Terms of Reference of the Scientific Advisory Board

C-II/DEC.10/Rev.1 Annex

• Introduction
• Role and functions
• Composition
• Working groups
• Relationship with the Technical Secretariat
• Meetings

As directed by the Conference of the States Parties, and in accordance with Article VIII, paragraphs 21(h) and 45 of the Convention, the Director-General shall establish the Scientific Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as “the Board”) pursuant to these Terms of Reference of the Scientific Advisory Board.

The role of the Board shall be to enable the Director-General, in the performance of his functions, to render specialised advice to the Conference, Executive Council or States Parties in areas of science and technology relevant to the Convention. Consistent with the provisions of the Convention, the functions of the Board include the following:

• assess and report to the Director-General developments in scientific and technological fields relevant to the Convention;
• as necessary, provide advice on proposed changes to the Annex on Chemicals originated by States Parties in accordance with Article XV of the Convention;
• co-ordinate the efforts of the working groups temporarily established in accordance with paragraph 9 below;
• as necessary, provide scientific and technological advice relevant to the Convention, including advice on technical matters related to co-operation and assistance, to the Technical Secretariat upon request;
• upon the request of the Director-General, assess the scientific and technological merit of a present, or proposed, methodology for use by the Technical Secretariat in verification under the Convention;
• when directed by the Conference acting in accordance with paragraph 22 of Article VIII, provide advice and make recommendations taking into account any relevant scientific and technological developments for the purpose of assisting the Conference in its review of the operation of the Convention;
• assess and report on emerging technologies and new equipment which could be used on verification activities.

The Board shall consist of 25 members appointed by the Director-General in consultation with States Parties from a list of nominees put forward by the States Parties. The members of the Board shall serve in their individual capacity as independent experts.

The members of the Board shall be appointed from eminent persons active at such institutions as research institutions, universities, chemical industry companies, defence and military organisations, on the basis of their expertise in the particular scientific fields relevant to the implementation of the Convention. The members of the Board shall be selected based on their qualifications and experience, taking into account their publications, scientific, academic or professional activities, distinctions and international experience with due regard to the area of speciality. Preference shall be given to persons who are knowledgeable about the relevant scientific and technological developments, and who are familiar with the implementation of the Convention. Efforts shall be made to maintain a balance between the areas of research, development and applications.

Each State Party may present to the Director-General one or more experts available and qualified to serve on the Board. The 25 members shall be appointed by the Director-General through a process of consultations with States Parties. These consultations shall take into account the need for a comprehensive spread of relevant fields of scientific and technological expertise, and result in a fair distribution of appointments from the regions. Only citizens of States Parties are eligible to serve as members of the board.

The term of office of members of the Board shall be three years. A Board member may serve for two consecutive terms.

The Director-General, in consultation with States Parties, shall appoint persons to replace members who are for any reason prevented from taking part in the work of the Board for the remainder of their term in office. The Director-General shall report the replacement and the reason thereof in his annual report to the Conference.

In consultation with members of the Board, the Director-General may establish temporary working groups of scientific experts to provide recommendations within a specific time-frame on specific issues, in accordance with Article VIII, paragraph 45 of the Convention.

Each working group shall be chaired by a member of the Board appointed for that purpose by the Chair with the approval of the Director-General. The Director-General may appoint to the working group such experts from the lists provided by States Parties or as suggested by the Board or its members. Only citizens of States Parties are eligible to serve as members of a working group.

The Director-General shall provide through the Technical Secretariat appropriate support for the preparation, organisation and implementation of the Board’s activities and that of the temporary working groups.

The Board shall meet annually prior to or in conjunction with the session of the Executive Council which immediately precedes the annual session of the Conference, at a time and place in The Hague to be designated by the Director General, in order to provide a report of its activities, including an account of its contributions during the previous year, to the Director-General.

On the Director-General’s own behalf or at the request of the Executive Council or of the Conference, the Director-General may, in consultation with the Chair of the Board, convene ad hoc meetings of the Board in The Hague.