Biological Weapons Act 1974

Short description: Anti-bioweapon law of the United Kingdom

Short description: United Kingdom legislation

Biological Weapons Act 1974Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Long title| An Act to prohibit the development, production, acquisition and possession of certain biological agents and toxins and of biological weapons.
Citation| 1974 c. 6
Introduced by| Robert Carr (Commons)
Territorial extent|

* England and Wales
* Scotland
* Northern Ireland

Dates
Royal assent| 8 February 1974

Status: Current legislation

Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Biological Weapons Act 1974 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Biological Weapons Act 1974 (c. 6) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, passed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 February 1974, with the long title "An Act to prohibit the development, production, acquisition and possession of certain biological agents and toxins and of biological weapons."[1][2]

The act makes illegal the development, production, acquisition or retainment of biological weapons, as well as any weapon delivery systems for the deployment of biological weapons. It also forbade the exchange between people of biological weapons and established the prison sentence for committing the crimes mentioned in the Act; a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The act extends to anyone within the United Kingdom, or British citizens abroad, however the citizen must be within the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or any of the British colonies to be arrested for the offense.

It also gives Customs and Excise officers the power to seize biological weapons coming in or out of the United Kingdom, or British citizens in other countries transporting biological weaponry for deportation to the UK.

A fourth section says that anyone may be charged (as with other crimes) with aiding and abetting or conspiring to transport biological weapons.

The act extends to the entire United Kingdom.

## References

1. ↑ "ICRC Biological Weapons Act (1974)". https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/national-practice/biological-weapons-act-1974-0.
2. ↑ "Biological Weapons Act 1974 Legislation Gov UK". https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/6/section/7.

## External links

* v
* t
* e

Legislation of the United Kingdom

Pre-Parliamentary legislation|

* List of English statutes
* Charter of Liberties
* Magna Carta

Acts of Parliament by states preceding
the Kingdom of Great Britain|

| Parliament of England|

* to 1483
* 1485–1601
* 1603–1641
* Petition of Right
* Interregnum (1642–1660)
* 1660–1699
* Habeas Corpus Act
* Bill of Rights
* 1700–1706

|

Parliament of Scotland|

* to 1707

Acts of Parliament of the
Kingdom of Great Britain|

* 1707–1719
* 1720–1739
* 1740–1759
* 1760–1779
* 1780–1800

Acts of the Parliament of Ireland|

* to 1700
* 1701–1800

Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland and the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|

* 1801–1819
* 1820–1839
* 1840–1859
* 1860–1879
* 1880–1899
* 1900–1919
* 1920–1939
* 1940–1959
* 1960–1979
* 1980–1999
* 2000–2019
* 2020 to date
* Halsbury's Statutes
* Legislation.gov.uk
* Short titles

| relating to the European Union (formally European Communities)|

* 1972 to date

|

Church of England measures|

* List
* Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919

Legislation of devolved institutions|

* Acts of the Scottish Parliament
* List
* Acts and Measures of the National Assembly for Wales
* List
* Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
* Acts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland

Orders in Council|

* 1994 to date

| for Northern Ireland|

* 1972–2009

|

Secondary legislation|

* United Kingdom statutory instruments
* Scottish statutory instruments
* Acts of Sederunt
* Acts of Adjournal

0.00

(0 votes)

Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological Weapons Act 1974. Read more

|

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Social:Biological_Weapons_Act_1974&oldid=4303262"
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template