National Authorities Implementing the Chemical Weapons Ban Meet to Improve National Implementation and Cooperation

The Seventh Annual Meeting for the National Authorities that are implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was held at the Hague-based headquarters of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on 5 and 6 November 2005.

The Meeting was attended by 142 representatives from 92 Member States; the contracting State Party, Democratic Republic of the Congo, which will become the 175th OPCW Member State on 11 November 2005; and two States that have not as yet joined the Convention, Comoros and Djibouti to discuss the implementation of the Convention. The National Authority meeting served to facilitate the exchange of information and experience in the implementation of the Convention, and to promote cooperation among States Parties. The meeting also sought to identify priorities and the ways and means through which the States Parties and the Technical Secretariat can offer focussed assistance for better implementation of the Convention.

The meeting provided participants with an opportunity to share information on practical approaches to national implementation that have been adopted by international organisations with working relationships with the OPCW. The purpose of this information-sharing was to facilitate national implementation of various international treaties such as the Convention and others covering the regulation of chemical substances. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the United Nations Environmental Programme also participated in the meeting. Together, the OPCW and IUPAC are engaging the academic and professional communities to raise awareness of the chemical weapons ban. The OPCW is participating in UNEP training programmes for customs officials under the Green Customs Initiative.

In his opening address to the CWC National Authorities, OPCW Director General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, noted that “progress in the implementation of Article VII obligations has gained momentum under the Action Plan although much remains to be done. The Plan of Action identifies the steps that States Parties are to take to ensure appropriate implementation of the Convention; these include the designation or establishment of a National Authority, the enactment of legislation and the adoption of administrative measures needed in order to implement the Convention. Still today, only 79% of States Parties in Africa; 71% in Asia and 86% in Latin America notified the Technical Secretariat on the establishment of their National Authority, a basic national implementation measure to be taken by States Parties to implement the Convention. In addition, over 60% of our membership has yet to adopt legislation that covers all areas which are crucial to enforcement of the Convention”.

The Director-General further noted that “the Secretariat has responded to over one hundred official requests for assistance, including 65 technical assistance visits. In addition, States Parties have also offered assistance through technical assistance visits and support for awareness workshops and training courses, conducted at the request of Member States. Within the course of the two-year Action Plan, the number of legislative drafts under review has increased four times, rising from 36 to 152 submissions”. Director General Pfirter assured the participating National Authorities that the OPCW shall continue to support them through programmes that promote the exchange of experience and provide training through bilateral assistance visits, regional meetings and thematic workshops.

OPCW Member States are obliged to designate or establish a National Authority to implement the Convention effectively. The National Authority is responsible for submitting initial and annual declarations and other information as provided for in the Convention, escorting OPCW inspection teams to relevant facilities, providing assistance and protection for any Member State which suffer or threatened by a chemical attack, as well as fostering the peaceful uses of chemistry. The CWC National Authority acts as the focal point in the State Party's interaction with other States Parties and the OPCW's Technical Secretariat. As of 7 November 2005, 151 National Authorities have been established. In total, 157 States Parties have submitted initial declarations to the OPCW. In addition, 105 States Parties have submitted implementing legislation. Of that number, over half, or 59 States Parties have enacted comprehensive implementing legislation.

64/2005

Categories: National implementation