Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:

4 International Regulations
Pages 73-88

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 73...
... The countries were selected because of their collaborative relationships with the United States; however, each has taken different mandatory and voluntary approaches to restricting malicious actors' access to precursor chemicals. The committee investigated the EU and United Kingdom's programs because of the challenges faced implementing new regulations and voluntary measures across Europe using a common framework, but allowing different strategies in each of the EU member states (MS)
From page 74...
... TABLE 4-1  Comparative Chart of Global Regulations on Precursor Chemicals 74 Chapter 2 CFATS Australia Canada EU Singapore PGS Acetone X X Aluminum powder A X X X Ammonium nitrate A X ≥45%s >80% >16%N ≥80% X Ammonium perchlorate C X ≥65%s 10%a X X Antinomy trisulfide C Barium nitrate X Calcium ammonium nitrate A X X Calcium nitrate B X Guanidine nitrate X Hexamine C X Hydrochloric acid B Hydrogen peroxide A ≥35% ≤65% >30% >12% ≥20% X Magnalium powder C X Magnesium powder C X X Magnesium nitrate hexahydrate X Nitric acid A ≥68% ≥30% >68% >3% X Nitrobenzene X Nitromethane A X ≥10% X >30% X Pentaerythritol C Perchloric acid X X
From page 75...
... Phenol C Phosphorus X X Potassium chlorate A X ≥65%s 10%a X >40% X X Potassium nitrate B X ≥65%s 10%a X X ≥5%a X Potassium nitrite C ≥5%a Potassium perchlorate A X ≥65%s 10%a X >40% X X Potassium permanganate B X Sodium azide X >95% Sodium chlorate A X ≥65%s 10%a X >40% X X Sodium nitrate B X X X ≥5%a X Sodium nitrite B ≥5%a Sodium perchlorate ≥65%s 10%a >40% X Sulfur B Sulfuric acid B X X Tetranitromethane X Urea B X Urea ammonium nitrate solution A Zinc powder B NOTE: %s: percent composition in a solid mixture; %a: percent composition in an aqueous solution; the letters in the second column correspond to the prioritized groups from Chapter 2; CFATS: Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards; PGS: Programme Global Shield; the EU column includes both Annex I and Annex II chemicals.192 75
From page 76...
... While there is no direct federal government involvement since it is a voluntary code, the government does provide guidelines for implementation of the code in several areas, including the following: • security risk management, which assesses the security risk of each busi ness and assigns a security management point of contact who is respon sible for investigating and reporting security incidents to the National Security Hotline; • security measures chosen to reduce the risk of terrorists acquiring chemi cals from each business by providing background checks on potential employees, educating staff on suspicious behavior, maintaining inventory control records, and reporting thefts or diversions; and • supply chain security to verify the identity of all customers and promote transportation security of chemicals. Security sensitive ammonium nitrate (SSAN)
From page 77...
... The attack by Numan Haider on two police officers in September 2014 and the siege at Martin Place in December 2014 have been the only successful terrorist attacks in Australia, and neither involved precursor chemicals.201 Additionally, focused counter-terrorism efforts conducted by intelligence and law enforcement agencies have resulted in the apprehension of terrorists plotting events in Australia.202-206 CANADA Natural Resources Canada's Explosives Safety and Security Branch administers the Explosives Act and Explosives Regulations for the safe and secure handling of explosives.207 The Explosives Act • requires anyone working with explosives to have a license, certificate, or permit issued by the Minister of Natural Resources; • makes exceptions to this requirement for some explosives and storage activities and for the use of certain low-hazard explosives, low-hazard pyrotechnic devices, sporting ammunition, and consumer fireworks; and • covers fireworks, pyrotechnics, propellant powders, ammunition, rocket motors, and restricted components. Part 20 of the Explosives Regulations discusses the sale of and security plans for restricted components.
From page 78...
... It has partnered with other nations in counter-terrorism.210-212 It has also conducted major counter-terrorism–related exercises to assess and refine its readiness for terrorist attacks.213 While there have not been terrorist attacks in Singapore, the country has developed proactive measures at its borders to enhance and improve government agencies' internal cooperation regarding precursor chemicals. In 2007, fifteen hazardous substances listed in the Environmental Pollution Control Act and Regulations were delisted and instead listed in the Arms and Explosives Act.214,215 The majority of the hazardous substances appear on the prioritized list of precursor chemicals in this report (Table 4-1)
From page 79...
... is an expert group composed of representatives of EU MS and industry associations. It was established under the 2008 EU Action Plan on Enhancing the Security of Explosives and is chaired by the EC.216,217 As depicted by the EC, the SCP provides a platform for EU MS and representatives of the operators in the supply chain to exchange information and share lessons learned on implementation.191 It also helps facilitate the implementation of Regulation 98/2013 with the goal of limiting the general public's access to precursor chemicals and encouraging suspicious transactions and appropriate reporting of significant disappearances and thefts throughout the supply chain, while seeking minimal market disruption.
From page 80...
... 80 RESTRICTING ACCESS TO EXPLOSIVE PRECURSOR CHEMICALS • all EU MS identified one or more points of contact for suspicious transac tion reporting and thefts; • twenty-three EU MS were in full compliance, and had set rules and penal ties, disseminated the implementation guidelines, and notified the EC of exceptions that would require licensing or registration; and • five EU MS were in partial compliance, having not developed rules or penalties. To promote compliance, the EC established regular bilateral discussions focused on implementation and potential regulation compliance issues with some EU MS.219 An updated list of measures is available via the EC, which details each member's choice with regard to regulatory strategy (Figure 4-1)
From page 81...
... The EC also reports that some EU MS have adopted additional measures that, for example, require retailers to register with the authorities and to periodically declare all transactions, including imports; extend the scope of the regulation to cover professional users; determine conditions for storage; foresee the exchange of relevant cross-border information with other EU MS; or establish a role for customs authorities.191 Additionally, most EU MS have reportedly conducted awareness-raising campaigns that target the retailers marketing the precursor chemicals. Campaigns aim to increase awareness about the obligation to both restrict access and report suspicious transactions.
From page 82...
... With that assessment, the United Kingdom chose to implement a licensing scheme, but not an accompanying registration program. Meetings with stake­ holders suggested that an auxiliary registration program would create unnecessary confusion.222 Regulation Effectiveness The EC reports223 that Regulation 98/2013 has contributed to reducing the threat posed by precursor chemicals in Europe based on findings from meetings and consultations of the SCP and a study carried out by an independent expert consortium: • The amount of precursor chemicals available on the market has ­decreased.
From page 83...
... GLOBAL SHIELD In an effort to mitigate the improvised explosive device (IED) threat, the World Customs Organization, in conjunction with Interpol, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the U.S.
From page 84...
... .227,228 Program operations included training and establishing national contact points with the responsibility of providing monthly shipping reports on these fourteen precursors. A centralized multilingual web-based communication channel was set up to report suspicious movements and to act as a repository for project communications.229
From page 85...
... . The World Customs Organization endorsed the program as a long-term endeavor, with the overall objectives of promoting international cooperation to prevent precursor chemical diversion, interdicting illegal shipments, and promoting awareness among industry and other groups.
From page 86...
... Canada and Singapore have implemented similar licensing or registration measures for controlling a ­ ccess to precursor chemicals. By contrast, as described in Chapter 3, policy in the United States rarely addresses retail facilities or transactions, except in the case of agriculture.
From page 87...
... EU regulations, PGS efforts, and HME collaborations between and among countries illustrate global cooperation in developing methods to minimize the broad access that terrorists have to precursor chemicals. These efforts as well as country-specific efforts will continue to increase compliance and awareness with current law enforcement security programs.


This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.