A coordinated network connecting
ICE Centres across countries

Emergency authorities can contact National ICE Centres in the following situations:

• When the supplier cannot be reached;
• When an incident involves international transport, requiring contact with National ICE Centres in other countries;
• When mutual assistance needs to be mobilised within the national ICE scheme;
• When the product or producing company cannot be readily identified.

When contacted by the authorities, the National ICE Centre provides initial advice in the local language to help control the incident immediately. It promptly alerts the producing company, gathers further information (potentially via other National ICE Centres), and coordinates mutual assistance if needed.

To carry out its duties, the centre is equipped with:

• Appropriate communication equipment;
• A library of reference books or databases;
• Up-to-date lists of telephone numbers and email contacts within the chemical industry.

The centres are staffed 24 hours a day by at least one person who, in addition to the local language(s), can communicate in English to facilitate coordination between National ICE Centres across countries.