EPA Workshop on Enforcement of the Decorative Paints Regulations

The EPA ran a workshop for all local authorities on November 7th in relation to the enforcement of the revised Decorative Paints Regulations, which have brought in new requirements for Approved Assessors (AAs) to be put in place rather than the previous AIC system.

This was an opportunity to review the changes in the requirements of the regulations and for the new approved assessors to meet with the local authorities, with whom they will have much more engagement over the coming months as the authorities begin to receive assessment report from bodyshops who have been inspected by the Aas.

While the workshop covered some of the legislative and procedural changes in the regulations, the main focus was on practical areas around inspecting bodyshops/paint suppliers and enforcement of the regulations, with workshop sessions from a paint supplier on labelling requirements and a session from a previous AIC inspection body on the key elements of bodyshop inspection.

The group also carried out sites visits to two bodyshops in Dublin where the participants were able to view the various aspects of paint preparation, spraying, waste management, solvents record management, gun cleaning, etc. The feedback from the local authorities was very positive and all seemed to take home a greater practical knowledge of the regulations, their implementation and enforcement requirements.

Representatives from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government were also able to advise that they hoped the legislation to introduce fixed payment notices (i.e. on the spot fines of up to €1,000) for non-compliant bodyshops and paint suppliers would pass through the Dáil before the end of the year.

This will be an important enforcement tool for local authorities in dealing with non-compliant operators.
The EPA would like to thank the representatives from Crown Paints Ireland/DuPont, AkzoNobel, Tallaght Ford and Dennings Garage for their assistance during the workshop and the site visits, their time and co-operation was very much appreciated.

Details of the new panel of Approved Assessors can be found at www.decopaints.ie.