Singapore to control use of 15 chemicals

29 June 2007 03:51  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said late on Thursday that it will start restricting the use of 15 chemicals, or “explosive precursors” which can be used to make improvised explosive devices from 1 July.

The measure is intended to make it more difficult for terrorists to obtain access to explosives and is part of ongoing efforts to protect Singapore from terrorism, the SPF said in a statement.

“On implementation, anyone who wishes to use, including manufacture or store, any of these 15 chemicals will need to apply for a licence issued by SPF,” it added.

Explosive precursors are oxidising agents with legitimate industrial usage and are essentially safe in their original properties.

However under certain circumstances, either when reacted in certain controlled conditions or mixed with other products, these could be converted into explosives and have the potential to be used as hazardous materials for terrorist purposes, the SPF said.

In addition, the 15 precursors that are widely used for research, industrial and agricultural purposes will now be controlled under the republic's Arms and Explosives Act.

The restricted chemicals are listed as follows:

• Ammonium Nitrate
• Ammonium Perchlorate
• Barium Nitrate
• Guanidine Nitrate
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Potassium Chlorate
• Potassium Nitrate
• Potassium Nitrite
• Potassium Perchlorate
• Sodium Chlorate
• Sodium Nitrate
• Sodium Nitrite
• Sodium Perchlorate
• Perchloric Acid
• Tetranitromethane

By: Jeanne Lim
+65 6780 4359

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