30. — (1) A person shall not operate industrial plant, other than existing industrial plant, on or after such day as may be prescribed F39[save under and in accordance with a licence under this Act that is in force in relation to the plant].

(2) The Minister may, by regulations, provide that existing industrial plant of such class as may be specified in the regulations shall not be in operation on or after such date as may be so specified F39[save under and in accordance with a licence under this Act that is in force in relation to the plant].

(3) Where regulations under subsection (2) come into operation, the operation of existing industrial plant to which the regulations relate shall, in the period before a licence in relation to the plant is granted or refused, be deemed not to have contravened the provisions of this Act: provided that, before the date specified in those regulations, an application has been made for a licence in respect of that plant and the requirements of regulations made under section 31 in relation to the application for the licence have been complied with by the applicant therefor.