Chemical Weapons Act 1997

Overview

This Republic of Ireland legislation contains provisions which prohibit the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. This Act gives authorities powers of inspection and enforcement to uphold its provisions, and will be important to you and your business if you manufacture or distribute certain toxic chemicals and precursors.

Under this Act:

• “toxic chemical” means any chemical which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals, including all such chemicals regardless of their origin or of their method of production, and regardless of whether they were produced in facilities, in munitions or elsewhere; and
• “precursor” means a chemical reactant which takes part at any stage in the production by whatever method of a toxic chemical, including any key component of a binary or multicomponent chemical system.