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The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB or “the Board”) is a statutory organ of the OPCW. Article VIII, subparagraph 21(h), requires the Conference to direct the Director-General to establish the SAB to enable the Director-General to render specialised advice to the Conference, the Council or States Parties in the areas of science and technology relevant to the Convention. The Director-General is responsible for the organisation and functioning of the Board, whose terms of reference were adopted by the Conference at its Second Session.
The SAB is made up of 25 eminent scientists appointed by the Director-General after consultation with States Parties. Board members are selected from among persons active at entities such as research institutions, universities, chemical industry companies and defence and military organisations, on the basis of their expertise in particular scientific fields relevant to the implementation of the Convention. The members of the Board are selected based on their qualifications and experience, taking into account their publications, scientific, academic or professional activities, distinctions and international experience, and with due regard to their areas of speciality. Preference is given to persons who are knowledgeable about the relevant scientific and technological developments, and who are familiar with the implementation of the Convention. Efforts are made to maintain a balance between the areas of research, development and application. In the selection process, the Director-General’s consultations with States Parties are required to take into account the need for a comprehensive spread of relevant fields of scientific and technological expertise and must result in a fair distribution of appointments from the regions. Only citizens of States Parties are eligible to serve as members of the SAB. Board members serve in their individual capacities. They are appointed for a term of three years, and may serve for two consecutive terms.
The first appointments to the SAB were made by the Director-General in June 1998. The Board held its inaugural meeting in September 1998, and has since met in regular sessions once or twice every year.
The Board’s main work is conducted by temporary working groups (TWGs), which are appointed by the Director-General to address specific scientific and technical questions raised by States Parties or the policy making organs of the OPCW, or which are of concern to the Director-General. Each working group is chaired by a SAB member, and other SAB members may also be appointed to serve on a TWG. In addition, experts knowledgeable in fields of science or technology relevant to the question under consideration by the working group may also be appointed as members, provided that they hold the citizenship of a State Party. Typically, each working group focuses on one specific issue and, upon completion of its work, is dissolved. Some working groups are, however, charged with covering a range of related questions (e.g. analytical procedures, inspection equipment, chemical weapons destruction technologies). These TWGs consequently exist on a longer-term basis. Within the time limit prescribed by the Director-General, each working group reports to the Chair of the SAB, with a copy to the Director-General, on the results of its research into and analysis of the issue in question. The SAB reviews the report and forwards any comments or recommendations to the Director General in its subsequent annual report, to allow him or her to take action on the basis of the report and the comments. The reports of temporary working groups are attached, without modification, to the annual report of the SAB.
Upon receipt of the annual report of the SAB, the Director-General informs all States Parties of the conclusions drawn from it and the course of action proposed for the OPCW. The Director-General’s report, together with the SAB report, is to be submitted in time for consideration by the Council at its last session before the annual session of the Conference, and in time for consideration by the Conference.
During its first years, the SAB has addressed several issues. For example, in 1999, it made a recommendation on the application of the transfer provisions in the Convention in respect to small amounts of saxitoxin (a Schedule 1 chemical) for diagnostic purposes. This recommendation facilitated the decision by States Parties to change Part VI of the Verification Annex in order to allow an exceptional streamlined procedure for transfers of minute quantities of saxitoxin which was necessary as a life-saving measure against outbreaks of paralytic shellfish poisoning.
The SAB also prepared a special report for the First Review Conference, based on the findings of a joint project with the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. This report highlighted relevant developments in science and technology and how they affected the implementation of the Convention.
Introduction | Members