Some very hazardous chemicals are subject to licensing controls under the Chemicals Weapons Act 1996. This Act applies to the production, use or possession (including at an academic institution) of chemicals that are agents associated with chemical warfare. A schedule to the Act lists the specific chemicals to which licensing controls apply. These fall into the following groups:
O-Alkyl alkyl phosphonofluoridates, e.g. Sarin, Soman.
O-Alkyl N,N-dialkyl phosphoramidocyanidates, e.g. Tabun.
O-Alkyl S-2-dialkyl-aminoethyl alkyl phosphonothiolates and their alkylated or protonated salts, e.g. VX.
Sulphur Mustards.
Lewisites.
Nitrogen Mustards.
Saxitoxin.
Ricin.
Certain Precursors Of The Above.
See Appendix 1 for the full listing of controlled substances.
Quantities in excess of 5g are subject to individual project licences. Quantities of less than 5g (total of all material on site) can be held under an Open General Licence.
ACTION
Any quantity of, or intention of work with, a listed substance, must be notified to the Safety Office for approval against any licence held or to be applied for. Approval is based on adequate risk assessment, written safe operating procedures and training records, and suitable facilities including security for the material and the disposal of waste. The Department of Trade and Industry have supplied Explanatory Guidance and Tracking Forms to the University. These will be issued by the Safety Office to approved users.
The Safety Office will maintain the General Open Licence and monitor any individual project licences, which must be applied for through the Safety Office.
An annual return of stock acquisition, use and disposal must be made to the Safety Office by the 10th of January each year, covering the previous calendar year.
The following local records are required:
Name of Responsible Person (Principal Investigator)
Stock (date of receipt, quantity, source)
Use (date, quantity, fate, user)
Disposal and/or transfer off-site (quantity, date, destination)
Material can only be transferred to organisations that hold appropriate licences. This is significant to both collaborative work and the disposal of waste.
O-Alkyl (£ C10, incl. cycloalkyl) alkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr)- phosphononfluoridates e.g.
Sarin: O-Isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate
Soman: O-Pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate
O-Alkyl (£ C10, incl. cycloalkyl N, N-dialkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr) phosphoramidocyanidates e.g.
Tabun: O-Ethyl N,N-dimethyl phosphoramidocyanidate
O-Alkyl (H or £ C10, incl. cycloalkyl) S-2-dialkyl
(Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr)-aminoethyl alkyl
(Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr) phosphonothiolates and corresponding alkylated or protonated salts e.g.
VX: O-Ethyl S-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methyl phosphonothiolate
Nitrogen mustards:
HN1: Bis (2-chloroethyl)ethylamine
HN2: Bis (2-chloroethyl)methylamine
HN3: Tris(2chloroethyl)amine
Saxitoxin
Ricin
PRECURSORS
Alkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr)phoshonyldifluorides e.g.
DF: Methylphosphonyldifluoride
O-Alkyl (H or £ C10, incl. cycloalkyl) O-2-dialky (Me, Et, n-Pr or I-Pr)-aminoethyl alkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr) phosphonites and corresponding alkylated or protonated salts e.g.
QL: O-Ethyl O-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonite
