India seizes Pak-bound consignment of banned chemicals from China

Posted 12 Jul 2024

2 min read

Indian Security agencies have seized the consignment consisting of internationally banned chemical - Ortho-Chloro Benzylidene Malononitrile - used for tear gas and riot control agents at a port in Tamil Nadu.

Consignment was seized under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005.
The chemical is also listed in India's export control list 'SCOMET' as a controlled substance whose export shall be permitted only against an export authorization.

About SCOMET List

SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) list is National Export Control List of dual use items, munitions and nuclear related items, including software and technology.
- Dual use items are goods and technologies that can have both civilian and military applications. Dual-use items have been named as SCOMET under Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.
Export of dual-use items and technologies is either prohibited or is permitted under a license.
SCOMET List is notified under Indian Trade Clarification based on Harmonized System [ITC (HS)] Classification.
- ITC (HS) was adopted for import-export operations.
SCOMET control list is aligned to control lists of all multilateral export control regimes and conventions.

Multilateral Export Control Regimes

Wassenaar Arrangement (1996): For conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) (1974): For transfers of civilian nuclear material and nuclear-related equipment and technology.
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) (1987): To limit the spread of ballistic missiles and other unmanned delivery systems.
Australia Group (1985): For Chemical and Biological weapons.

Note: Except NSG, India is a member of all the above control regimes.