Which Agency or Unit Acts as the Focal Point for the Prevention and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction?

Illustrative image (source: internet)

Article 10 of Decree 81/2019/ND-CP clearly states that the Ministry of National Defense is the national focal agency of Vietnam for implementing the prevention and counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The Chemical Command under the Ministry of National Defense serves as the standing agency of the national focal agency; representing the national focal agency to address issues related to the prevention and counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as stipulated in Article 11 of this Decree and related laws; advising the Minister of National Defense in fulfilling the responsibilities of the Ministry of National Defense as prescribed in Article 29 of this Decree.

Ministries, except the Ministry of Public Security and the State Bank of Vietnam, as well as other ministerial-level agencies, and the provincial People's Committees assign their anti-terrorism steering committees to act as the focal unit to undertake the tasks of preventing and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, with provincial-level police being the standing agency of the provincial focal unit.

Moreover, this Decree also stipulates that the forces and means for preventing and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction include:

- Agencies and units performing anti-terrorism tasks under the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security assigned to carry out tasks related to the prevention and counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as stipulated in this Decree and related laws;- Forces and specialized means for responding to and mitigating the consequences of nuclear, radioactive, chemical, and biological incidents under the Ministry of National Defense and other forces as specified in points c, d, and dd of this Article when required;- Scientists in fields of nuclear, radioactive, chemical, biological, healthcare, information technology, cybersecurity, finance, and related non-financial industries; experts in other related fields;- International organizations, experts, and forces;- Other organizations, individuals, and entities mobilized to participate in the prevention and counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

For more details, see other provisions in Decree 81/2019/ND-CP effective from November 11, 2019.

Thu Ba

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