Minister of State for Security (): Today I am laying before both
Houses a statutory instrument to strengthen the controls of
explosives precursors and poisons in Great Britain.
Following the tragic Manchester Arena attack in 2017, the
Government committed to enhance its capabilities to detect and
prevent terrorist activity including that which involves the use
of explosive precursors.
The Control of Explosives Precursors and Poisons Regulations 2023
will build on existing safeguards in the Poisons Act 1972 to
prevent terrorist access to substances of concern, while ensuring
that legitimate users of these products can still access them to
pursue lawful activity. This regulation follows a public
consultation which ran between December 2021-March 2022.
Around Great Britain, businesses and individuals use various
chemicals for a wide range of legitimate use. Whilst we do not
want to hinder this, we must minimise the risk posed by the
illicit use of explosives precursors and poisons. Shops and
business are already required to report suspicious activity on
the sale, attempted sale, loss or theft of the most dangerous
explosive precursors and poisons. Through this legislation, we
are adding to the lists of reportable and regulated explosives
precursors and poisons, improving the requirements for reporting
suspicious activity, as well as providing additional obligations
on online marketplaces. Businesses will also be required to
record certain information when selling regulated explosives
precursors to professional users. This will have minimal impact
on businesses already required to report those chemicals and
poisons liable to cause harm.
The measures will come into force on 1 October 2023. Guidance on
these measures will be available on gov.uk in due course ahead of
the regulations commencing on 1 October. A full Impact Assessment
and Explanatory Memorandum will also be laid alongside the
regulations in both Houses.
