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New Chemical Control Ordinance to come into operation
The Acetylating Substances (Control) Ordinance has been expanded into a new Control of Chemicals Ordinance, which will come into operation on January 1, 1996.
The existing scope of control on the three acetylating substances will be extended to cover an additional 21 chemicals used in the manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. These 24 controlled chemicals are grouped under three Schedules under the new ordinance and are subject to different licensing requirements.
Schedule 1 chemicals consist of three acetylating substances currently covered by the Acetylating Substances (Control) Ordinance - acetic anhydride, acetyl chloride and acetyl bromide. The requirement of a licence or a permit for import, export. supply, procurement, dealing in or with, manufacture, possession and transhipment of these substances remains unchanged.
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Schedule 2 chemicals consists of 14 substances ephedrine; ergotamine; ergometrine;
N- 1-phenyl-2-propanone; pseudoephedrine; lysergic acid; acetylanthranilic acid; 3, 4-methylenedioxy-phenyl-2-propanone; safrole; isosafrole: piperonal; anthranilic acid; phenylacetic acid; and piperidine. The import, export, manufacture or transhipment of these substances is required to be covered by a licence or a permit.
Schedule 3 chemicals consist of seven substances - methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), toluene, potassium permanganate, sulphuric acid, acetone, ethyl ether and hydrochloric acid. Any consignment of these substances to be exported to a specified country is required to be covered by a licence.
The new ordinance also provides that those premises and containers in which Schedule 1 or 2 chemicals are to be stored or kept will have to be approved in writing by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise.
The Customs and Excise Department is responsible for the enforcement of the new Ordinance. Within the department, a new group called the Controlled Chemicals Group has been set up to deal with licence and permit applications and other related matters.