Industrial plants in the European Union are covered by its provisions if dangerous substances are or could be present in the "establishment" in quantities exceeding its stated thresholds.
Seveso-III establishes minimum quantity thresholds for reporting and safety permits.
Establishments covered by Seveso are split into two categories: The main sectors covered are power generation, supply and distribution (13% of establishments); fuel storage (10%); general chemicals manufacture (9%) and wholesale and retail (8%).
The Lubrizol factory fire in Rouen in 2019 was followed by the 2020 Chemical Industries of Ethylene Oxide explosion in Tarragona.
Citizens who live in an area potentially affected by a major accident involving dangerous substances, the EU legislation requires that Citizens are involved in the decision making, even if the establishment concerned is located in a neighbouring EU country.