Preparatory Commission for the

PC-IX/B/WP.9

Organisation for the Prohibition

18 November 1994

of Chemical Weapons

Original:  ENGLISH
   

Ninth Session

(5 - 9 December 1994)

EXPERT GROUP ON SAFETY PROCEDURES

INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE DRAFT HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS

1.         Due to the unavailability of the Chairman of the Expert Group on Safety Procedures (Mr. Ray Fatz of the United States of America) and the incomplete state of the Health and Safety Regulations, informal consultations on the draft Health and Safety Regulations were held in the period previously allocated for the meeting of the Expert Group.  The consultations took place on 17 - 18 November 1994 under the chairmanship of Dr. Brian Davey of South Africa. 

2.         A draft version of the Health and Safety Regulations reflecting revisions effected by the Secretariat since the previous meeting of the Expert Group was distributed to interested delegations during the week of the consultations.  Delegations were requested to provide feedback on the document, with particular reference to its nature, structure, and general content.  It was pointed out that no delegations had provided further contributions for the draft Health and Safety Regulations since the previous meeting of the Expert Group.  Guidance and inputs provided by delegations during these consultations would assist the Secretariat in further elaboration of the document, with the objective of presenting a more complete draft to the next formal meeting of the Expert Group on Safety Procedures, expected to be scheduled for February 1995.

3.         A large number of editing corrections and suggestions for alternative text were made.  A further result of the consultations was a recommendation to establish a special Task Force to address technical issues regarding the medical treatment of persons exposed to chemical agents.  A list of potential tasks for this Task Force is available from the Secretariat.  The first meeting of this Task Force should ideally take place directly before the next meeting of the Expert Group on Safety Procedures.

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