TEMPORARY CONVERSION OF

CHEMICAL WEAPONS PRODUCTION FACILITIES

TO CHEMICAL WEAPONS DESTRUCTION FACILITIES

The Conference

Recalling that the Commission, in its PC-VII/8, subparagraph 6.10, adopted the understandings in relation to the temporary conversion of chemical weapons production facilities to chemical weapons destruction facilities,

Bearing in mind that the Commission recommended in paragraph 49.3.5 of its Final Report that the Conference adopt the above mentioned understandings,

Hereby:

1. Adopts the understandings in relation to the temporary conversion of chemical weapons production facilities to chemical weapons destruction facilities, annexed hereto.

Annex

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Annex

TEMPORARY CONVERSION OF

CHEMICAL WEAPONS PRODUCTION FACILITIES

TO CHEMICAL WEAPONS DESTRUCTION FACILITIES

1. A State Party intending to convert temporarily a chemical weapons production facility for use in the destruction of chemical weapons shall notify the Technical Secretariat not later than 30 days after the Convention enters into force for the State Party or no later than 30 days after its decision to convert temporarily the facility for purposes of destruction;

2. In the absence of clear provisions within the Convention concerning the precise contents of such a notification the following information shall be provided:

2.1 the name, address, and precise location of the facility;

2.2 a site diagram indicating all the structures and areas that will be involved in the destruction of chemical weapons and which also identifies all structures of the chemical weapons production facility that is to be temporarily converted;

2.3 the types of chemical weapons, and the type and quantity of chemical fill to be destroyed at the temporarily converted facility;

2.4 the destruction method(s);

2.5 a process flow diagram indicating which parts of the production process and which items of specialised equipment will be converted for the destruction of chemical weapons;

2.6 the seals and inspection equipment potentially affected by the conversion; and

2.7 a schedule identifying the time allocated to each of the following operations:

(a) process design,

(b) temporary conversion of the facility,

(c) installation of equipment,

(d) process commissioning,

(e) chemical weapon destruction operations,

(f) closure.

3. After the initial notification, the State Party shall document the status of the temporary conversion of the chemical weapons production facility in the plans that it provides pursuant to paragraphs 6 and 29 of Part IV(A) of the Verification Annex.

4. The State Party shall provide to the Secretariat detailed facility information pursuant to paragraphs 30, 31, 32 and 33 of Part IV(A) not less than twelve months prior to the start of destruction operations in order to assist in the development of preliminary inspection procedures for use at the facility.

5. No later than 90 days after receiving the initial notification of the intent to convert temporarily a chemical weapons production facility, the Technical Secretariat shall have the right to visit the facility to familiarise itself with the proposed temporary conversion and to study possible inspection measures that will be required during the conversion.

6. No later than 60 days after such a visit, the State Party shall conclude a transitional facility agreement with the Technical Secretariat containing additional inspection measures covering the temporary conversion period. This agreement shall specify procedures for inspections, including the use of seals and monitoring equipment, to ensure that no chemical weapons production takes place during the temporary conversion process. It shall remain in force from the beginning of the temporary conversion until the converted facility begins operation as a chemical weapons destruction facility.

7. The inspected State Party shall not remove or convert any part of the facility, or remove or modify any seal or other agreed item of inspection equipment that may have been installed before concluding the transitional facility agreement.

8. Arrangements for the commissioning phase shall be governed by the transitional facility agreement. Once the facility begins operation as a chemical weapons destruction facility, it shall be subject to systematic verification as provided for under Part IV(A)(c).

9. During destruction, the inspectors shall have access to all parts of the temporarily converted production facility, including those that are not directly involved with the destruction of chemical weapons.

10. Prior to the commencement of work at the facility to convert it temporarily for chemical weapons destruction purposes and after the facility has ceased to function as a facility for chemical weapons destruction, the facility shall be subject to the provisions of Part V.

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