RS passes Chemical Weapons Convention Amendment Bill

The Rajya Sabha passed the Chemical Weapons Convention (Amendment) Bill, 2010. India is a signatory to the Convention on the prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons and their destruction. The amendment empowers the Centre to make rules on the issue.

What is “The Chemical Weapons Convention (Amendment) Bill, 2010”?

The Chemical Weapons Convention (Amendment) Bill, 2010 was on April 16, 2010 introduced in the Rajya Sabha by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Srikant Kumar Jena. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers.

Objective: The Bill attempts to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000, which was ordained in order to give effect to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. India inked the Convention on January 14, 1993.

• The Act lays down a National Authority to carry out the requirements of the Convention. The bill empowers central government to appoint any officers of the National Authority as enforcement officers. The Bill widens the span by granting the central government the power to appoint any of its officers as enforcement officers.
• The Act does not permit any person to transfer or receive defined toxic chemicals from a person who is not a citizen of a State Party. The Bill amends the provision by disallowing transfer from a State which is not party to the Convention.
• The Act renders registration of persons engaged in the production, processing, transfer, import, export or use of any toxic chemical or engaged in the production of discrete organic chemical. The Bill renders for determining threshold limit for registration of chemicals.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2012