The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) is proposing a penalty to Tata Steel for not classifying LD steel slag as hazardous. This was announced today by the Secretary of State for Infrastructure and Water Management in a letter to the House of Representatives. Advice from the REACH bureau of the RIVM indicates that LD steel slag causes health damage to people, such as eye injuries and respiratory irritation. In the proposal, the ILT demands that Tata Steel implement a hazard classification.
Read the letter to the House of Representatives.
REACH stands for: Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. It is the European chemical legislation that has been in effect since 2007 and aims to protect humans and the environment from risks posed by chemicals. It describes what companies and governments must comply with. This hazard classification is important when using or applying substances, so that people are aware of the danger and can take the risks into account.
Based on the properties of LD steel slag, it must be classified as irritating to the respiratory tract and causes serious eye damage according to the advice from Bureau REACH. This means that Tata must indicate that the substance is corrosive to the eyes and irritating to the respiratory tract. The effect is that Tata must prescribe measures against dusting during transport and when applying LD steel slag.
Signal report on steel slag
In April 2025, the ILT already indicated in a signal report about environmental risks of steel slag that Bureau REACH concluded that LD steel slag is not correctly classified. The ILT has carefully analyzed this and is now proceeding with enforcement.
Proposal for a penalty
A proposal for a penalty means that Tata still has the opportunity to submit a response. Since the penalty is not yet definitive, the ILT cannot comment on the amount of the penalty.
