106, 14. 4. 1994, p. 4 and OJ No C 238, 13. 9. 1995, . 4. o pOJ No C 295, 22. 10. 1994, p. 83. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 16 February 1995 (O] No C 56, 6. 3. 1995, p. 80), Council common position of 19 March 1996 (O] No C 120, 24. 4. 1996, p. 20) and Decision of the European Parliament of 15 July 1996 (O] No C 261, 9. 9. 1996, p. 24). (9 OJ No L 230, 5. 8. 1982, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 91/692/EEC (O] No L 377, 31. 12. 1991, p. 48). () OJ No C 112, 20. 12. 1973, p. 1. O] No C 139, 13. 6. 1977, p. 1. OJ No C 46, 17. 2. 1983, p. 1. O] No C 70, 18. 3. 1987, p. 1. OJ No C 138, 17. 5. 1993, p. 1. (& OJ No C 328, 7. 12. 1987, p. 3. () OJ No C 138, 17. 5. 1993. (4) Whereas, in the light of the accidents at Bhopal and Mexico City, which demonstrated the hazard which arises when dangerous sites and dwellings are close together, the Council Resolution of 16 October 1989 called on the Commission to include in Directive 82/501/EEC provisions concerning controls on land- use planning when new installations are authorized and when urban development takes place around existing installations; (5) Whereas the said Council resolution invited the Commission to work with Member States towards greater mutual understanding and harmonization of national principles and practices regarding safety reports; (6) Whereas it is desirable to pool the experience gained through different approaches to the control of major- accident hazards; whereas the Commission and the Member States should develop their relations with the relevant international bodies and seek to estab- lish measures equivalent to those set out in this Directive for use in third countries; (7) Whereas the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe provides for measures regarding the prevention of, preparedness for and response to industrial accidents capable of causing transboundary effects as well as for inter- national cooperation in this field; (8) Whereas Directive 82/501/EEC constituted a first stage in the harmonization process; whereas the said Directive should be revised and supplemented in order to ensure high levels of protection throughout the Community in a consistent and efficient manner; whereas the present harmonization is limited to the measures which are necessary to put in place a more effective system for preventing major accidents with widespread effects and for limiting their conse- quences; (9) Whereas major accidents can have consequences beyond frontiers; whereas the ecological and economic cost of an accident is borne not only by