Manama: His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has issued Edict (78) of 2025 for the establishment of the National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons of Mass Destruction. This decision follows a proposal by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and has received Cabinet approval.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the newly formed committee will be chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and will include members from various governmental sectors. These members include the Assistant Commander of the Military Judiciary at the Bahrain Defence Force, Director General of Legal Affairs and Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives from the Ministries of Industry and Commerce, Interior, Environment, Health, and Agriculture, among others.
The committee is tasked with implementing the provisions of several laws related to the prohibition of chemical and biological weapons and ensuring compliance with international treaties and agreements. It will also serve as a liaison with international organizations concerning the prohibition of weapons of mass destruction.
The committee is required to meet periodically and make decisions by majority vote. It is empowered to propose legislation related to its responsibilities and may form working groups to address specific issues. The committee is also authorized to request data from other government entities and to maintain the confidentiality of its deliberations and decisions.
This edict repeals the previous Edict (5) of 2011 concerning chemical weapons, and the new provisions will take effect following their publication in the Official Gazette.