Eighth Session

(26 - 30 September 1994)

EXPERT GROUP ON CHEMICAL INDUSTRY ISSUES

FIFTH REPORT

1. In accordance with the Plan of Activities for Expert Groups under Working Group B approved by the Commission at its Seventh Session and contained in the Annex to the Report of the Commission (PC-VII/8), the Expert Group on Chemical Industry Issues met on 1 and 2 August 1994.

2. Mr. Adam Noble of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland continued to serve as Chairman of the Expert Group.

3. The work of the Group was facilitated by background material provided by the delegation of Canada and by the following Chairman's non-papers and Secretariat Background materials:

(a) Chairman's non-paper No. 1 entitled "Issues relating to BZ and the meaning of the term 'a State Party' in paragraph 8 (a) (i) (2) of Article II";

(b) Chairman's non-paper No. 2 entitled "Facilities that produced Schedule 1 chemicals since 1 January 1946 for peaceful purposes";

(c) Chairman's non-paper No. 3 entitled "'Production' in the context of Schedule 1 facilities";

(d) Secretariat background material entitled "Recycled Schedule 2 chemicals"; and

(e) Secretariat background material entitled "Fermentation and products of biotechnology in biochemical and biologically mediated processes".

4. The Group discussed the priority tasks given to it by the Commission. The results of the deliberations are contained in a Chairman's Paper that is available at the Secretariat. The Group requested its Chairman to continue consultations on the basis of this paper in preparation of the Group's next meeting on 14 September 1994 to enable the Group to review the paper and reach agreement on the issues contained therein, and to consult on other outstanding issues not addressed during the current meeting.

5. The Group also discussed the issue of establishing a task force on recording exports and imports of scheduled chemicals. Mr. Ian Marrs of Canada agreed to co-ordinate any work on this issue as a Friend of the Chair. The Group recommended that the Friend of the Chair draw up a draft task list for a Task Force to enable this Group to take a decision on the best way ahead at its next meeting on 14 September 1994. Member States are invited to submit suggestions on a task list to the Friend of the Chair beforehand.

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