La directive 96/82/CE, qui remplace la directive 82/501/CEE vise à prévenir les dangers liés aux accidents majeurs impliquant des substances dangereuses telles que les dioxines; elle vise également, puisque des accidents continuent de se produire, à limiter les conséquences de ces accidents.
Directive 96/82/EC, replacing Directive 82/501/EEC, aims at the prevention of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances such as dioxins and secondly, as accidents still continue to occur, it aims at the limitation of the consequences of such accidents.