ToAdministration reportof the UK scheme, including approval renewals for existing products, and maintenance of the UK approved list of products will continue as normal during this time. As is already the case any applicants wishing to get their products assessed to UK standards during this period can still do so if they are able to appoint a marinethird-party pollutiontesting incidentprovider to undertake the Marineassessment Managementto Organisationthe (MMO)existing call:protocols.

The facilities requirement and technical capability to conduct both the Sea and Rocky Shore Tests is clearly set out in the protocol - Procedures for the Approval of Oil Spill Treatment Products, Fisheries Technical Report No. 102.

Some high-level issues to consider when seeking/appointing a testing provider:

• 0300The 200test 2024equipment withinneeds officeto hoursbe (9amof –the 5pmstandard Mondaydimensions and specifications as set out in the protocol.
• The test oil should be readily dispersible and of similar characteristics to Friday)the Kuwait crude set out in the protocol. The test oil must provide shrimp mortality of between 10-80% in the Sea test ‘oil only’ exposure.
• 07770A 977supply 825of outsidebrown officeshrimp hours(Crangon (includingcrangon) publicmust holidays)be available from an unpolluted source and the test lab should have holding facilities to ensure good animal welfare.
• IfThe othertesting numbersfacility aremust outbe able to maintain test room temperatures at 15 ◦C (± 1◦C) for the duration of order,the pleasetest callexposures Defraand Dutyto Officehave ona 0345good 051supply 8486.of clean flowing seawater that can also be maintained at this temperature.

In

The MMO and CoastguardCefas Agencywill (MCA)continue to provide advice and aguidance CG77during POLREPthis formperiod mustand beit submitted.is Contactrecommended detailsthat they are consulted regarding test laboratory suitability for MCAundertaking marinethe officestesting canbefore bework foundis here.commissioned.

RespondingOil to oil spills at sea

ThereYou arehave 2 main options when dealing with an oil spill at sea.

Do nothing

NaturalYou processescan maylet natural processes disperse, evaporate and degrade the spill.spill Thisfor mayyou be– this is probably the best option when:

• the quantities of oil are small
• the oil is a type that tends to disperse or evaporate readily without intervention
• no marine resources are threatened by the spill

Use an oil spill treatment product (OSTP)

RespondersYou can intervene if an oil spill represents a safety risk, or poses a significant threat to commercial, environmental or amenity interests. TheYou must consider the effects of any interventionintervention. must be considered. Various Some techniques can be used to respond to oil spill incidents, however some are poorlypoorly-suited suited to marine conditions around the coast of the UK. Unless the oil can be physically recovered, the choice is often between leaving the oil alone or using an approvedoil OSTP.spill treatment product.

Request authorisationapproval to use an OSTPoil duringspill atreatment pollution incidentproduct

InYou allneed casesapproval authorisation from MMOthe mustMarine beManagement obtainedOrganisation (MMO) before anyou OSTPuse isa usedproduct to treat oil.

MMO will respond within 1 hour approving or rejecting your request to use an oilapproved spillproduct in theEnglish marineor environment.Welsh Onlywaters.

The oilproduct spillmust treatmentbe productsapproved fromby theMMO Approvedand OSTPbe listused canin beline authorisedwith forthe use.conditions of its approval.

OnceRead aMMO’s request Approval to use anoil OSTPspill hastreatment beenproducts received,flowchart (PDF, MMO357 willKB, consult7 withpages).

Report Cefas,a themarine relevantpollution statutoryincident

In naturea conservationmarine bodiespollution (SNCBs)incident andMMO anyconsults otherseveral relevantorganisations authorities to ensure that specific scientific, environmental and fisheries advice is consideredtaken beforeinto makingaccount afor every decision.

To Inreport alla cases,marine MMOpollution willincident aimcall:

• 0300 to200 respond2024 within 1office hourhours
• 07770 to977 authorise825 outside office hours
• 0345 051 8486 or reject0845 the051 use8486 ofat anall approvedtimes OSTPif inother Englishnumbers waters.
  out of order

RespondersYou can use approveduse OSTP whereapproved oil spill treatment products where there is a genuine risk to human life or to the safety of an installation or vessel without consulting with MMO.with MMO.

MMO authorisesMMO and the userelevant ofstatutory OSTPsnature  inconservation Englishagencies waters.– MarineNatural ScotlandEngland, (0777Natural 073Resources 3423Wales, orScottish MS.SpillResponse@gov.scot), Natural ResourcesHeritage, Walesand (0300the 065Joint 3000Nature orConservation EMS.Team@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk)Committee and– Northernshould Irelandbe Environmentinformed Agencyafter (0800the 80incident.

MMO 70approves 60use orin emergency-pollution@daera-ni.gov.uk)English authoriseand Welsh waters. Marine Scotland and Northern Ireland Environment Agency approve use in their waters.

MMO actsMMO acts on behalf of the UK for testing and approving oil treatment products intended for use in UK waters.

Standing approvals

A standing approval is an agreement between MMO andbetween MMO and a port or harbour authority, allowingthat approvedspecific OSTPsoil tospill treatment products may be used under certain conditions and in specific areas, without seekingapproval. further authorisation from MMO. This enablesmeans a faster response to oil spills. Standing approvals may also be given to operators of oil and gas installations in coastal waters, or fixed locations such as terminals. All decisions relating to granting standing approvals will be based on scientific advice provided by Cefas. The relevant SNCBs will also be consulted to ensure it is an appropriate response within the specified port or harbour taking in to account environmental factors.

Port or harbour authorities,authorities and oil and gas installations must report to MMO thatto MMO that they have used a standing approval at the earliest possible opportunity.

Standing approvals for England exist at the locations below. You can view the extent of each standing approval on the the Coastal and Marine Resource Atlas interactive interactive map, by selecting the standing approvals layer on the list of layers.

• Fawley Oil Refinery, Southampton
• Harwich Haven Authority
• Humber Associated British PortPorts
• Tetney Monobuoy at the Humber
• Lowestoft Associated British PortPorts
• Harwich Haven Authority
• Port of London
• Fawley Oil Refinery, Southampton

Standing approvals are issued by MMO.by AnyMMO useand ofyou an OSTP under a standing approval must becontact reportedMMO toas MMO as soon as possible during an incident, includingand anyreport availableback informationto them on the extent and success of theproduct product’suse use.once it is over. A typical report will include the following information:

• name of organisation
• incident number
• date
• nature of spill
• location
• remedial action taken
• product used (including volume)
• date of manufacture of the product used
• when the product’s ability to produce the intended result (efficacy) was last tested (if applicable)
• comments on efficacy relating to incident
• other comments
• date of report
• time of report
• name of person making report

Standing approvals are valid for 5 years. ToYou extendmust submit another application before the expiry date.

Get an existingoil standingspill approval,treatment approved

You must apply to MMO) if you want to market a new or rebranded oil spill treatment product for use in UK waters.

All products not previously approved will need to be tested for toxicity. Dispersants, bioremediation products and some other types of oil spill treatment product will also have to be tested for their efficacy.

Your approval must submitbe anotherrenewed after 5 years, or sooner if specified, and you must notify MMO of any change in the company’s name, address or the product’s composition.

Send your completed application beforeform and payment to MMO. You will need to provide evidence to support your application.

Renewing or rebranding an existing approved product will normally be considered on the expirybasis date.that the product’s composition is not significantly changed.

ApprovedWhat Oilyou Spillneed Treatmentto Productsinclude in your application

Test results

OnlyIf OSTPsyou approvedhave tested the product in a laboratory not commissioned by MMO, include the MMO,test andresults whichwhen areyou onsend your applications form. MMO will make sure the currenttest Approveddata OSTPconforms listto canstandard protocols – there will be authoriseda fee for usethis.

If duringyou are using a laboratory commissioned by MMO, send a sample of the responseproduct separately from your application form to anthe laboratory – there will be a testing fee.

The size of the sample will depend on the types of tests required. Full details are given on the application form or can be requested from MMO.

Label

The proposed product label must be approved by MMO and must contain:

• product name
• name, address and daytime or out of office hours telephone number of manufacturer, importer or rebrander
• list of ingredients
• oil spill incidenttreatment inproduct Englishtype waters.– Priordispersant totype, approvalsorbent, ontobioremediant thisor list,other
• a warning against mixing the product with any other products
• date mustof manufacture, batch number and expiry date (subject to extension)
• recommended storage instructions
• risk symbol and description
• instructions on use including a statement that the product should not be assessedused forin theirsea efficacydepths of fewer than 20 metres or within 1 nautical mile of such depths
• basic safety instructions or caution and toxicity.any suitable chemical hazard signs

The approvallabel processshould isalso subjectmeet tothe fees.requirements of the Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) Regulations

Approval

InformationMMO relatingwill:

• consider tothe application
• examine the proposed labelling
• carry out toxicity and Efficacy testing protocols,as feesappropriate

The product may be marketed for use in English and Welsh waters as soon as MMO issues the formal approval notice. Details of the product and the name and address of the approval processholder arewill be registered and this information will be made publicly available below:on the approved oil spill treatment products list.

• The product should not be used in Scottish or Northern Irish waters until Marine Scotland or the Northern Ireland Environment Agency confirm the approval.

  Further information

  How to use oil spill treatment products and equipment

  Approved oil spill treatment products

  Get an oil spill treatment product approvedapproved: fees

• Get an oil spill treatment product approved: application form

Marine Pollution Contingency Plan

Contact information

Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team

0300 123 1032

dispersants@marinemanagement.org.uk