North West farmers are advised that ammonium nitrate notifications should now be sent to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at the address given below. This change arises from the closure of HID Help, which previously received and processed notifications.

The Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations 1982 (as amended) (NIHHS) require that anyone who handles or stores (or intends to handle or store) 150 tonnes or more of ammonium nitrate, or of mixtures containing ammonium nitrate where the nitrogen content exceeds 15.75% of the mixture by weight, should notify the HSE.

Notifications should be submitted to HSE either:

* electronically to ANNIHHS.Notifications@hse.gsi.gov.uk; or
* in writing to HSE, Agriculture and Food Sector, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LG; or
* by telephone on 02476 698350; or
* by fax on 02476 696542.

Notifications should contain the information set out in NIHHS 1982 Schedule 2. A form is available on the HSE website to assist in recording the necessary information, at www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/nihhs.htm.

1. HSE has produced a Self-Help Checklist for the Storage and Handling of Ammonium Nitrate Fertiliser, to help duty holders determine whether they have taken the necessary precautions to ensure its safe storage and handling. It is available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/nihhs.htm

2. HSE's free leaflet Storing and Handling Ammonium Nitrate gives more detailed guidance and is available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg230.pdf

3. The Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations 1982 were amended by the Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 2002, available at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2002/20022979.htm

PUBLIC ENQUIRIES: HSE InfoLine, tel: 0845 345 0055, visit: www.hse.gov.uk/ contact or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.