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Chemical Weapons Act 1996
1996 CHAPTER 6
An Act to promote the control of chemical weapons and of certain toxic chemicals and precursors; and for connected purposes.[3rd April 1996]
Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Introduction
General interpretation. 1.—(1) Chemical weapons are—
- (a) toxic chemicals and their precursors;
- (b) munitions and other devices designed to cause death or harm through the toxic properties of toxic chemicals released by them;
- (c) equipment designed for use in connection with munitions and devices falling within paragraph (b).
(2) Subsection (1) is subject to sections 2(2) and (3), 10(1) and 11(2) (by virtue of which an object is not a chemical weapon if the use or intended use is only for permitted purposes).
(3) Permitted purposes are—
- (a) peaceful purposes;
- (b) purposes related to protection against toxic chemicals;
- (c) legitimate military purposes;
- (d) purposes of enforcing the law.
(4) Legitimate military purposes are all military purposes except those which depend on the use of the toxic properties of chemicals as a method of warfare in circumstances where the main object is to cause death, permanent harm or temporary incapacity to humans or animals.
