Application of the Seveso Directive in France.

First, the paper presents a brief summary of the French actual regulation on installations registered for the protection of the environment and covered by the Seveso I Directive. Then the paper discusses research and development needs for a sound implementation of the Directive, and for the new requirements on safety reports established by the Seveso II Directive. Further, it discusses issues connected with coverage of hazardous activities, learning from accidents, technical and organisational measures (safety management systems and emergency response) and human factors. The conclusions stress the need for networking and dissemination of accident investigations, development of safety management systems, and research on cognitive ergonomics and psychology related to the decision making and interventions of the operator.