Chemical Corps Takes Part in the “Chemical Emergency Response” Exercise
Unofficial translation from the Vietnamese original.
Performing its function as the Standing Office of the National Focal Point for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, on 16 July 2021 the Chemical Corps took part in the “Chemical Emergency Response” tabletop exercise, co-chaired by the ASEAN Network of Experts on Chemical, Biological and Radiological matters and the Chemical Department of the Royal Thai Army. The exercise was held online.
Officers of the Chemical Corps take part in the exercise
The exercise focused on exchanging the views of ASEAN Member States on responding to chemical incidents; discussing the challenges of coordinating investigations and surveys of a potentially contaminated site; and procedures for collecting samples and evidence given the differences in legal regulations between countries. At the exercise, the Vietnamese delegation presented “Vietnam's approach to and experience in chemical incident response”, describing the three-tier incident response system: the facility level; the level of provinces and centrally run cities; and the national level. The delegation used the specific case of the incident response to the 2019 fire at the Rang Dong Light Source and Vacuum Flask Joint Stock Company. The Vietnamese delegation also proposed that in the coming period countries should further step up the exchange of information and specialist knowledge among the intra-ASEAN expert group, and exchange views on new risks and challenges in responding to chemical, biological and radiological incidents, including infectious disease outbreaks./.
Hai Yen – Dang An