Seveso 2026 Directive: New Obligations for Industries with Hazardous Substances

Key data

Industries that manufacture, store or handle hazardous substances in Spain have new emergency planning obligations from October 11, 2026. The Order INT/1070/2026 approves the Basic Directive for Civil Protection Planning in case of serious accidents with hazardous substances, replacing the Royal Decree 1196/2003, which had been in force for more than two decades.

The change is significant: the new directive updates the minimum criteria that administrations and companies themselves must follow to plan their response to serious accidents, and introduces elements that the previous framework did not contemplate, such as the activation of plans in the event of incidents arising from illicit activities.

What does this regulation establish?

The Basic Directive sets the minimum emergency planning criteria that must be applied by state, regional and local administrations, as well as by the operators of the affected establishments. The central elements are:

The regulation applies to establishments regulated by the Royal Decree 840/2015, which transposes the Seveso III Directive into Spanish law. These are establishments where the presence of hazardous substances exceeds certain quantity thresholds.

Economic and operational impact

Order INT/1070/2026 expressly states that it does not entail an increase in public spending. However, for companies operating Seveso establishments, the operational impact is real and must be managed:

• Review and update of self-protection plans: Existing plans must be adapted to the new zoning, alert and protection criteria. This involves internal work by safety departments and, in many cases, the hiring of specialized consultants.
• Update of safety reports: Safety reports that form part of mandatory documentation to the administration must also reflect the new requirements.
• Coordination with administrations: The directive also affects special plans drawn up by regional and municipal authorities. Companies will need to coordinate with these administrations for the integration of their self-protection plans into territorial civil protection plans.
• New activation scenario: The possibility of activating plans in the event of incidents arising from illicit activities requires a review of internal response protocols to contemplate this scenario.

Who does it affect?

• Companies operating Seveso establishments (lower and upper tier) regulated by RD 840/2015: chemical industry, petrochemical, fuel storage, explosives manufacturing, gas treatment plants, among other sectors.
• Safety directors and civil protection managers in these industries, who must lead the adaptation of plans.
• Regional administrations, which must update their special civil protection plans for chemical risk.
• Local administrations in whose municipal area Seveso establishments exist, which participate in emergency planning.
• Emergency services (firefighters, civil protection, health services) that intervene in response to serious accidents.
• Industrial safety and civil protection consultancies that advise companies on the preparation and updating of plans.

Practical example

A high-threshold chemical plant (Seveso upper tier) located in an industrial estate in Tarragona currently has a self-protection plan and a safety report prepared in accordance with the framework of Royal Decree 1196/2003.

With the entry into force of Order INT/1070/2026 on October 11, 2026, the operator of that plant must:

1. Review the risk zoning defined in its self-protection plan and adapt it to the new criteria of the directive.
2. Update alert protocols to align them with the systems established in the new directive.
3. Incorporate in its plan the scenario of activation in the event of incidents arising from illicit activities, a scenario that RD 1196/2003 did not contemplate.
4. Coordinate with the Generalitat de Catalunya and the corresponding municipality the integration of its updated self-protection plan into the regional special civil protection plan.
5. Update the safety report to reflect all the above changes and submit it to the competent authority.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify if the establishment is regulated by RD 840/2015: Check whether the quantities of hazardous substances present exceed Seveso thresholds. If so, the new directive applies from now on.
2. Audit the current self-protection plan: Identify the differences between the requirements of RD 1196/2003 (repealed) and the new criteria of Order INT/1070/2026, especially in zoning, alert systems and environmental protection.
3. Update the self-protection plan: Incorporate the new criteria for risk zoning, alert protocols, measures to protect the population and the environment, and the new scenario of activation by illicit activities.
4. Review and update the safety report: Ensure that it reflects the changes introduced in the self-protection plan and complies with the new requirements of the directive.
5. Coordinate with the competent administrations: Contact the regional community and the municipality to learn about the update schedule for territorial special plans and integrate the updated self-protection plan.
6. Document the adaptation process: Keep a record of the actions taken and the dates of documentation updates, in case of possible inspections or administrative requests.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-21146