Which rules apply to major-hazard chemical sites in Israel?

Israel does not apply the EU Seveso III Directive, but major-hazard chemical sites are controlled by the Hazardous Substances Law 5753-1993, administered by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, together with workplace OSH law. Today any dealing in poisons needs a poisons permit (היתר רעלים); from 5 September 2027, phased in by activity type, an amendment made in 2024 replaces it with tiered level A and level B permits whose classification rules refer to the EU CLP Regulation and to Annex I of Seveso III, with accident scenarios, emergency plans and public information for the largest sites.

Short answer

• Environmental and public-safety permit: Hazardous Substances Law 5753-1993 (חוק החומרים המסוכנים, התשנ"ג-1993); poisons permit from the permitting officer (הממונה) of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with conditions to protect the environment and public health.
• Current regime (until the new rules apply): permit valid for periods set by criteria such as type of plant, substance and quantity; poisons kept locked and separate; containers marked "poison" in Hebrew, Arabic and English.
• From 5 September 2027 (Amendment No. 10, 2024): level A and level B permits by activity and quantity thresholds, with start dates per activity and level in the third schedule running from 5 September 2027 into 2034; application with site description, hazardous-materials accident scenarios, prevention measures and emergency plans; a responsible poisons officer; possible safety management system; public information for level A holders above listed quantities.
• Workplace OSH law in parallel: safety officer and safety management programme from 50 workers, exposure monitoring, safety data sheets, explosion and fire duties of the Work Safety Ordinance.
• Seveso link: CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and Annex I of Directive 2012/18/EU are named as the EU references for the new thresholds.

The current poisons permit

Under the current text, no one may deal in poisons without a permit from the permitting officer. The permit states the business, the poisons covered and their purpose, and the officer may attach special conditions before or after issue, add or remove conditions at any time and cancel the permit to protect the environment or public health, after hearing the holder. Validity is one, two or three years, or another period, according to criteria such as the type of plant, the poison and its quantity. Poisons must be stored under lock and kept apart from non-toxic materials.

The 2027 regime: closer to the EU model

Amendment No. 10 to the Hazardous Substances Law was made by the Environmental Protection (Streamlining of Environmental Licensing Procedures) (Legislative Amendments) Law 5784-2024, published on 16 April 2024. Its main provisions were due on 1 January 2027; an order of the Minister of Environmental Protection of 16 July 2026 postponed that date to 5 September 2027 and moved the later activity dates in the third schedule accordingly. The amended law introduces:

Workplace OSH rules that apply on the same site

The Ministry of Labour's OSH rules apply in parallel. A chemical site with 50 or more workers needs a certified safety officer with sector experience in chemicals, a joint safety committee, and a yearly safety management programme with a structured risk analysis, emergency procedures and drill plans. Harmful agents must be measured under the 2011 monitoring regulations, every hazardous substance needs a safety data sheet accessible to workers, and the Work Safety Ordinance requires fire alarms and evacuation drills where highly flammable or explosive substances are used, as well as explosion precautions for dust and vapours.

Example: An investor plans a chlorine-based water treatment chemicals plant for commissioning in 2028. The project team should plan for a level A or level B permit under the amended law by checking quantities against the third schedule, prepare accident scenario mapping and emergency plans for the application, appoint a poisons officer, design a safety management system, prepare the public information page if thresholds are exceeded, and in parallel set up the safety officer, safety committee and safety management programme required by OSH law.

Common mistakes

• Assuming EU Seveso duties apply directly. Israel uses its own permit law, which refers to EU thresholds and methods.
• Planning only for the current permit. Projects running past 5 September 2027 must check in the third schedule when the new tiered regime applies to their activity.
• Treating environmental and OSH duties as one. Two ministries, two sets of duties.

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• How are explosive atmospheres and Ex equipment regulated in Israel?
• BEKRA: major industrial accidents regulation in Türkiye

Standards and further reading

• Hazardous Substances Law 5753-1993 (חוק החומרים המסוכנים, התשנ"ג-1993), as amended by Amendment No. 10 (2024), with provisions in force from 5 September 2027.
• Environmental Protection (Streamlining of Environmental Licensing Procedures) (Legislative Amendments) Law 5784-2024, official gazette text, Knesset; postponement orders of 16 July 2026 (Kovetz HaTakanot 12481, 20 July 2026).
• Work Safety Ordinance [New Version] 5730-1970, sections 96 to 99, 125 and 126, official gazette text, Knesset.
• Directive 2012/18/EU on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances (Seveso III), Annex I.
• Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP).
• Israel Institute for Occupational Safety and Hygiene, laws and regulations updates (2024 amendment noted).

This article is general occupational safety and health information prepared by the excodex editorial team. It does not replace the applicable legislation, standards, manufacturers' instructions or the assessment of a competent OSH professional or occupational physician.