Doha: The Cabinet yesterday took necessary measures to issue a draft law on DNA, after it reviewed the recommendation of the Shura Council on the draft law. Cabinet’s regular meeting, which was held at the Amiri Diwan, was chaired by Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi said that at the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet hailed Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s participation in the 5th summit of Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held in the Tajik capital city of Dushanbe on June 15, and H H the Amir’s meetings on the sidelines of the summit with a number of leaders of brotherly and friendly countries.
The Cabinet stressed that these fruitful meetings reflected the depth and strength of Qatar’s relations with these countries and opened up wider horizons for their support and development in various fields, and were an opportunity to exchange views on various current regional and international issues.
It also commended the outcome of the Summit, stressing that its success has given new impetus to the development of cooperation among the Asian countries, enhancement of their security and stability and on the achievement of the aspirations of their peoples in development, progress and peace.
The Cabinet reviewed topics on its meeting’s agenda including taking necessary measures to issue a draft law on DNA.
The preparation of the draft law comes to replace the law No. 9 for 2013, in the framework of the modernisation of legislation.
It is prohibited to take biological samples, conduct DNA tests or store its data in the DNA database, or use it as evidence and in an investigation or a trial without a decision by the Public Prosecution or the competent court.
DNA tests and data in the database are authoritative unless otherwise proven, except for descent provided for in chapter two of part six of the Family Law.
The Cabinet reviewed the recommendations of the Shura Council on the implementation of the National Plan for Food Security and decided to refer the recommendations to the competent authorities to take the necessary action thereon.
Moreover, the Cabinet approved a draft law on the protection of industrial designs and referred it to the Shura Council. Under the draft law, a special register for the registration of industrial designs, their owners’ data, notifications of waiver, transfer of licences and licences issued, data of beneficiaries of licenses, renewal and cancellation of registrations, judgements related to them and all other matters relating to industrial designs shall be established.
The special register shall be at the Industrial Property Protection Office at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in accordance with the rules and procedures specified by the regulations.
The office shall issue a periodical called “Industrial Property Journal” in which the data that should be publicized are published in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
The owner of a registered industrial design or of a design patent has the right to prevent third parties from making, selling or importing articles bearing or embodying a design which is a copy, or substantially a copy, of the protected design, unless he has marketed such products in any country or allowed others to do so.
The Cabinet approved a draft law amending some provisions of Law No. 29 for 2006 regarding the control of buildings.
The amendment aims to authorize the competent municipality to take the necessary measures and actions to avoid the damage caused by leaving the abandoned buildings in a situation that harms public security, public health or the view.
The Cabinet approved a draft decision of the Minister of Public Health amending the second schedule annexed to law No. 19 of 1993 with respect to the regulation of trading in psychoactive substances.
Under the draft decision, GABAPENTIN drug shall be added to the substances list in Table II attached to the law No. 19 of 1993 in all its forms, concentrations and trade names.
It also approved a draft air services agreement between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Lebanon.
