Document number: PC-XIII/B/WP.6
Document date: 23 February 1996
Original: ENGLISH
Corrigenda () have been inserted at the relevant places!
Thirteenth Session (18 - 22 March 1996)
TENTH REPORT
1. Introduction
1.1 In accordance with the Plan of Activities and Schedule of Meetings annexed to the Report of the Twelfth Session of the Commission (PC-XII/17), the Expert Group on Chemical Industry Issues held two meetings in The Hague, from 29 - 31 January 1996, and on 23 February 1996, to continue its consideration of outstanding issues.
1.2 At its meeting from 29 - 31 January 1996, the Group elected Dr. Heinrich Willhelm Beuth of Germany as its new Chairman. Dr. Beuth presided over both meetings.
1.3 The Group concentrated its deliberations on the following tasks:
(b) initiation of work on a Model Agreement for Schedule 1 Facilities;
(c) development of guidelines for the declaration of mixtures containing a Schedule 2/3 chemical in a low concentration; and
(d) further work on Sections B and C of the Declaration Handbook.
For the meeting from 29 - 31 January 1996:
(b) Chairman's discussion paper entitled "Proposed Solutions to Outstanding Issues in the Draft Model Agreement for Schedule 2 Plant Sites", dated 29 January 1996;
(c) Chairman's discussion paper entitled "Proposed Solutions to Outstanding Issues in the Draft Model Agreement for Schedule 2 Plant Sites", Rev. 1, dated 31 January 1996;
(d) Chairman's non-paper entitled "The Elaboration of Guidelines for Mixtures Containing a Low Concentration of a Schedule 2/3 Chemical", Paper No. 96/1 dated 29 January 1996;
(e) Secretariat discussion paper entitled "Secretariat Proposal for Possible Improvement of Sections B and C of the Declaration Handbook", Paper 96/2 dated 10 January 1996;
(f) Secretariat discussion paper entitled "Proposed Amendment of the Declaration Forms for Schedule 3 Facilities", Paper 96/3 dated 18 January 1996;
For the meeting on 23 February 1996:
(g) Chairman's discussion paper entitled "Proposed Solutions to Outstanding Issues in the Draft Model Agreement for Schedule 2 Plant Sites", Rev. 2, dated 31 January 1996;
(h) Proposed Revised Version, Chairman's Consultations for a Model for Facility Agreements for Schedule 2 Plant Sites, dated 31 January 1996;
(i) Revised Chairman's non-paper "The Elaboration of Guidelines for Mixtures Containing a Low Concentration of a Schedule 2/3 Chemical", Paper No. 96/1/Rev.1* dated 23 February 1996;
(j) Background discussion paper to the Chairman's proposed guidelines for mixtures containing a low concentration of a Schedule 2/3 chemical, Paper 96/4 dated 23 February 1996;
(k) Secretariat background paper entitled "Changes to the third version of Sections A and B of the Declaration Handbook", dated 23 February 1996;
(l) Draft Declaration Handbook for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and their Destruction, dated 23 February 1996.
Model agreements
2.1 During both meetings, the Group discussed and revised a draft Model Agreement for Schedule 2 Plant Sites, based on a Chairman's proposal. The Group requested the Chairman to issue, as soon as possible during the next intersessional period, an updated draft Model Agreement for Schedule 2 Plant Sites, based on the revisions agreed to by this Group during its meeting.
2.2 The Group, recognising the importance of an early agreement on the Model Agreement for Schedule 1 Facilities, initiated its discussion on that issue. It requested the Secretariat, taking into account the comments made by delegations at this meeting as well as on earlier occasions, to prepare a draft for a Model Agreement for Schedule 1 Facilities. The Group requested that the draft be circulated to delegations as early as possible during the next intersessional period.
Low concentration guidelines
2.3 During its meeting from 29 - 31 January 1996, the Group discussed a Chairman's proposal for low concentration guidelines. At its second meeting on 23 February 1996, the Group reviewed a revised text and collected additional suggestions for improvements. The Group also received a background discussion paper to the Chairman's proposed guidelines. The Group decided to come back to the proposal with a view to finalising the guidelines for mixtures containing a low concentration of Schedule 2/3 chemicals during the next intersessional period.
Declaration Handbook
2.4 At its meeting from 29 - 31 January 1996, the Group received a Secretariat update on the work on Sections A, B and C of the Declaration Handbook. The Group discussed the future course of action with a view to finalising these sections as a matter of urgency.
2.5 At its meeting on 23 February 1996, the Group received a revised version of Sections A and B of the Declaration Handbook. The Group requested its Chairman to call informal consultations for 12 March 1996, with the support of Mr. Ian Marrs of Canada, who was asked to act as a Friend of the Chair, in order to consider Sections A, B and C of the Declaration Handbook. The Group requested the Secretariat to circulate its revision to Section C of the Declaration Handbook in due time before that meeting. Delegations urged the Secretariat to exercise caution in revising the Declaration Handbook given the cost implications for subsequent national implementation measures. The Chairman was asked to report directly to Working Group B on any results from these consultations and to request Working Group B to allocate enough time, early in the next intersessional period, to reach agreement on Sections A, B and C the Declaration Handbook at the level of this Expert Group.
3. Recommendations
The Group requested Working Group B to:
(b) allocate enough time for this Group to finalise its work on the model agreements for Schedule 1 facilities and for Schedule 2 plant sites, on the low concentration guidelines, and on Sections A, B and C of the Declaration Handbook, taking into account subparagraph 2.5 above.