Introduction
C11 General interpretation.
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.
5
A toxic chemical is a chemical which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, permanent harm or temporary incapacity to humans or animals; and the origin, method of production and place of production are immaterial.
6
A precursor is a chemical reactant which takes part at any stage in the production (by whatever method) of a toxic chemical.
7
References to an object include references to a substance.
8
The Convention is the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, signed at Paris on 13 January 1993.
9
This section applies for the purposes of this Act.