Rahael spearheads chemical crackdown

PERSONS found guilty of illegally dealing with toxic chemicals and pesticides could face fines as high as $20,000. These measures are part of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals (Amendment) Bill 2004 introduced in the House of Representatives in the name of Health Minister John Rahael. According to the Bill’s explanatory note, its purpose is to “amend the Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Act 1979 to strengthen the regulatory framework as it relates to pesticides and toxic chemicals.”

Section 10 of the Bill amends Section 13 of the Act “to increase the fines for various offences created by the Act.” Under existing legislation, fines for persons found in violation of the Act range from $500 to $5,000. The amendments increase the range of fines for offences committed under the Act from  $2,000 to $20,000. Clause Five of the Bill enlarges the composition of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board by three members and increases the number of members who would comprise the quorum. Clause Six amends Section 4A of the Act “to prohibit the export of a controlled product without an export licence” while Section Seven gives the Board’s Registrar “the power to supervise inspectors and give such inspectors instructions and directions in respect of the carrying out of their duties.”

Clause Nine allows the Minister of Health “to make regulations in respect of the exportation of controlled products and would increase the fines for contravention of the regulations.” Under the new legislation, persons registered with the Veterinary Registration Board can be designated as medical examiners. Even the definition of a toxic chemical has been amended. According to Section 4 (a) of the Bill: “Toxic chemical means any chemical, other than a pesticide, which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to human or animals, and includes all such chemicals irrespective of their origin or method of production or whether they are produced in facilities, munitions or elsewhere.”

Also introduced in Parliament in Rahael’s name was the Food and Drugs Amendment (Bill) 2004. The purpose of this Bill is to amend Part II of the Third Schedule of the Food and Drugs Act Chap 30:01 “to provide for controls on the distribution of certain chemical substances used in the manufacture of illicit drugs.” Added to the drugs already listed in the Act’s Third Schedule are ephedrine and its salts, n-methylephedrine and its salts, norpseudoephrine and its salts, phenylpropanolamine and its salts and pseudoephedrine and its salts.