Effective Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention

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National implementation of the CWC

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), entered into force on 29 April 1997. Between 1993 and 1996 a project team including participants from SIPRI, the University of Saskatchewan and the Johann Wolgang Goethe University in Frankfurt conducted a project on the national implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The project was funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.

The project brought together National Authorities and the chemical industry at a Conference in Bad Homburg, Germany between 8-10 September 1995 to share information and suggest solutions to problems related to implementation of the CWC.

Achieving a common understanding with industry and a harmonized approach to common problems is central for effective national implementation of the CWC. Mutual understanding helps national authorities to facilitate inspections and to collect the information that they need to make the detailed annual declaration regarding transfers required by the CWC.

How does the National Authority acquire the necessary information to demonstrate compliance with the basic obligations assumed by a State Party to the CWC? The OPCW has issued guidelines for industry declarations, but what are the problems related to collecting the required information from the chemical industry? How can a National Authority best cope with the issue of confidential business information at the national level?

Project Members

Dr Thomas Stock (Project Leader), SIPRI
Susanna Eckstein (Research Assistant), SIPRI
Professor Ronald G. Sutherland, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Thomas Kurzidem, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Germany
York von Lersner, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Germany

Project Results

The project produced a number of Factsheets on specific duties of a National Authority and on approaches to managing the essential engagement with industry.

The project produced several Country Case Studies illustrating how effective National Authorities could be established.

The project also published Conference Proceedings.

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Any reproduction of text and data is authorized only by permission, SIPRI May 2007.