The decree will come into force 15 days from the date it was announced.

Vietnam ratified the convention, known in full as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, in 1998.

The decree defines the scope of objects subject to the decree, prohibited activities and regulations on investment, declaration, inspection and import-export of such weapons.

It also spells out regulations for implementing the convention, inspection and punishments for violations, and complaints, denouncements and their settlements.

(Source: Vietnam News Agency)