Indian Security agencies have seized the consignment consisting of internationally banned chemical - Ortho-Chloro Benzylidene Malononitrile - used for tear gas and riot control agents at a port in Tamil Nadu.

• Consignment was seized under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005.
• The chemical is also listed in India's export control list 'SCOMET' as a controlled substance whose export shall be permitted only against an export authorization.

About SCOMET List

• SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) list is National Export Control List of dual use items, munitions and nuclear related items, including software and technology. 
  • Dual use items are goods and technologies that can have both civilian and military applications. Dual-use items have been named as SCOMET under Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.
• Export of dual-use items and technologies is either prohibited or is permitted under a license.
• SCOMET List is notified under Indian Trade Clarification based on Harmonized System [ITC (HS)] Classification.
  • ITC (HS) was adopted for import-export operations.
• SCOMET control list is aligned to control lists of all multilateral export control regimes and conventions.