The Chemical Weapons Act 1996 was passed in the UK during the time of a Conservative government under John Major.

This act was made so that the UK could be compliant with the 1993 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and their Destruction.

Not only that, but it also creates the criminal offence of producing, developing, handling or transferring chemical weapons.

This act gives Britain extra territorial jurisdiction in regard to British nationals who are handling such material.

The department of trade and industry acts as a liaison between the UK and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.