Govt: Chemical offenders beware!

 PERSONS found guilty of breaching new regulations governing the export of pesticides and toxic chemicals could find themselves having to pay fines of up to $20,000. These new regulations form the core of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemical (Amendment) Bill 2004 which Health Minister John Rahael will lay in the House of Representatives on Friday. Clause nine of the Bill amends Section 12 (4) of the existing legislation “to enable the Minister to make regulations in respect of the exportation of controlled products and would increase the fines for contravention of the regulations.” Fines under Section 12 (4) of the Act will be increased from $250 and $25 to $1,000 and $100 respectively.

Clause 10 of the Bill amends Section 13 of the Act “to increase the fines for various other offences created by the Act.” Fines under this revised section will be increased from $500, $1,000 and $5,000 to $2,000, $4,000 and $20,000. Clause three of the Bill extends the scope of the existing legislation to “the export of toxic chemicals,” while Clause five enlarges the composition of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Control Board (PTCCB) by three members and increases the number of members who would comprise the quorum.

Clause six enhances Section 4(a) of the Act “to prohibit the export of a controlled product without an export licence” and Clause eight allows persons who are registered with the Veterinary Registration Board to be designated medical examiners. Clause seven of the Bill allows the Registrar of the PTCCB the power to supervise inspectors and give such inspectors instructions and directions in respect of the carrying out of their duties. Rahael will also open debate on the Food and Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2004 in the Lower House on Friday. 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.” The Bill will amend this Schedule by inserting additional drugs such as ephedrine, n-methylephredine, n-methylpseudoephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, phenolypropanolamine, pseudophredine and their respective salts, optical isomers and salts of optical isomers.