Information

This application is for approval of substances for the purpose of treating oil in the UK marine area. The use of an oil spill treatment product without proper approval could constitute an offence under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (MACAA)

Section 15 of the Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011 (as amened) provides that a licence is not needed under MACAA to deposit any marine oil treatment substance in the sea provided you meet the following conditions:

• the substance is approved by the licensing authority for this purpose
• it is used in compliance with any conditions attached to the approval
• and the deposit is carried out in accordance with an approval specifically granted by the licensing authority

Approvals are issued under the Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011 (as amended).

This form must be used for applications to have new products approved and for the renewal or rebranding of currently approved products.

Who can complete this application?

• manufacturers
• rebranders (a rebrander is a company which markets a product under its own label but has not itself been involved in the manufacturing process)
• intended users: this may include oil spill responders or operators of ports/ or installations that hold stocks of products

What testing is required and how much will it cost?

Section 107 of MACAA provides that the Secretary of State may conduct tests to discover the effect on the environment of using substances produced for treating oil on the surface of the sea. They may recover their costs from the person who requested the tests.

All marine oil treatment products submitted for approval must be tested to establish their efficacy or effectiveness in treating oil in the marine environment. They must also be tested for toxicity. A product must pass all required tests prior to approval.

• The requirements and charges associated with testing and the evaluation of testing carried out by independent laboratories are provided on the MMO website (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/get-an-oil-spill-treatment-product-approved-fees) (opens in new tab)

• If your product does not conform to any of the categories described, please contact MMO by emailing us at dispersants@marinemanagement.org.uk to discuss testing arrangements

• Payments must be made when you submit an application. A refund of all or part of the total charge may be made if an application is withdrawn before it has been fully processed, depending upon the amount of work already carried out

What other documentation is required

The MMO must also approve the proposed labelling for the product to ensure that it correctly indicates how and when the product can be used. Please enclose a copy of the label, together with a copy of the safety data sheet, you intend to use with this application. The label should be easy to read and must include the following:

• Product name
• name, address and daytime/silent hours telephone of manufacturer or importer/rebrander
• list of ingredients
• oil treatment product (dispersant type, sorbent, bioremediant or other)
• a warning against mixing the product with any other product
• date of manufacture, batch number and expiry date (subject to extension)
• recommended storage instructions
• risk symbology and description
• basic safety instructions or caution and any appropriate chemical hazard signs

The label should also meet the requirements of The Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation ((EC) No 1272/2008). These are generally known as the International labelling format and has replaced the previous CHIP4.

Additional information

Under The Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, a licence is needed to introduce a new plant or animal species. If your bioremediation product contains a microbial component, you may need to apply for a wildlife licence.

The MMO will maintain an electronic public register of products currently approved for use in UK waters other than those adjacent to Scotland and Northern Ireland. If your product is approved your company name, address and product details will be entered in this register. Approved oil spill treatment products - GOV.UK (opens in new tab)

Apply below: