The Chemical Weapons (Notification) Regulations 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations describe certain persons who have to identify themselves to the Secretary of State as being persons on whom it is likely the Secretary of State will want to serve a notice under section 22 of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 (c. 6).

The United Kingdom is required to make declarations, in relation to certain chemicals and chemical production facilities, to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in the Hague pursuant to the terms of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (Cm 2331), which was signed in Paris on 13th January 1993 (“the Convention”). By serving notices under section 22 the Secretary of State will be able to acquire the information he needs so that the United Kingdom can comply with the terms of the Convention.

Regulation 3 describes what a person has to do who is required to notify the Secretary of State pursuant to the Regulations.

Regulations 4 and 5 provide that a person has to notify the Secretary of State if he has carried out or plans to carry out certain activities in relation to chemicals listed in Schedules 2 and 3 to the annex on chemicals to the Convention in quantities in excess of specified threshold limits.

Regulation 6 provides that a person has to notify the Secretary of State if he has operated a plant site in which amounts of certain other chemicals known as discrete organic chemicals have been produced in quantities in excess of specified threshold limits.