The Netherlands Host OPCW Challenge Inspection Exercise

The Kingdom of the Netherlands hosted a challenge inspection exercise from 10 to 14 September 2007 at a commercial chemical facility of DSM in Delft, The Netherlands. The purpose of the exercise was to test readiness of an international Inspection Team from the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the conduct of a Challenge Inspection. The Netherlands participated in the exercise with personnel from the Dutch Customs (Team POSS), the Dutch National Authority for the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Dutch Permanent Representation to the OPCW and the Ministry of Defence.

Through the support and cooperation of DSM Gist Delft, it was possible to conduct a challenge exercise on the premises of an operating chemical industrial plant.

Moreover, States Party representatives were invited to observe certain elements of the exercise in order to obtain a first-hand impression of the OPCW Technical Secretariat’s readiness to conduct this type of inspection. Seven specially invited observers were able to follow the exercise at close range as well.

The OPCW implements the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) , which under Article IX foresees that each State Party has the right to request an on-site challenge inspection of any facility or location in the territory or in any other place under the jurisdiction or control of any other State Party for the sole purpose of clarifying and resolving any questions concerning possible non-compliance with the provisions of this Convention, and to have this inspection conducted anywhere without delay by an inspection team designated by the OPCW Director-General and in accordance with the CWC Verification Annex.

The OPCW Technical Secretariat conducts and participates in challenge inspection exercises to maintain its readiness to respond swiftly and effectively should such a request be submitted by any of the 182 OPCW Member States. This flows from the provisions of the Convention and the first CWC Review Conference in 2003, during which the States Parties noted the value of challenge inspection exercises for both States Parties and the OPCW Technical Secretariat. The First Review Conference also requested the Technical Secretariat to continue maintaining a high standard of readiness to conduct a challenge inspection in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.

In total, twenty-eight international inspectors from the OPCW were deployed in the exercise, arriving at Delft, the simulated point of entry, on Monday, 10 September 2007. As per the exercise scenario, the OPCW inspection team was mandated to gather facts related to the compliance concerns that were cited in the request for Challenge Inspection that was developed for the purpose of the exercise.

During the exercise, the OPCW inspectors followed the standard procedures and employed the equipment that would normally be deployed during a challenge inspection, including a mobile laboratory to conduct chemical analysis of swipe and soil samples. OPCW Inspectors conducted a variety of different activities, including monitoring the agreed perimeter, carrying out interviews, reviewing records, physical inspection of the site and report writing.

Member State observers had an opportunity to follow the course of the inspection. On 14 September 2007, the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter and the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Ambassador, Maarten Lak, and Member State observers received on-site detailed briefings from the OPCW Inspection Team and the National Authority of the Netherlands, and observed the final meeting concluding the exercise inspection activities.

PR96 / 2007

Categories: Non-proliferation of chemical weapons, Western Europe and Other States