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Chemicals and Poisons: Bombs

Answer

On 23^rd January, the Home Office laid the Control of Explosives Precursors and Poisons Regulations 2023 to further tighten the controls in place for explosives precursors and poisons to prevent the illicit use of these substances. These regulations add to the existing framework put in place by the Poisons Act 1972 which sets out controls of explosives precursors and poisons in Great Britain, permitting a licensing regime for the purchase and use of regulated substances where there is a legitimate need and no safer alternative.

The Control of Explosives Precursors and Poisons Regulations will come into force on 1^st October 2023, and follow a public consultation on the subject which ran between December 2021 and March 2022.

These regulations include additional measures designed to strengthen the existing suspicious activity reporting regime under the Poisons Act 1972, in addition to implementing new obligations on online marketplaces to report suspicious activity on their platforms. New substances are also being added to the lists of reportable and regulated precursors and poisons to prevent access to materials of the highest concern for illicit purposes, while also maintaining access for legitimate purposes. Furthermore, additional obligations will be placed on businesses to ensure that information about restricted substances is passed along the supply chain, and to ensure that workers selling regulated and reportable substances understand their obligations under the Act.

The regulations, explanatory memorandum and impact assessment have been laid in both houses and are available online here: The Control of Explosives Precursors and Poisons Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

135329

Session

2022-23

Subjects

Chemicals Bombs Poisons Regulation

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk