Preparatory Commission for the                                      PC-IX/B/WP.4

Organisation for the Prohibition                                      9 November 1994

of Chemical Weapons                                                       Original: ENGLISH

Ninth Session

(5 - 9 December 1994)

EXPERT GROUP ON

TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE

SIXTH REPORT

1.         Introduction

1.1       In accordance with the Plan of Activities for Expert Groups under Working Group B approved by the Commission at its Eighth Session and contained in Annex 2 to the Report of the Commission (PC-VIII/18), the Expert Group on Technical Cooperation and Assistance met in The Hague from 8 to 9 November 1994 to continue its consideration of outstanding issues relating to Articles X and XI.

1.2       Mr. Sarvajit Chakravarti of India continued as Chairman of the Group.

1.3       The Chairman distributed draft papers on relevant issues in advance of the meeting to serve as a basis for its deliberations.  The Group's discussions were also facilitated by non-papers provided by the delegations of Australia and the United States of America.  All these papers can be made available by the Secretariat, on request.

2.         Article X issues

2.1       The Group again reviewed the two lists of categories of information to be provided by States Parties under Article X, paragraph 4, on national programmes related to protective purposes.  Reiterating that the draft list of mandatory information could not be reduced, the Group was unable to agree either on the adequacy of that list or on any further expansion of it.  The Group will have to return to this issue at a future meeting.

2.2       The Group reviewed, in the light of experience gained during the training last July and August of 80 National Authorities' personnel from developing countries, the curriculum for such courses.  A revised curriculum is annexed to this Report.

3.         Article XI issues

3.1       The Group continued discussions of issues arising from Article XI and related provisions, beginning with the draft paper presented by the Chairman and based on ideas expressed in non-papers provided during earlier deliberations.

3.2       Some practical steps that could be taken to implement Article XI and related provisions were also discussed.  These included, inter alia, the issue of a possible establishment of a database to facilitate the exchange of information relating to economic and technological development in the field of chemicals, and other measures that could be taken by the OPCW to foster international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities.

3.3       The possible content and structure of a database to facilitate the exchange of information relating to economic and technological development in the field of chemicals were discussed to provide a better basis for the Secretariat's study of such a database.  The Group concluded that the establishment of a database would be most useful, that it would need to be developed over a period of time and that it should facilitate and enhance the access of States Parties to information relevant to the Convention without prejudice to confidentiality, copyright or commercial obligations.

3.4       A number of categories of information were identified.  The Group agreed that the study should:

            (a)        for each such category, indicate the extent to which such information could be                     provided in either printed or computer-readable form;

            (b)        take into account the need to avoid duplication of efforts in collecting and                             assembling information;

            (c)        examine the establishment not merely of a database in the strictest sense of the                      word, but rather of an information reference centre;

            (d)        identify what types of information could best be provided by the OPCW or              obtained from other sources; and

            (e)        highlight the financial and staffing implications of various options for                                    consideration by the Commission.

4.         Recommendations

4.1       The Group recommended that Working Group B:

            (a)        seek the approval of the Commission for the revised curriculum for courses for                     personnel of National Authorities as contained in the Annex to this Report; and

            (b)        request the Expert Group on Technical Cooperation and Assistance to continue       its deliberations on outstanding issues relating to Articles X and XI.

ANNEX

GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF REVISED CONTENT OF A BASIC COURSE FOR PERSONNEL OF NATIONAL AUTHORITIES

A.        GENERAL

A1       HISTORY OF CHEMICAL WARFARE                                                                                         2 hours

Demonstrate a fundamental understanding and knowledge of the chemical weapons threat.

--History of chemical warfare

--The threat of chemical weapons

--History of CW disarmament efforts

A2       THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC)                            4 hours

Develop a basic understanding and knowledge of the provisions of the CWC and the rights and obligations of a State Party.

--An overview of the CWC

--The objectives and purposes of the CWC

--The benefits of the CWC

--Sources of information on the CWC

A3       THE ORGANISATION FOR THE PROHIBITION OF                             3-6 hours CHEMICAL WEAPONS (OPCW)

Develop a good understanding and knowledge of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, its structure and mission.

--The Paris Resolution and the Preparatory Commission

--The OPCW as prescribed by the CWC, including the relationship with the  UN system and comparison with the International Atomic Energy Agency

--The Conference of the States Parties and the Executive Council

--The Technical Secretariat (TS)

B.        NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CWC

B1       LEGAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CWC                  10 hours

Develop a very good understanding and knowledge of the legislative and administrative measures required to implement the CWC in a State Party.

--Legal rights and obligations common to all States Parties

--Legal rights and obligations of a State Party with declarable activities, including an introduction to facility agreements

--Legislative measures to meet obligations

--Administrative measures to meet obligations

B2       SETTING UP AND RUNNING A NATIONAL AUTHORITY                4 hours

Develop a very good understanding and knowledge of the measures required to designate or establish a National Authority in a State Party.  Demonstrate a good understanding of the obligations under the Convention to be met by national structures including the National Authority and of the relationship between a National Authority and the OPCW.  Develop a fundamental understanding of the operational tasks in general of national structures charged with implementation of the Convention, including the National Authority of a State Party.

--Setting up a National Authority

--Tasks during the initial period up to EIF plus six months

--Basic tasks, including a very brief overview of declaration obligations but excluding receiving inspections

B3       DATA HANDLING AND CONFIDENTIALITY                                      4 hours

Develop a fundamental understanding and knowledge of database handling, data collection, chain-of-custody and the rules of confidentiality and data security.  Demonstrate an overview of software applications that can be made available for and be used by a National Authority of a State Party.

--Introduction to database handling

--Data security

--Confidentiality

--The importance of information collection

--Data collection

--PC software applications

B4       IDENTIFICATION OF DECLARABLE ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES         10 hours

Develop the ability to identify any declarable activity in a State Party.

--Identification of declarable production of chemicals, including an overview of chemical plant design

--Identification of declarable processing and consumption of chemicals

--Identification of declarable trade in chemicals, including the organisation of trade and trade in scheduled chemicals

--Identification of chemical weapons and chemical weapons production facilities

--Identification of old and abandoned chemical weapons

B5       EXPORT AND IMPORT DATA                                                                 4 hours

Develop the ability to notify industry, trade and other relevant bodies as to the data on the export and import of scheduled chemicals to be declared under the CWC.

B6       OPERATIONAL TASKS RELATING TO DECLARATIONS                 6 hours

Develop the ability to prepare, with the help of the Declaration Handbook, correct and timely declarations as required under the Convention.

--The Declaration Handbook

--Initial declarations under Article III

--Declarations under Articles IV and V and under Verification Annex (V.A.) Parts   IV (A), IV (B) and V

--Initial and annual declarations under Article VI and V.A. Part VI

--Initial and annual declarations under Article VI and V.A. Part VII

--Initial and annual declarations under Article VI and V.A. Part VIII

--Initial and annual declarations under Article VI and V.A. Part IX

--Declarations of assistance under Article X, Para 7 (c)

B7       COMMUNICATION WITH THE OPCW                                                   4 hours

Develop a good knowledge of how to communicate with the OPCW including making use of databases at the OPCW which are available to States Parties.

--Data systems at the OPCW including compatibility requirements

--Ways and means of communicating with the OPCW

--Alternative structures for  communication systems of National Authorities

--Practical demonstration of database applications

B8       OPERATIONAL TASKS RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL               2 hours            COOPERATION, TRADE AND ASSISTANCE

Develop a fundamental understanding of the operational tasks relating to international cooperation, trade and assistance of a National Authority of a State Party.

--Obligations under Article X in addition to those in para 7 (c)

--Participation in the exchange of information

--Trade in chemicals and chemical production equipment

--Restrictions on trade in scheduled chemicals with States not Parties to the Convention under Verification Annex, Parts VI, VII and VIII

B9       DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON THE CWC                          2 hours

Develop an awareness of what is required for the effective dissemination of information on the CWC.

--Communication with government officials

--Communication with chemical industry

--Communication with media and the general public, including the OPCW media and public affairs policy

C.        VERIFICATION

C1       RECEIVING INSPECTIONS                                                                       6 hours

Develop a profound understanding of the rights and obligations of the National Authority in relation to inspections.

--State Party's rights and obligations

--Administrative arrangements to receive inspections (Verification Annex,

   Part II)

--Inspection team escorts

C2       THE INSPECTION PROCESS                                                                     8 hours

Develop a good understanding and knowledge of the inspection process.

--The scope of the verification

--CWC inspection requirements, including pre-inspection activities, conduct of inspections, and post-inspection activities

--Inspectors' rights and obligations

--Monitoring and sampling

--Practical demonstration of inspection equipment

--Provisions in the CWC for sampling

--Sampling equipment, methodologies and procedures

--Chain-of-custody protocols

--Sample handling, sealing, marking and packing

--Storage and transport of samples of toxic materials

--Analytical methods and instrumentation

--Accuracy and precision

C3       ARTICLE IX OF THE CONVENTION                                                      8 hours

Develop a basic understanding of:

(i)         clarification procedures

(ii)        challenge inspection

--Obligations with respect to requesting a challenge inspection

--The role of the Executive Council

--Pre-inspection activities, including perimeter determination

--Conduct of inspections

--Methods of managed access

--Post-inspection activities

--Role of the inspected State Party during the inspection process

--Observers in challenge inspections

C4       INVESTIGATIONS OF ALLEGED USE                                                   2 hours

Develop a basic understanding of investigations of alleged use, including the requirements for requesting an investigation under Article IX or X.

--Specific requirements

--The investigation process

--Procurement of assistance in case of use or threat of use of CW

C5       VERIFICATION SCENARIOS INVOLVING NATIONAL AUTHORITY  16 hours

            DECISION-MAKING

Develop a good understanding of how to apply the provisions of the Convention in decision-making in verification scenarios.

D.        INTRODUCTION TO CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND CHEMICAL DEFENCE

D1       INTRODUCTION TO CHEMICAL HAZARDS AND CW AGENTS     4-8 hours

Develop an understanding and knowledge of chemical hazards and CW agents, including the physiological and biochemical effects of chemicals on humans and the environment, and some basic elements of toxicology.

D2       INTRODUCTION TO  MONITORING, SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS            2 hours

Develop an understanding of the operation of basic detection and monitoring equipment and safety procedures.

--Methods of detection of CW agents

--Monitoring concepts

--Security and process monitoring equipment

D3       PERSONAL PROTECTION AND MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES 5 hours

Demonstrate a fundamental understanding and knowledge of personal protection in a toxic environment and of medical considerations associated with CW handling and exposure.

--Introduction to protection against toxic chemicals

--Individual Protective Equipment (IPE)

--Medical countermeasures

--Wearing IPE - practical exercises

D4       INTRODUCTION TO DECONTAMINATION AND CONTAMINATION    2 hours    CONTROL

Demonstrate a fundamental understanding and knowledge of decontamination and contamination control.

Total hours:

A. The CWC and the OPCW                                            9 - 12

B. National implementation                                                     46

C. Verification                                                             40

D. Introduction to CW and Chemical Defence                14 - 17

Total                                                                            109 - 115

- - - o - - -