QNA/Doha

The weekly Cabinet meeting, presided over by HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, issued a draft law to implement a Unified Regulation on Substances that deplete the ozone layer of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).
The regulation aims to completely phase out consumption of ozone-depleting substances and establish safe alternatives  in accordance with the provisions of the Montreal Protocol.
It will also regulate the import and re-export, transport, storage and handling, processing and use of controlled substances and develop and implement the GCC plans for the rehabilitation of the sectors that depend on the activities of controlled substances, assist them in the commitment to sound practices in the repair and maintenance operations and the transition to appropriate alternatives.
Under the provisions of the draft law, the Ministry of Environment shall identify the import quotas of such substances stipulated in the annex. The person concerned can appeal the decision determining his share to the Minister. A decision by the Minister shall specify the fees for the services performed by the ministry.
The Cabinet also issued a draft law on civil defence, under the provisions of which a Supreme Council for Civil Defence will be established.
The Council will be entrusted with the responsibility of drawing up the general policy of civil defence, declaring a state of emergency in case of a disaster or other conditions that require its declaration, and announcing its withdrawal.
The General Directorate of Civil Defence at the Interior Ministry will undertake the implementation of civil defence measures using all methods to achieve its objectives. The General Directorate of Civil Defence must approve all design schemes for state facilities in order to endorse their fire prevention systems.  
Commercial, industrial and similar stores cannot be granted a licence until they obtain a certificate from the relevant authority to have a valid fire prevention system. Facility owners must carry out regular maintenance of the fire prevention system and adhere to the measures and conditions of security and safety stipulated in the list attached to the law.  
Principles of civil defence are to be taught in schools, religious institutions and training centres, according to the regulation established by the authorities concerned in co-ordination with relevant educational authorities.     
The Cabinet approved a draft decree to invite the Municipal Council to convene.
A Cabinet draft decision amending some provisions of Resolution No 34 of 2011 on the reorganisation of the National Committee for Co-ordination with respect to the affairs of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was also approved.
The amendment adds a representative of the General Authority of Customs to the membership of the committee. The committee shall be competent to follow up the implementation of the agreement on trade facilitation at WTO.
The Cabinet also approved the draft decision of the Minister of Finance to establish sections in the administrative units composing the General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority (GRSIA) and set its terms of reference.     
Qatar Tourism Authority’s accession to the membership of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), and the allowances and advantages proposed for air traffic monitors and controllers of the Civil Aviation Authority were also approved.
Then the Cabinet reviewed the following topics and took the appropriate decisions:
1. A draft law amending some provisions of the Law No 7 of 2003 to create Qatar Quality Award and the Cabinet draft decision appointing the members of the Qatar Quality Award.
2. Fifteenth report on the outcomes of the work of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NATC) during the period from 01/10/2014 to 31/03/2015.
This committee established at the Ministry of Interior, shall develop policies, plans and programmes to combat terrorism and to co-ordinate efforts among all stakeholders in the country to implement the commitments contained in the UN Security Council and the United Nations resolutions related to counter-terrorism.
The report pointed out that the committee has participated in several Arab and international counter-terrorism meetings and is completing the procedures for the preparation of a national strategy to combat terrorism with the participation of all relevant bodies in the State.
3. A memorandum by the Minister of Administrative Development on studying the extent of conflict and overlap between the terms of reference of the committee supervising the exploitation of government stores and the terms of reference of the supply directorate and the appropriateness of abolishing the committee; and for the administration to perform its tasks.