Rules make it mandatory for the seller to maintain records of persons buying acid, other harmful chemicals
KATHMANDU, APRIL 11
Acid and Other Hazardous Chemicals (Regulation) Rules, 2021, recently published in the Nepal Gazette by the Ministry of Home Affairs stipulate mandatory provision for obtaining licence to produce, import, or export acid or other hazardous chemicals.
As per the rules, any person wishing to acquire licence for production, import or export of acid or other hazardous chemicals, shall submit an application to the MoHA along with the prescribed details and documents.
Similarly, any person wishing to acquire a licence for sale or distribution of acid and other hazardous chemicals shall submit an application to the concerned district administration office, along with prescribed details and documents.
Prior to issuing licence, the MoHA and DAO shall conduct necessary inquiry into the rationality thereof. The licence is subject to annual renewal. Likewise, if any industry, laboratory, research institution, educational institution, workshop, business enterprise, company, firm or person is required to use more than one litre or one kilogram of acid or other hazardous chemicals, an application shall be submitted to the concerned DAO for prior approval.
The rules also require the licenced person to abide by specified terms and conditions while selling acid or other hazardous chemicals. "The licensed person shall sell acid or other hazardous chemicals only to industry, laboratory, research institution, educational institution, workshop, business enterprise, company and firm or the person working for them. Its upper limit is one litre or one kilogram. However, more than one litre or kilogram may be sold to an institution or person obtaining prior approval from the DAO," Rule 13 reads.
The rules have also made it mandatory for the seller to maintain records of personal identity of the person purchasing acid or other hazardous chemicals and its purpose. The seller shall also issue a bill or invoice to the purchaser. The rules stipulate a provision of a five-member central acid or other hazardous chemicals control committee led by joint secretary of the MoHA. It is mandated to coordinate and consult with the concerned agency for control and regulation of acid or other hazardous chemicals.
Similarly, there is a five-member acid or other hazardous chemicals control committee headed by the chief district officer.
The district committee shall submit its annual report to the central committee within one month of completion of the fiscal. The report shall include the condition of production, import, export and use of acid or other hazardous chemicals; details whether the licencees have complied with the terms and conditions; and details of acid-related crimes or accidents, if any, among others.
The centre shall also submit a consolidated annual report to the MoHA.
The rules were issued for implementation of stringent anti-acid law recently enacted by the government through ordinance after rising number of acid attacks, which mainly victimised women and girls.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 12 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
