Barbados Designates OPCW National Authority

Barbados has designated a focal point within the Ministry of the Environment, Water Resources and Drainage to assume the functions of CWC National Authority.

In compliance with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Barbados has informed the OPCW that it has designated a focal point within the Ministry of the Environment, Water Resources and Drainage to assume the functions of CWC National Authority.

A National Authority is crucial to ensuring the effective implementation of the Convention within each State Party’s national jurisdiction. Article VII, paragraph 4 of the CWC states: “In order to fulfil its obligations under this Convention, each State Party shall designate or establish a National Authority to serve as the national focal point for effective liaison with the Organization and other States Parties. Each State Party shall notify the Organization of its National Authority at the time that this Convention enters into force for it.”

The National Authority has the responsibility of implementing the provisions of the CWC at the national level. To meet its basic obligations each State Party must be able to submit all the required declarations, communicate with the OPCW, cooperate with other States Parties, facilitate OPCW inspections, respond to OPCW requests for assistance, protect the confidentiality of classified information, monitor and enforce national compliance, and cooperate in the peaceful uses of chemistry. States Parties are also obliged to declare and eliminate all chemical weapons stockpiles and production facilities they may possess. The National Authority plays an indispensable role in all of these activities.

As at 13 October 2009, 183 of the 188 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention have established or designated their National Authority.

OPCW NEWS 46/2009

Categories: Latin America and the Caribbean, National implementation