OPCW

1. Introduction

1.1 The Scientific Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as the "Board"), appointed by the Director-General in accordance with paragraph 45 of Article VIII of the Convention, held its inaugural meeting in The Hague met from 21 to 25 September 1998. in The Hague for its inaugural meeting.

1.2 Following a recommendation by the Director-General, the Board elected by acclamation Dr Claude Eon of France as its Chairman.

1.3 The Board elected by acclamation Dr Will Carpenter of the United States of America as its Vice Chairman.

1.4 The Board considered the following issues:

2. Terms of reference and rules of procedure

2.1 The Board discussed its terms of reference, as adopted by the Conference of the States Parties. It noted with concern that the decision on the these terms of reference did has not include made any budgetary provision for the work of the temporary working groups of the Board, nor for any meetings of the Board other than its annual meetings. The members , and concluded that this lack of budgetary provision is likely to complicate considerably complicate the practical work of the Board and of its temporary working groups, and could also s well as to exclude the participation of some certain of its members or other experts from States Parties in from its work.

2.2 In this context, the Board also discussed the desired frequency of its meetings, and concluded that one annual meeting per year would not be sufficient. Two or three 2 or 3 meetings per year would probably be the frequency required to enable the Board to provide an effective and scientifically sound service to the Organisation.

2.32 The members discussed in detail Board had a detailed discussion of the draft interim rules of procedure submitted that by the Director-General had submitted to the Board for comment. A number of comments were passed to the Director-General who, as the Board understood, will study them and on that basis will finalise and promulgate the rules of procedure for the Board and notify the Executive Council accordingly. The Board further understood that these rules of procedure will be reviewed at a later date to take account of the practical experience gained by thered in the work of the Board in the course of its work.

2.43 The Board members also received a briefing on the OPCW’s confidentiality procedures.

2.54 The Board discussed its relationship to the temporary working groups to be established by the Director-General, and concluded that any report prepared by a temporary working group on behalf of the Board must first be reviewed by all members of the Board, who might add their comments to it, before it is submitted to the Director-General.

3. Work on substantive issues

3.1 The Board had a discussed ion on the issue of transfers of saxitoxin, which was brought to its attention by the Director-General. In this respect, the Board had the benefit of attending part of the proceedings of a seminar on saxitoxin held by the OPCW in The Hague from 23 to 24 September 1998. On the basis of the After having received the necessary information obtained from thatis meeting and a having discussion ofed the issue, the Board concluded that:

3.2 In accordance with Conference decision C-II/DEC.5, dated 5 December 1997, the Board received a request from the Director-General, in accordance with Conference decision C-II/DEC.5 of 5 December 1997, a request to consider the scientific and technical aspects issue of reporting of ricin production, and to prepare a report on this issue within six months. After an initial discussion of some of the issues involved, the Board decided to request the Director-General to establish a temporary working group, under the chairmanship of Dr Thomas Inch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to address this issue and to prepare a report on behalf of the Board by April 1999.

3.3 The Board also received a request from by the Director-General to address the issue of the OPCW’s analytical procedures and capabilities for verification purposes. The Board It decided to request the Director-General to establish a temporary working group , under the chairmanship of Dr Marjatta Rautio of Finland, to address this and other issue as well as the issues related to of verification methodologiesy and emerging technologies, and to prepare a first report by April 1999. The Board noted considered that the symposium on the designation of laboratories by the OPCW, organised jointly by the Secretariat and [the] Singapore [National Authority?], scheduled for 1 December 1998, and preceding the First Singapore International Symposium on Protection Against Toxic Chemicals (1str SISPAT), could provide a useful framework for starting the work to address on these issues.

3.4 The Board further received a request from by the Director-General to address the issue of the requirements and specifications for on-site monitoring equipment. The Board It decided to request the Director-General to establish a temporary working group, under the chairmanship of Professor Gerhard Matz of Germany, to address this and other issues related to inspection equipment, as well as the issues of verification methodologiesy and emerging technologies, and to prepare a first report by April 1999.

3.5 The Board further decided to request the Director-General to establish a temporary working group on the issues related to the technologies for the destruction of chemical weapons. In this context, the working group should also, in this context, take into account and consider environmental concerns, historical and munitions aspects of chemical weapons, and relevant developments in chemical industry. The Board recommended that Dr Giorgio Modena of Italy be designated as the chairman of this working group.

3.6 The Board agreed that it will keep the issue of developments in science and technology relevant to the Convention, including work on a database on toxic chemicals, as a standing item on the agendas of its future its meetings.

4.1 The Board agreed to convene its next (three-3 day) meeting during the period of 5 -  - 16  April 1999.

4.25. The meeting was closed on 25 September 1998.

FIRST SESSION OF THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

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