ID to buy fertiliser in tighter security plan

By Simon Kearney
National Political Writer

PROOF of identity will be required to buy common garden fertilisers
under a plan to prevent explosive or toxic materials falling into
terrorist's hands.

Anti-terror agencies are concerned about a lack of regulations on
supplies of fertilisers, toxic chemicals and disease-producing
bio-pathogens.

Deputy Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, who represents NSW on
the National Counter-Terrorism committee, said fertilisers bought
from garden centres and hardware stores potentially could be used
as explosives.

"Most important is how we control the standard garden-style
fertilisers," he said.

Mr Scipione said ID checks for people buying fertilisers should
be considered.

"We have to consider not what is the price of doing it but what is
the price of not doing it," he said. "We are duty-bound to tighten
up all these regulations."

The fertiliser ammonium nitrate, also known as nitric acid or
ammonium salt, was used in the Bali bombing with devastating
effect.

The same chemical is found in many household fertilisers.

In the US, where the fertiliser was used in the Oklahoma City
bombing, there have been calls for registration of users and
identification checks to buy ammonium nitrate.

(snip)

Mr scipione said a national database to track hazardous materials
was a high priority.

(snip)

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Full article in the "Sunday Mail", Adelaide SA, December 15, 2002

Cheers, Steve..

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