UK begins enforcing tougher restrictions on poisons, explosive substances

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Stronger restrictions on poisons and explosive substances have come into effect as of Oct. 1, the British government announced on Monday.

The Home Office stated that new measures targeting bomb-making materials are strengthening existing controls for poisons and chemicals.

"Under these changes, there will be stricter requirements on reporting suspicious activity, including new obligations for online marketplaces," read the statement.

The measures, implemented in response to the devastating Manchester Arena attack in 2017, include the recording of customer information, such as photo identification, when selling regulated materials to business users. On May 22, 2017, a bomb was detonated at a concert in Manchester that killed 22 people and injured hundreds.

"Additional substances have also been added to the list of regulated poisons, including 2,4 Dinitrophenol, also known as DNP, which has taken the lives of many young people in the UK," said the statement.

The statement added that other substances, such as zinc phosphide and hexamine, often used in fireworks, will also be criminal offenses to sell to the public without a valid license.

"The deaths of dozens of young people at the hands of criminals selling chemicals like DNP is a tragedy. These new measures will help prevent dangerous controlled substances from falling into the wrong hands," Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said in the statement.

The changes will come into force through updates to the Poisons Act 1972, it added.