An Act relating to the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling or use of chemical weapons and the control of certain chemicals capable of being used as chemical weapons, and related provisions

Part 1—Preliminary

1 Short title [see Note 1]

This Act may be cited as the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1994.

2 Commencement [see Note 1]

(1) Sections 1 and 2 commence on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the remaining provisions of this Act commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), if a provision referred to in subsection (2) does not commence on an earlier day, that provision commences on the day on which the Convention enters into force.

(4) Despite the fact that the provisions of Part 5 are proclaimed to commence at an earlier time, the provisions of that Part, in so far as they permit international compliance inspections of OCP facilities, do not operate until a date:

(a) that is proclaimed for the purpose of this subsection; and

(b) that is not earlier than the third anniversary of the day on which the Convention enters into force.

3 Object of Act

The object of this Act is to give effect to certain obligations that Australia has as a party to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction.

4 Extension to external Territories

This Act extends to the external Territories.

5 Extra‑territorial operation of Act

(1) This Act extends to acts done or omitted to be done by an Australian citizen outside Australia and the external Territories or to acts done on board Australian ships and aircraft.

(2) In subsection (1):

Australian ships and aircraft means ships and aircraft registered in Australia or belonging to, or in the possession of, the Commonwealth or a State.

6 Act binds the Crown

(1) This Act binds the Crown in all its capacities.

(2) Nothing in this Act renders the Crown liable to be prosecuted for an offence.

7 Definitions

(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

challenge inspection means an inspection declared by the Minister to be a challenge inspection under section 47 and carried out under Division 3 of Part 5.

challenge inspection site means a site that is declared by the Minister to be a challenge inspection site.

Chemical Weapons Convention Office means the Office referred to in section 88.

constable means a member or special member of the Australian Federal Police or a member of the police force of a State or Territory.

consumption facility means a facility:

(a) that is covered by a permit required under subsection 16(1) and designated in the permit as a consumption facility; or

(b) that was so covered and designated but is now covered by a notification required under subsection 28(1).

Controller means the Controller of Permits and Notifications referred to in section 90.

Convention means the Convention (including the annexes to the Convention) a copy of the English text of which is set out in the Schedule, as amended by any amendment to the Convention that is accepted by Australia and a copy of the English text of which is set out in the regulations.

data storage device means any article or material (for example, a disk) from which information is capable of being reproduced with or without the aid of any other article or device.

declared facility means:

(a) in a provision of the Act other than a provision relating to an international compliance inspection—a Schedule 1, 2 or 3 facility or an OCP facility; and

(b) in a provision of the Act relating to an international compliance inspection—a Schedule 1 facility, a facility referred to in section 40 or 41, or an OCP facility.

Director means the Director of the Chemical Weapons Convention Office referred to in section 86.

facility means a particular plant site comprising one or more plants.

facility agreement, in respect of a particular facility, means an agreement or arrangement entered into under section 76 between the Minister, on behalf of Australia, and the Organization setting out detailed inspection procedures to be followed in respect of an international compliance inspection, or a challenge inspection, of that facility:

(a) at which the production, acquisition, retention or use, or from which the transfer, of a Schedule 1 chemical takes place; or

(b) at which the production, processing or consumption of a Schedule 2 chemical takes place; or

foreign country inspector means a person declared to be a foreign country inspector by the Minister under section 49.

inspection team means the national inspector and any person assisting the national inspector.

international compliance inspection means an inspection carried out under Division 2 of Part 5.

national inspector means the Director or person holding an appointment as a national inspector under section 92.

non State Party means a State that is not a signatory to the Convention.

notification, in relation to a facility and a year, means a notification to the Director required under section 28 in relation to that facility and that year.

notification year means:

(a) in relation to a Schedule 1, 2 or 3 facility—the year when a permit that is, was or would have been in force, gives rise to the obligation to notify; or

(b) in relation to an OCP facility—the year when the level of production gives rise to the obligation to notify.

observer means a person declared by the Minister to be an observer under section 48.

occupier, in relation to a declared facility, challenge inspection site or other premises, includes a person present at the facility, site or premises who apparently represents the occupier.

OCP facility means a facility covered by a notification required under subsection 28(6).

operator, in relation to a facility, means the person having ultimate responsibility, as distinct from day‑to‑day management, in relation to operations carried on at the facility and includes the legal personal representative, administrator and other successor in title of that person.

Organization means the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons established under the Convention.

Organization inspector means a person declared by the Minister to be an Organization inspector under section 100.

permit means a permit granted under section 18 and includes such a permit as renewed under section 19A or 20.

permit year, in relation to a Schedule 1, 2 or 3 facility, means a year during which a permit is in force in respect of that facility.

person assisting the national inspector, in relation to the execution of a warrant:

(a) means a person authorised by the national inspector to assist in the execution of the warrant; and

(b) if the inspection is conducted under Division 2 or 3 of Part 5—includes an Organization inspector or a foreign country inspector accompanying the national inspector.

premises includes a place and a conveyance.

protective facility means a facility (if any):

(a) that is covered by a permit required under subsection 16(1) and designated in the permit as a protective facility; or

(b) that was so covered and designated but is now covered by a notification required under subsection 28(1).

research facility means a facility:

(a) that is covered by a permit required under subsection 16(1) and designated in the permit as a research facility; or

(b) that was so covered and designated but is now covered by a notification required under subsection 28(1).

Schedule 1 chemical means a chemical listed in Schedule 1 to the Convention.

Schedule 1 facility means:

(a) a single small‑scale facility; or

(b) a protective facility; or

(d) a consumption facility.

Schedule 2 chemical means a chemical listed in Schedule 2 to the Convention.

Schedule 2 facility means a facility covered by a permit required under subsection 16(2) or a notification required under subsection 28(2).

Schedule 2 permit threshold, in relation to a Schedule 2 chemical, means:

(a) if the chemical is listed in Part A of Schedule 2 to the Convention and designated with an “*”—1 kilogram; or

(b) if the chemical is listed in Part A of Schedule 2 to the Convention but is not designated with an “*”—100 kilograms; or

Schedule 3 chemical means a chemical listed in Schedule 3 to the Convention.

Schedule 3 facility means a facility covered by a permit required under subsection 16(3) or a notification required under subsection 28(4).

scheduled chemical means a chemical that is listed in Schedule 1, 2 or 3 to the Convention.

single small‑scale facility means a small‑scale facility (if any):

(a) that is covered by a permit required under subsection 16(1) and designated in the permit as a single small‑scale facility; or

(b) that was so covered and designated but is now covered by a notification required under subsection 28(1).

State Party means a State that is a signatory to the Convention.

unscheduled discrete organic chemical means a discrete organic chemical not listed in Schedule 1, 2 or 3 to the Convention.

vehicle includes a hovercraft.

vessel means a ship, boat, raft or pontoon or any other thing capable of carrying persons or goods through water, but does not include a hovercraft.

(2) Unless the contrary intention appears, an expression that is used both in this Act and in the Convention but is not defined in subsection (1) (whether or not a particular meaning is assigned to it by the Convention) has, in this Act, the same meaning as in the Convention.

8 Approved forms and approved procedures

(1) In this Act, a reference to an approved form or to an approved procedure is a reference to a form that is approved, or to a procedure that is approved, by written instrument, by the Director.

(2) The instrument by which a form or procedure is approved under subsection (1) is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of section 46A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

8A Electronic lodgment

The Director may require or permit an application, notice or report that is to be given to the Controller or Director for the purposes of this Act to be given, in accordance with specified software requirements and specified authentication requirements:

(a) on a specified kind of data storage device; or

(b) by way of a specified kind of electronic transmission.

8B Regulations may define consumption, processing and production of chemicals

(1) For the purposes of this Act, the regulations may provide that consumption, in relation to a specified chemical, has the meaning prescribed by the regulations.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, the regulations may provide that processing, in relation to a specified chemical, has the meaning prescribed by the regulations.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, the regulations may provide that production, in relation to a specified chemical, has the meaning prescribed by the regulations.

Note: For specification by class, see section 46 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

9 Conduct by directors, servants and agents

(1) If, in a proceeding under this Act in respect of conduct engaged in by a body corporate, it is necessary to establish the state of mind of the body corporate in relation to particular conduct, it is sufficient to show:

(a) that the conduct was engaged in by a director, servant or agent of the body corporate within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and

(b) that the director, servant or agent had the state of mind.

(2) Conduct engaged in on behalf of a body corporate:

(a) by a director, servant or agent of the body corporate within the scope of the person’s actual or apparent authority; or

(b) by any other person at the direction or with the consent or agreement (whether express or implied) of a director, servant or agent of the body corporate, if the giving of the direction, consent or agreement is within the scope of the actual or apparent authority of the director, servant or agent;

is taken, for the purposes of this Act, to have been engaged in also by the body corporate unless the body corporate establishes that the body corporate took reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to avoid the conduct.

(3) If, in a proceeding under this Act in respect of conduct engaged in by an individual, it is necessary to establish the state of mind of the individual, it is sufficient to show:

(a) that the conduct was engaged in by a servant or agent of the person within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and

(b) that the servant or agent had the relevant state of mind.

(4) Conduct engaged in on behalf of an individual:

(a) by a servant or agent of the person within the scope of the actual or apparent authority of the servant or agent; or

(b) by any other person at the direction or with the consent or agreement (whether express or implied) of a servant or agent of the individual, if the giving of the direction, consent or agreement is within the scope of the actual or apparent authority of the servant or agent;

is taken, for the purposes of this Act, to have been engaged in also by that individual unless that individual establishes that he or she took reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to avoid the conduct.

(5) If:

(a) an individual is convicted of an offence; and

(b) the individual would not have been convicted of the offence if subsections (3) and (4) had not been enacted;

the individual is not liable to be punished by imprisonment for that offence.

(6) A reference in subsection (1) or (3) to the state of mind of a person includes a reference to:

(a) the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person; and

(b) the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose.

(7) A reference in this section to a director of a body corporate includes a reference to a constituent member of a body corporate incorporated for a public purpose by a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

(8) A reference in this section to engaging in conduct includes a reference to failing or refusing to engage in conduct.

10 Determining aggregate amounts of chemicals

(1) In determining:

(a) the total amount of Schedule 1 chemicals that will be, or were, produced, acquired, retained or used at, or transferred from, a facility; or

(b) the total amount of Schedule 2 chemicals that will be, or were, produced, processed or consumed, at a facility;

any amount of such a chemical that is, or was, subjected to more than one of those activities at that facility is to be counted once only.

(2) In determining the amount of Schedule 1 chemicals that are produced, acquired, retained or used at, or transferred from, Schedule 1 facilities during a year, an amount of such a chemical that is subjected to any of those activities at more than one Schedule 1 facility during a year is to be counted once only.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, the regulations may prescribe the method for working out the total amount of a specified Schedule 1 chemical that is produced, acquired, retained or used at, or transferred from, a facility during a year.

(4) For the purposes of this Act, the regulations may prescribe the method for working out the total amount of a specified Schedule 2 chemical that is produced, processed or consumed at a plant comprising, or comprising part of, a facility during a year.

(5) For the purposes of this Act, the regulations may prescribe the method for working out the total amount of a specified Schedule 3 chemical that is produced at a plant comprising, or comprising part of, a facility during a year.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph 28(6)(a), the regulations may prescribe the method for working out the total amount of unscheduled discrete organic chemicals produced at a facility during a year.

(7) For the purposes of paragraph 28(6)(b), the regulations may prescribe the method for working out the total amount of a specified unscheduled discrete organic chemical that is produced at a plant comprising, or comprising part of, a facility during a year.

(8) A method prescribed under this section may involve disregarding a chemical when produced at or below a specified concentration.

(9) Subsection (8) does not limit subsection (3), (4), (5), (6) or (7).

Note: For specification by class, see section 46 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

11 Application of Act

(1) The provisions of this Act have effect in relation to all chemical weapons, all scheduled chemicals and all unscheduled discrete organic chemicals.

(2) Without prejudice to their effect because of subsection (1), the provisions of this Act have effect in relation to chemical weapons, scheduled chemicals and unscheduled discrete organic chemicals:

(a) to the extent that the production of which, or the dealing with which, needs to be prevented or regulated to give effect to Australia’s obligations as a party to the Convention; or

(b) that are owned by, or in the possession or control of, the Commonwealth, or of an authority or instrumentality of the Commonwealth; or

(d) that are owned by, or in the possession or control of, a trading corporation or a foreign corporation; or

(e) that are situated in a Territory or owned by or in the possession or control of:

(i) a resident of a Territory; or

(ii) a corporation established by or under a law of a Territory; or

(f) that are in the course of trade or commerce:

(i) between Australia and places outside Australia; or

(ii) among the States; or

(iii) within a Territory, between a State and a Territory or between 2 Territories.

(3) Without prejudice to their effect because of subsection (2), the provisions of this Act have effect in relation to chemical weapons, scheduled chemicals or unscheduled discrete organic chemicals that are owned by, or are in the possession or control of, a trading corporation in the course of the trading activities of the trading corporation.

(4) In this section:

foreign corporation has the same meaning as in paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution.

trading corporation means a trading corporation, within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution, formed within the limits of the Commonwealth.

11A Application of the Criminal Code

Chapter 2 (other than Part 2.5) of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against this Act.

Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.

Part 2—Offences relating to chemical weapons

12 Offences relating to chemical weapons

A person must not intentionally:

(a) develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons; or

(b) transfer, directly or indirectly, chemical weapons to another person; or

(d) engage in any military preparations to use chemical weapons; or

(e) assist, encourage or induce, in any way, another person to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under the Convention; or

(f) use riot control agents as a method of warfare.

Penalty: Imprisonment for life.

13 Notification of finding of substances or articles believed to be chemical weapons

(1) If a person finds a substance or article, whether in Australia or an external Territory, or on, or in the seas above, the continental shelf adjacent to Australia or an external territory, that the person believes may be a chemical weapon, the person must immediately notify:

(a) the Director; or

(b) a constable;

of the finding, and of the whereabouts, of the substance or article concerned.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 1 year.

(2) If the person notifies a constable, it is the responsibility of the constable to notify the Director of the matter notified to the constable.

14 Forfeiture and seizure of chemical weapons

(1) If any chemical weapon is developed, produced, otherwise acquired, stockpiled, retained or transferred in contravention of section 12, the weapon is forfeited to the Commonwealth.

(2) A constable may, without warrant, seize any substance or article (including a substance or article notified to the Director or a constable under section 13) which is forfeited or which the constable has reasonable grounds to believe is forfeited to the Commonwealth as a chemical weapon under subsection (1), and take it before a court of summary jurisdiction.

(3) If articles are taken before a court of summary jurisdiction under subsection (2), the court must inquire into the matter and:

(a) if the court is satisfied that the substance or article is forfeited—must order that the substance or article be condemned; or

(b) if the court is not so satisfied—must order that the substance or article be delivered to such person as the court is satisfied is entitled to the substance or article.

(4) A court of summary jurisdiction may, before inquiring into a matter in accordance with subsection (3), require notice of the inquiry to be given to such persons as the court thinks fit.

(5) If any prosecution is pending, an order for the condemnation or the delivery to a person of a substance or article relating to the prosecution must not be made until the prosecution is determined.

(6) A substance or article seized under subsection (2) must be stored in accordance with the approved procedures until an order is made under subsection (3).

(7) A condemned chemical weapon must be destroyed or otherwise dealt with in accordance with approved procedures as soon as practicable after it is determined that it is condemned.

(8) Until it is so destroyed or otherwise dealt with, a condemned chemical weapon must be stored in accordance with approved procedures.

Part 3—Permits and notifications concerning certain facilities

15 Outline of this Part

(1) The purpose of this Part is to ensure that the Director has knowledge of dealings with chemicals that facilitate the making of Australia’s periodic declarations under the Convention.

(2) Division 1 deals with the grant, and renewal, of permits for persons who anticipate producing or otherwise dealing with scheduled chemicals in quantities such that the production or dealing needs to be part of the declaration process. The Division does not deal with persons in their production or other dealing with unscheduled discrete organic chemicals.

(3) Division 2 sets up a notification system to ensure that the Minister is informed of the production or other dealing with unscheduled discrete organic chemicals during the previous year in quantities such that that production or dealing needs to be part of the declaration process. The notification requirements also extend to notification in circumstances where a permit under Division 1 was in force in respect of a particular year, but the permit will not be in force in respect of the next year.

Division 1—Permits

16 When is a permit required?

(1) The operator of a facility requires a permit under this subsection to operate the facility during a particular year if Schedule 1 chemicals (other than excluded Schedule 1 chemicals) are likely to be produced, acquired, retained or used at, or transferred from, the facility during the year.

(2) The operator of a facility requires a permit under this subsection to operate the facility during a particular year if an amount of Schedule 2 chemical exceeding, in the aggregate, the Schedule 2 permit threshold for that chemical is likely to be produced, processed or consumed at a plant comprising, or comprising part of, the facility during the year.

(3) The operator of a facility requires a permit under this subsection to operate the facility during a particular year if an amount of a Schedule 3 chemical exceeding, in the aggregate, 30 tonnes of that chemical is likely to be produced at a plant comprising, or comprising part of, the facility during the year.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1), Schedule 1 chemicals are excluded chemicals in relation to a facility and to a year if:

(a) the total amount of those chemicals likely to be acquired, retained or used at, or transferred from, the facility during the year does not exceed 100 grams; and

(b) Schedule 1 chemicals will not be produced at the facility during that year; and

(5) A reference in this section to a year during which chemicals will be produced, acquired, retained or otherwise dealt with (however that dealing is described) includes a reference to a year that occurs in part before the day on which this section commences.

17 Applications for permits

(1) A person who requires a permit must apply to the Minister for a permit under subsection 18(1) to operate a facility during a year by giving to the Controller, by such day as is prescribed, an application, in the approved form, containing such information as is required by the form. A failure to apply by that day does not affect the validity of the application.

Note: However, if a person fails to apply by that day, the Director may name the person in the annual report: see section 96.

(2) The Controller may, by written notice, request an applicant to give the Controller additional information within a period specified in the notice.

(3) If the applicant does not give the Controller the additional information within the period specified in the notice, the application is taken to have been withdrawn.

(4) If the Controller is satisfied with the information (including any additional information) given by an applicant, the Controller must give a report to the Minister that includes the Controller’s recommendation as to whether the permit should be granted.

18 Grant of permits

(1) Subject to section 19, after considering the Controller’s report, the Minister may, by written notice given to the applicant, grant, or refuse to grant, the applicant a permit to operate the facility during the year to which the application relates.

(2) A permit is to be granted in respect of one year only, but may be automatically renewed under section 19A.

(3) A permit comes into force:

(a) on the day it is granted; or

(b) on such earlier day as the Minister specifies in the permit; or

and remains in force until the end of the year in respect of which it is granted.

(4) A permit must set out the effect of section 19A.

(5) A permit is granted subject to such conditions as the Minister specifies in the permit.

(6) If a permit in respect of the operation of a facility during a year is granted after the commencement of the year and the permit is granted subject to conditions, those conditions only apply in respect of the operation of the facility after the grant of the permit.

(7) This section does not prevent more than one permit being granted in respect of a facility other than a Schedule 1 facility.

(8) The grant to a person of a permit does not make it lawful for the person to do an act that, apart from this Act, is unlawful under another law of the Commonwealth or under a law of a State or Territory.

19 Special considerations relating to permits for the operation of facilities in respect of Schedule 1 chemicals

(1) If a person makes application for a permit to operate a facility so far as concerns the production, acquisition, retention or use of Schedule 1 chemicals at the facility, or the transfer of Schedule 1 chemicals from the facility, that permit may, if it authorises production, and whether or not it authorises any other of those activities, differ according to:

(a) the quantity of the chemicals intended to be produced; and

(b) the purposes for which all the chemicals to which the permit will relate are to be applied.

(2) A permit to operate a facility during a year in respect of Schedule 1 chemicals must not be granted unless the chemicals concerned are to be applied for research, medical, pharmaceutical or protective purposes.

(3) A permit to operate a facility:

(a) if it authorises the production of more than 10 kilograms of Schedule 1 chemicals may only; and

(b) if it authorises the production of a lesser amount of Schedule 1 chemicals may;

be granted in respect of the facility to be designated in the permit as the single small‑scale facility.

(4) A permit to operate a facility:

(a) if it authorises the production during a year of less than 10 kilograms of Schedule 1 chemicals; and

(b) all the chemicals to which the permit relates are to be applied for protective purposes;

may be granted in respect of the facility to be designated in the permit as the single protective facility.

(5) A permit to operate a facility:

(a) if it authorises the production during a year of less than 10 kilograms of Schedule 1 chemicals; and

(b) all the chemicals to which the permit relates are to be applied for research, medical or pharmaceutical purposes;

may be granted in respect of the facility to be designated in the permit as a research facility.

(6) A permit to operate a facility:

(a) if it does not authorise the production at the facility, during a year, of any Schedule 1 chemical; and

(b) if it authorises the acquisition, retention or use at, or transfer from, the facility during that year, of more than 100 grams of Schedule 1 chemicals;

may be granted in respect of the facility to be designated as a consumption facility.

(7) The fact that a facility may be designated in a particular manner does not require it to be so designated.

(8) A facility must not be designated in a permit as a single small‑scale facility unless:

(a) production is to be carried out in reaction vessels in production lines not configured for continuous operation; and

(b) the volume of any reaction vessel is not more than 100 litres; and

(9) The Minister must not grant more than one permit to operate a facility designated as the single small‑scale facility.

(10) The Minister must not grant more than one permit to operate a facility designated as the single protective facility.

(11) The Minister may grant permits to operate more than one facility designated under subsection (5) as a research facility or designated under subsection (13) as a consumption facility.

(12) The Minister must not grant permits such that the total amount of Schedule 1 chemicals produced, acquired, retained or used at, or transferred from, all Schedule 1 facilities during a year is, or could be, more than one tonne.

(13) The Minister must not grant permits such that the total amount of Schedule 1 chemicals produced, acquired, retained or used at, or transferred from, all Schedule 1 facilities at any time exceeds one tonne.

19A Automatic renewal of permits

(1) If a permit is in force immediately before the end of a particular year because:

(a) the permit was granted under section 18 in respect of that year; or

(b) the permit was renewed under section 20 in respect of that year;

the permit is taken to be renewed in respect of each of the next 4 years.

(2) The permit is renewed subject to the conditions attaching to the permit before renewal.

20 Non‑automatic renewal of permits

(1) A holder of a permit that was renewed for 4 years under section 19A may, by such day as is prescribed, apply to the Minister for the renewal of the permit in respect of the year (the eligible year) following the last of those 4 years.

(1A) An application under subsection (1) is to be made by giving the Controller a renewal application, in the approved form, containing such information as is required by the form.

(1B) A failure to apply by the day prescribed for the purposes of subsection (1) does not affect the validity of the application.

Note: However, if a person fails to apply by that day, the Director may name the person in the annual report: see section 96.

(2) The Controller may, by written notice, request the permit holder to give the Controller additional information within a period specified in the notice.

(3) If the permit holder does not give the Controller the additional information within the period specified in the notice, the application is taken to have been withdrawn.

(4) If the Controller is satisfied with the information (including any additional information) given by the permit holder, the Controller must give a report to the Minister that includes the Controller’s recommendation as to whether the permit should be renewed.

(5) After considering the Controller’s report the Minister may, by written notice given to the permit holder, renew, or refuse to renew, the permit in respect of the eligible year.

(6) A permit renewed under subsection (5) is renewed subject to the conditions attaching to the permit before renewal or to such other conditions as the Minister specifies in the permit.

21 Renewals not able to be dealt with within time

(1) If:

(a) a person makes an application for renewal of a permit; but

(b) the application has not been finally determined before the start of the year to which it relates;

this Act has effect, until the application is determined, as if the permit had been renewed under subsection 20(5).

(2) If a permit that is treated as having been renewed is actually renewed under subsection 20(5), the renewed permit is taken to have been in force for the whole of the year to which it relates.

22 Conditions relating to a permit facility

The conditions to which a permit to operate a facility may be expressed to be subject include, but are not limited to, the operator of a facility must:

(a) comply with the terms of any facility agreement in force in respect of that facility; and

(b) if the facility is a Schedule 1 facility—ensure that there is no transfer of a Schedule 1 chemical to a non State Party; and

(c) if the facility is a Schedule 2 facility—ensure that there is no transfer of a Schedule 2 chemical to a non State Party; and

(d) ensure that any limitations required by the Convention on the transfer of a Schedule 3 chemical to a non State Party are complied with; and

(e) comply with such other conditions, consistent with Australia’s obligations under the Convention, as are set out in the permit.

23 Variation of permits

(1) Subject to subsection 27(1), the Minister may, by written notice, vary a permit.

(2) A variation to a permit takes effect on the day on which the notice of the variation is given to the permit holder under subsection 26(2) or such later day as is specified in the instrument of variation.

24 Transfer of permits

(1) If:

(a) because the ownership of a facility is to be transferred; or

(b) for any other reason;

a person other than the permit holder in relation to a facility will become the operator of that facility, that person may make application to the Minister for the transfer to that person of the permit by giving the Controller an application, in the approved form, containing such information as is required by the form.

(2) The Controller may, by written notice, request the applicant for transfer to give the Controller additional information within a period specified in the notice.

(3) If the applicant does not give the Controller the additional information within the period specified in the notice, the application for transfer is taken to have been withdrawn.

(4) If the Controller is satisfied with the application (including any additional information) given by the applicant, the Controller must give a report to the Minister that includes the Controller’s recommendation as to whether the permit should be transferred.

(5) After considering the Controller’s report, the Minister may, by written notice given to the applicant, grant, or refuse to grant, the application for transfer.

(6) If the Minister agrees to transfer the permit to that person:

(a) this Act has effect as if all dealings with chemicals by the previous permit holder were dealings with chemicals by the new permit holder; but

(b) nothing in paragraph (a) implies that any breach of the Act or of the regulations, or of the conditions of the permit, by the previous permit holder will be taken to be a breach of the Act or of the regulations, or of the conditions of the permit, by the new permit holder.

24A Transfer of permits—notification by previous permit holder

(1) If:

(a) because the ownership of a facility is to be transferred; or

(b) for any other reason;

the permit holder in relation to a facility will no longer be the operator of that facility, the permit holder must notify the Minister of that fact by giving the Controller notice in the approved form containing such information as is required by the form.

(2) The obligation imposed on the permit holder by subsection (1) is taken to be a condition of the permit.

25 Revocation of permits

(1) The Minister may, in writing, revoke a permit if the permit holder, or any person acting on the permit holder’s behalf:

(a) is convicted of an offence against this Act or the regulations made under this Act; or

(b) is convicted of an offence against the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations so far as the exportation of a scheduled chemical is concerned; or

(c) is convicted of an offence against the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations so far as the importation of a scheduled chemical is concerned; or

(d) contravenes a condition subject to which the permit is granted or renewed.

(2) Subsection (1) extends to a conviction or contravention because of an act to which subsection 5(1) refers.

(3) The Minister must revoke a permit granted if the permit holder asks the Minister, in writing, to do so.

(4) The revocation of a permit under this section takes effect:

(a) if the permit is revoked under subsection (1)—on the day on which the notice of the revocation is given to the holder of the permit under subsection 26(1) or such later day as is specified in the instrument of revocation; or

(b) if the permit is revoked under subsection (3)—on the day on which the instrument of revocation is made or on such later day as is specified in that instrument.

26 Notice of certain decisions

(1) This section applies if the Minister makes:

(a) a decision under subsection 18(1) refusing to grant a permit; or

(aa) a decision under subsection 18(3) to specify, or not to specify, the day a permit comes into force; or

(b) a decision under section 20 refusing to renew a permit; or

(d) a decision under section 23 varying a permit; or

(e) a decision under section 24 refusing to transfer a permit; or

(f) a decision under section 25 revoking a permit.

(2) The Minister must, not later than 30 days after the day on which the decision is made, give written notice of the decision, and of the reasons for the decision:

(a) if paragraph (1)(a) applies—to the person who applied for the grant of the permit; or

(b) if paragraph (1)(e) applies—to the person who applied for the transfer of the permit; or

(3) A notice under subsection (2) must include a statement to the effect that, subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, application may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision to which the notice relates by or on behalf of a person whose interests are affected by the decision.

(4) A failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (2) in relation to a decision does not affect the validity of the decision.

27 Review of decisions

(1) An application may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of a decision covered by subsection 26(1).

(2) In this section:

decision has the same meaning as in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975.

Division 2—Notifications

28 When is a notification required?

(1) The operator of a facility must notify the facility to the Minister under this subsection if a permit to operate the facility during a particular year is or was held in accordance with a requirement of subsection 16(1) but no such permit will be in force in respect of the next year.

(2) The operator of a facility must notify the facility to the Minister under this subsection if:

(a) a permit to operate the facility during a particular year is or was held in accordance with a requirement of subsection 16(2) but no such permit will be in force in respect of the next year; or

(b) subsection (3) applies in respect of that facility.

(3) This subsection applies in respect of a facility if:

(a) a permit is not required under subsection 16(2) to operate the facility during the year in which this section commences; but

(b) such a permit would have been required under that subsection to operate the facility during any one or more of the 3 years before that year if this Act had been in force at the time.

(4) The operator of a facility must notify the facility to the Minister under this subsection if:

(a) a permit to operate the facility during a particular year is or was held in respect of the facility in accordance with a requirement of subsection 16(3) but no such permit will be in force in respect of the next year; or

(b) subsection (5) applies in respect of that facility.

(5) This subsection applies in respect of a facility if:

(a) a permit is not required under subsection 16(3) to operate that facility during the year in which this section commences; and

(b) such a permit would have been required under that subsection to operate the facility during the year before that year if this legislation had been in force at the time.

(6) The operator of a facility must notify the facility to the Minister if either:

(a) the amount of unscheduled discrete organic chemicals produced at the facility during the year before the notification (whether that year ended before or after this section commences) was more than 200 tonnes; or

(b) the amount of a particular unscheduled discrete organic chemical:

(i) that was produced at a plant comprising, or comprising part of, the facility during that year; and

(ii) that contained one or more of the elements phosphorus, sulphur or fluorine;

was more than 30 tonnes.

(7) Subsection (6) does not apply if the facility was, in the year before the year in which it is notified, producing hydrocarbons or explosives in a manner specified in the regulations.

(8) In this section:

explosive has the meaning prescribed by the regulations.

hydrocarbon has the meaning prescribed by the regulations.

29 Making notifications required under section 28

(1) A person must notify a facility referred to in section 28 to the Minister, in the circumstances required by that section, by giving the Controller notice in the approved form relating to that facility containing such information as is required by the form.

(2) A notification must be given by such day as is prescribed.

(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person refuses or fails to do an act; and

(b) the refusal or failure causes a contravention of subsection (1) or (2).

Penalty: Imprisonment for 1 year.

(3A) Subsection (3) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.

Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (3A). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.

Part 4—Record keeping and information gathering

30 Record keeping obligations in relation to certain facilities

(1) This section applies to a facility if there is or was a permit to operate the facility during a particular year.

(2) The operator of a facility to which this section applies must:

(a) give the Director, by such day as is prescribed, a report in the approved form containing such information as is required by the form in relation to:

(i) the location, ownership and operation of the facility during the particular year; and

(ii) the plant or plants comprising, or comprising part of, the facility during a particular year; and

(iii) the chemicals dealt with at that facility during that particular year; and

(iv) the purposes to which those chemicals are put; and

(v) such other matters relevant to a declaration required to be given by Australia to the Organization under the Convention as are prescribed; and

(b) keep such records in relation to the facility, plants, the chemicals referred to in paragraph (a), as are required by the regulations; and

(c) prepare and give to the Director from those records, in such circumstances, and by such day, as is prescribed, a periodic report in the approved form containing such information as is required by the form; and

(d) prepare and give to the Director from those records, in such circumstances, and by such day, as is prescribed, a special report in the approved form containing such information as is required by the form.

(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person refuses or fails to do an act; and

(b) the refusal or failure causes a contravention of subsection (2).

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

(3A) Subsection (3) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.

Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (3A). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.

(4) The regulations relating to the keeping of records referred to in paragraph (2)(b) may include, but are not limited to, regulations relating to:

(a) the form and content of such records; and

(b) the period for which such records are to be kept.

31 Director may seek information for declarations and consultation purposes

(1) This section applies if the Director thinks that a person, including the operator of a facility to which section 30 applies, is capable of giving information that is relevant to a declaration required to be given by Australia to the Organization under the Convention.

(2) The Director may, by written notice given to the person, require the person to give such information to the Director:

(a) if the person is a natural person—by writing signed by the person; or

(b) if the person is a body corporate—by writing signed by an officer authorised to sign on behalf of the body corporate;

within such reasonable period and in such manner as is specified in the notice.

(3) The Director may, by written notice given to a person, require the person to give to the Director particular documents, or documents of a particular kind, specified in the notice, within such reasonable period as is specified in the notice.

(4) A person must comply with a notice given to the person under this section.

(4A) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person refuses or fails to do an act; and

(b) the refusal or failure causes a contravention of subsection (4).

Penalty: Imprisonment for 1 year.

(4B) Subsection (4A) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.

Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (4B). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.

(4C) Subsection (4A) does not apply to the extent that the person is not capable of complying with the notice.

Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (4C). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.

(5) The power of the Director under this section to require a person to give information or documents to the Director is in addition to:

(a) any obligation to give information or documents that the person may have under section 30; or

(b) any other power the Director has under this Act to require the person to give information or documents.

Part 5—Verification procedures

32 Outline of this Part

(1) Divisions 1, 5 and 6 ensure compliance with the Act through compliance inspections by national inspectors and offence‑related searches and seizures.

(2) Divisions 2, 3 and 7 facilitate routine international compliance inspections and challenge inspections by Organization inspectors in accordance with the Convention.

(3) Division 4 provides for warrants relating to compliance inspections, international compliance inspections and challenge inspections where consent entry is refused.

(4) Division 8:

(a) requires the Minister to enter into a facility agreement for Schedule 1 facilities; and

(b) allows the Minister to enter into facility agreements for Schedule 2 or 3 facilities or OCP facilities.

Division 1—Compliance inspections by national inspectors

33 Compliance purpose

A reference in this Division to a compliance purpose is a reference to the purpose of:

(a) determining whether the provisions of this Act and the regulations have been or are being complied with at a declared facility; or

(b) determining whether the conditions applicable to a permit in force in respect of a declared facility have been or are being complied with by the permit holder; or

(c) in relation to a declared facility, other than a Schedule 1 facility—confirming the absence of any Schedule 1 chemical; or

(d) ensuring the proper functioning at a declared facility of any monitoring equipment installed in the course of an international compliance inspection or under a facility agreement.

34 Inspection powers

(1) A reference in this Division to an inspection power is a reference to a power to:

(a) search a declared facility; or

(b) inspect or examine a matter or thing; or

(d) measure a matter or thing; or

(e) examine a document (including a record kept in accordance with the requirements of this Act, the regulations or the condition of a permit); or

(f) take extracts from, or make copies of, a document (including a record of a kind referred to in paragraph (e)); or

(g) operate any equipment, including electronic equipment, located at the facility if the national inspector believes, on reasonable grounds, that the equipment can be operated without damaging it.

(2) A power referred to in paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c), (d) or (g) may only be exercised in a manner that the national inspector believes, on reasonable grounds, to be in accordance with safety procedures applicable at the facility.

35 Compliance inspections by national inspectors

(1) A national inspector may:

(a) with the consent of the occupier of a declared facility; or

(b) under a warrant issued under section 50 in respect of a declared facility;

enter the facility, and exercise, on or in the facility, any inspection powers for a compliance purpose.

(2) A national inspector is not entitled to exercise any powers in relation to a declared facility in the circumstances set out in paragraph (1)(a) if:

(a) the occupier of the facility has required the national inspector to produce his or her identity card for inspection by the occupier; and

(b) the national inspector fails to comply with the requirement.

(3) The regulations may specify the incidence of inspection of different kinds of declared facilities under this Division.

36 Period within which compliance inspection may be carried out

A compliance inspection may only be carried out:

(a) during a period when there is a facility agreement in force in relation to that facility; or

(b) if there is no facility agreement in force in relation to that facility—during a permit year or notification year in relation to that facility or during the year next following that permit year or notification year.

Division 2—International compliance inspections

37 International compliance purpose

A reference in this Division to an international compliance purpose is a reference to the purpose of:

(a) determining whether the provisions of this Act and the regulations have been or are being complied with at a declared facility; or

(b) determining whether the conditions applicable to a permit in force in respect of a declared facility have been or are being complied with by the permit holder; or

(c) in relation to a declared facility other than a Schedule 1 facility—confirming the absence of any Schedule 1 chemical; or

(d) ensuring the proper functioning at a declared facility of any monitoring equipment installed in the course of a previous international compliance inspection or under a facility agreement; or

(e) facilitating an inspection of a declared facility by an Organization inspector in accordance with the Convention and any applicable facility agreement.

38 International inspection powers

(1) A reference in this Division to an international inspection power is a reference to a power to:

(a) search a declared facility; or

(b) take photographs (including video recordings), or make sketches, of the facility, of any equipment or any matter or thing on or in the facility; or

(d) take samples of a matter or thing; or

(e) measure a matter or thing; or

(f) examine a document (including a record kept under this Act or the regulations or under a condition of a permit); or

(g) take extracts from, or make copies of, a document (including a record of a kind referred to in paragraph (f)); or

(h) operate equipment, including electronic equipment, located at the facility, if the national inspector believes, on reasonable grounds, that the equipment can be operated without damaging it; or

(i) take onto a facility any equipment or material that is approved by the Organization and reasonably required for the purpose of exercising a power under any of the above paragraphs.

(2) A power referred to in paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (h) or (i) may only be exercised in a manner that the national inspector believes, on reasonable grounds, to be in accordance with safety procedures applicable at the facility.

39 Routine international compliance inspections of Schedule 1 facilities

(1) Subject to subsection (2), an international compliance inspection of a Schedule 1 facility may be carried out at any time.

(2) A national inspector and an Organization inspector may, subject to any facility agreement or arrangements for managed access referred to in Division 7:

(a) with the consent of the operator of a Schedule 1 facility; or

(b) under a warrant issued under section 51 in respect of the facility;

enter the facility and exercise, on or in the facility, any international inspection powers for international compliance purposes.

(3) In addition to their international inspection powers, the national inspector and Organization inspector may install and operate continuous on‑site monitoring equipment that is approved by the Organization at the Schedule 1 facility if the national inspector believes, on reasonable grounds, that it can be done in accordance with safety procedures applicable at the facility.

Note: For the obligations of a national inspector in relation to not delaying or otherwise hindering the carrying out of an international compliance inspection, see section 95 of this Act and paragraph 41 of Part II of the Verification Annex to the Convention.

40 Routine international compliance inspections of facilities dealing with Schedule 2 chemicals

(1) Subject to subsection (2), an international compliance inspection of a facility may be carried out during a year, if:

(a) the operator of the facility is likely to produce, process or consume during that year or the next year, at a plant comprising, or comprising part of, the facility, a quantity of a Schedule 2 chemical that is more than 10 times the Schedule 2 permit threshold for that chemical; or

(b) there was produced, processed or consumed, during any of the 3 years before that year, at a plant comprising, or comprising part of, the facility a quantity of a Schedule 2 chemical that is more than 10 times the Schedule 2 permit threshold for that chemical.

(2) A national inspector and an Organization inspector may, subject to any facility agreement or arrangements for managed access referred to in Division 7:

(a) with the consent of the operator of the facility; or

(b) under a warrant issued under section 51 in respect of the facility;

enter the facility and exercise, on or in the facility, any international inspection powers for international compliance purposes.

(3) In addition to their international inspection powers, the national inspector and Organization inspector may install and operate on‑site monitoring instruments that are approved by the Organization at the Schedule 2 facility for the duration of the inspection, if the national inspector believes, on reasonable grounds, that it can be done in accordance with safety procedures applicable at the facility.

41 Routine international compliance inspections of facilities dealing with Schedule 3 chemicals

(1) Subject to subsection (2), an international compliance inspection of a facility may be carried out during a year, if:

(a) the operator of the facility is likely to produce, during that year or the next year:

(i) at the plant or plants comprising the facility—more than 200 tonnes of any Schedule 3 chemical; and

(ii) at any particular plant comprising, or comprising part of, the facility, more than 30 tonnes of that Schedule 3 chemical; or

(b) there was produced, during the year before that year:

(i) at the plant or plants comprising the facility—more than 200 tonnes of any Schedule 3 chemical; and

(ii) at a particular plant comprising, or comprising part of, the facility, more than 30 tonnes of that Schedule 3 chemical.

(2) A national inspector and an Organization inspector may, subject to any facility agreement or arrangements for managed access referred to in Division 7:

(a) with the consent of the operator of a Schedule 3 facility; or

(b) under a warrant issued under section 51 in respect of the facility;

enter the facility and exercise, on or in the facility, any international inspection powers for international compliance purposes.

42 Routine international compliance inspections of OCP facilities

(1) Subject to subsection (2), an international compliance inspection of an OCP facility may be carried out at any time during the period:

(a) beginning on the day of notification of the facility under section 28; and

(b) ending 90 days after the start of the year following the year in which that notification occurred.

(2) A national inspector and an Organization inspector may, subject to any facility agreement or arrangements for managed access referred to in Division 7:

(a) with the consent of the operator of an OCP facility; or

(b) under a warrant issued under section 51 in respect of the facility;

enter the facility and exercise, on or in the facility, any international inspection powers for international compliance purposes.

43 Inspectors not entitled to exercise powers under this Division in certain circumstances

Neither a national inspector nor an Organization inspector is entitled to exercise any inspection powers in the circumstances set out in paragraph 39(2)(a), 40(2)(a), 41(2)(a) or 42(2)(a) in relation to a declared facility if:

(a) the occupier of the facility has required the national inspector to produce his or her identity card and the Organization inspector to produce written proof of his or her identity for inspection by the occupier; and

(b) either or both of the national inspector or the Organization inspector fail to comply with the requirement.

44 Incidence of routine international compliance inspections

The regulations may specify the incidence of the inspection of different kinds of declared facilities under this Division.

Division 3—Challenge inspections

45 Challenge inspection purposes

A reference to a challenge inspection purpose is a reference to the purpose of facilitating a challenge inspection by an Organization inspector in accordance with:

(a) Article IX of the Convention; and

(b) if the challenge inspection is of a declared facility—any applicable facility agreement.

46 Challenge inspection powers

(1) A reference in this Division to a challenge inspection power is a reference to a power to:

(a) search premises that comprise a challenge inspection site; or

(b) take photographs (including video recordings), or make sketches, of the site or of equipment or any other matter or thing on or in the site; or

(c) monitor the exit of all vessels, aircraft or vehicles (other than personnel or personal vehicles) leaving the site; or

(d) inspect or examine a matter or thing; or

(e) take samples of a matter or thing; or

(f) measure a matter or thing; or

(g) examine a document (including a record kept under this Act or the regulations or under a condition of a permit); or

(h) take extracts from, or make copies of, a document (including a record of a kind referred to in paragraph (g)); or

(i) verify the proper functioning or calibration of any equipment (including any equipment that forms part of on‑site monitoring equipment); or

(j) install and operate on‑site monitoring equipment; or

(k) question personnel working on the site for the purposes of this Act; or

(l) operate equipment, including electronic equipment, located at the site, if the national inspector believes, on reasonable grounds, that the equipment can be operated without damaging it; or

(m) take onto the site any equipment or material that is approved by the Organization and that is reasonably required for the purpose of exercising a power under any of the above paragraphs; or

(n) do any other act or thing necessary or convenient to be done in order to carry out a challenge inspection in accordance with Article IX of the Convention.

(2) A power referred to in paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (i), (j), (l), (m) or (n) may only be exercised in a manner that the national inspector believes, on reasonable grounds, to be in accordance with safety procedures applicable at the challenge inspection site.

47 Challenge inspections

(1) If Australia is informed of a challenge inspection of premises in Australia or an external Territory under Article IX of the Convention, the Minister may make a declaration in writing:

(a) that the challenge inspection is a challenge inspection for the purposes of this Act; and

(b) that the premises specified in the declaration are a challenge inspection site for the purposes of this Act.

(2) A national inspector and an Organization inspector may, subject to any facility agreement or arrangements for managed access referred to in Division 7:

(a) with the consent of the occupier of a challenge inspection site; or

(b) under a warrant issued under section 52 in respect of a challenge inspection site;

enter the premises comprising the challenge inspection site and exercise, on the site, any challenge inspection powers for a challenge inspection purpose.

(3) Neither a national inspector nor an Organization inspector is entitled to exercise any powers in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (2)(a) in relation to a challenge inspection site if:

(a) the occupier of the site has required the national inspector to produce his or her identity card and the Organization inspector to produce written proof of his or her identity for inspection by the occupier; and

(b) either or both of the national inspector or the Organization inspector fail to comply with the requirement.

Note: For the obligations of a national inspector in relation to not delaying or otherwise hindering the carrying out of a challenge inspection, see section 95 of this Act and paragraph 41 of Part II of the Verification Annex to the Convention.

48 Observers

(1) This section applies if the Minister is satisfied that a person has, in accordance with the Convention, been designated by a State Party as an observer in relation to a challenge inspection, for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The Minister must, in writing, declare the person designated by the State Party to be an observer for the purposes of this Act.

(3) If the Minister declares a person to be an observer, the Minister must give the person a copy of the declaration.

(4) Subject to subsection (5), an observer for the purposes of this Act may accompany a national inspector and an Organization inspector while they are exercising any challenge powers in relation to a challenge inspection site for the purposes of this Act.

(5) An observer is not entitled to enter a challenge inspection site, or any particular part of that site, if:

(a) the occupier of the site has informed the Director, in writing, that the observer is to be excluded from the site or from that part of the site; and

(b) the Director, by notice in writing given to the observer, informs the observer to that effect.

(6) An observer is not entitled to enter a challenge inspection site or to observe a national inspector and an Organization inspector exercising challenge inspection powers if:

(a) the occupier of the site has required the observer to produce written proof of his or her identity for inspection by the occupier; and

(b) the observer fails to comply with the requirement.

49 Clarification procedures

(1) This section applies where another State Party, without instituting challenge inspection procedures, has sought clarification from Australia, either directly or through the Organization, concerning the question whether there has been a breach of the Convention at particular premises.

(2) In a case to which this section applies, the Director may, with the consent of the occupier of the premises, give to the person holding an equivalent position to the Director in the State Party seeking clarification, or to the Organization, such information or documents concerning dealings with chemicals at, or transfer of chemicals from, the premises as will assist to clarify the matter.

(3) In a case to which this section applies, a national inspector may, with the consent of the occupier of the premises, conduct an inspection of the premises in the same manner and exercising the same powers as if:

(a) the inspection had been declared to be a challenge inspection; and

(b) the premises had been declared to be a challenge inspection site;

but without the necessity for Organization inspectors to be present while the inspection is conducted.

(4) For the purposes of a particular inspection, the challenge inspection procedures applicable to an inspection by consent apply subject to such of the prescribed modifications as the Director determines in writing are to apply.

(5) After conducting such an inspection the national inspector may, with the consent of the occupier of the premises concerned, report the results of the inspection to the State Party seeking clarification, either directly or through the Organization.

(6) In a case to which this section applies, the Director may, on behalf of Australia, enter into an arrangement with the person holding an equivalent office in the State Party seeking clarification, with the agreement of the occupier of the premises concerned, for a joint inspection of the premises to be carried out by national inspectors accompanied by foreign country inspectors nominated by the other State Party.

(7) The Director may make an arrangement under subsection (6), whether or not information or documents have been sought under subsection (2), or an inspection carried out under subsection (3).

(8) If the Minister is satisfied that, a person has, in accordance with the arrangements in subsection (6), been designated by a State Party as a foreign country inspector to Australia, the Minister may, in writing, declare the person to be a foreign country inspector for the purposes of this section.

(9) If the Minister declares a person to be a foreign country inspector for the purposes of this section, the Minister may give the person a copy of the declaration.

(10) The national inspector and the foreign country inspector may conduct an inspection of the premises in the same manner as if a challenge inspection were being conducted but, for the purposes of that inspection, the challenge inspection procedures applicable to an inspection by consent apply subject to such of the prescribed modifications as the Director determines in writing are to apply.

(11) Modifications under subsection (4) or (10) must not be such as reduce the rights given by this Act to the occupier of the premises concerned.

(12) The Director must not specify, in a determination under subsection (4) or (10), a particular modification that relates to a particular inspection unless, having regarding to the circumstances of that inspection, the Director is satisfied that it is appropriate to specify that modification.

Division 4—Warrants relating to compliance and challenge inspections

50 Compliance inspection warrants

(1) A national inspector may apply to a magistrate under this section for a compliance inspection warrant in relation to a declared facility.

(2) A magistrate may issue a compliance inspection warrant in relation to a declared facility if the magistrate is satisfied, by information on oath, that it is reasonably necessary to exercise inspection powers for a compliance purpose.

(3) A warrant issued under this section must:

(a) describe the premises to which the warrant relates; and

(b) state the name of the national inspector responsible for executing the warrant; and

(d) state whether the entry is authorised to be made at any time of the day or night or during specified hours of the day or night; and

(e) state the purpose for which the warrant is issued.

(4) Paragraph (3)(c) does not prevent the issue of successive warrants in relation to the same premises.

51 International compliance inspection warrants

(1) A national inspector may apply to a magistrate under this section for an international compliance inspection warrant in relation to a declared facility.

(2) A magistrate may issue an inspection warrant in relation to a declared facility if the magistrate is satisfied, by information on oath, that it is reasonably necessary to exercise international inspection powers for an international compliance purpose.

(3) A warrant issued under this section must:

(a) describe the declared facility to which the warrant relates; and

(b) state the name of the national inspector responsible for executing the warrant; and

(d) if the warrant relates to a Schedule 1 facility—state the period for which the inspection team is entitled, in accordance with the facility agreement in place in relation to that facility, to be present at the facility for the purposes of the inspection; and

(e) if the warrant relates to a declared facility other than a Schedule 1 facility—state the period for which, in accordance with section 53 and subject to any extension by the Minister, the inspection team is entitled to be present on the premises for the purposes of the inspection; and

(f) state the purpose for which the warrant is issued.

52 Challenge inspection warrants

(1) A national inspector may apply to a magistrate under this section for a challenge inspection warrant in relation to a challenge inspection site.

(2) A magistrate may issue a challenge inspection warrant in relation to a challenge inspection site if the magistrate is satisfied, by information on oath, that it is reasonably necessary to exercise challenge inspection powers for a challenge inspection purpose.

(3) A warrant issued under this section must:

(a) describe the premises to which the warrant relates; and

(b) state the name of the national inspector responsible for executing the warrant; and

(c) if there has been no prior entry of the premises by consent—specify the period within which, in accordance with the Convention, entry under the warrant must be effected; and

(d) state the period for which, in accordance with section 53 and subject to any extension by the Minister, the inspection team is entitled to be present on the premises for the purposes of the inspection; and

(e) state the purpose for which the warrant is issued.

53 Duration of inspection period

(1) The total period of an international compliance inspection of a declared facility must not exceed:

(a) in the case of a Schedule 2 facility—96 hours, or such longer period as the Minister, before the end of that 96 hours, authorises in writing; or

(b) in the case of a Schedule 3 facility or an OCP facility—24 hours, or such longer period as the Minister, before the end of that 24 hours, authorises in writing.

(2) The total period of a challenge inspection of any premises must not exceed 84 hours, or such longer period as the Minister, before the end of that 84 hours, authorises in writing.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the regulations may specify when an international compliance inspection starts and ends.

(4) For the purposes of this section, the regulations may specify when a challenge inspection starts and ends.

54 Ministerial extension of inspection periods

(1) If, on application in writing by the Director, the Minister is satisfied that an extension of an inspection period for an international compliance inspection or a challenge inspection is justified, the Minister may authorise the inspection to continue beyond the period referred to in section 53 for such period as the Minister specifies in writing.

(2) If the Minister authorises the extension of an inspection beyond the period referred to in section 53, the Minister must give a copy of the notice authorising the extended period of the inspection to the occupier of the facility and, in a case where the inspection is carried out in whole or in part under a warrant, to the magistrate who issued the warrant.

55 Challenge inspection warrant to authorise presence of an observer

A challenge inspection warrant in relation to a challenge inspection site may, subject to any restrictions under subsection 48(5), authorise an observer to accompany a national inspector and Organization inspectors in their exercise of challenge inspection powers for a challenge inspection purpose.

Division 5—Offence‑related searches and seizures

56 Definition

In this Division, unless the contrary intention appears:

evidential material means an article or thing that may afford evidence as to the commission of an offence against this Act, including such a thing in electronic form.

warrant premises means premises in relation to which a warrant is in force.

57 Offence‑related searches and seizures

(1) If a national inspector has reasonable grounds for suspecting that there may be on any premises particular evidential material, the inspector may:

(a) with the consent of the occupier of the premises; or

(b) under a warrant issued under section 58 or 63;

enter the premises and:

(d) if the inspector finds the evidential material on the premises—seize the evidential material found on the premises.

(2) A national inspector is not entitled to exercise any powers under paragraph (1)(a) in relation to premises if:

(a) the occupier of the premises has required the national inspector to produce his or her identity card for inspection by the occupier; and

(b) the national inspector fails to comply with the requirement.

58 Offence‑related warrants

(1) A national inspector may apply to a magistrate for a warrant under this section in relation to particular premises.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a magistrate may issue a warrant to search premises if the magistrate is satisfied, by information on oath, that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is, or may be within the next 72 hours, any evidential material at the premises.

(3) A magistrate must not issue the warrant unless a national inspector has given the magistrate, either orally (on oath or affirmation) or by affidavit, any further information the magistrate may require about the grounds on which the issue of the warrant is being sought.

(4) A warrant issued under this Division must:

(a) state the offence to which the warrant relates; and

(b) describe the premises to which the warrant relates; and

(d) state the name of the national inspector responsible for executing the warrant; and

(e) state the period for which the warrant remains in force, which must not be more than 7 days; and

(f) state whether the warrant may be executed at any time or only during particular hours.

(5) The warrant should also state that it authorises the seizure of a thing (other than evidential material of the kind referred to in paragraph (4)(c)) found at the premises that the national inspector executing the warrant or a person assisting believes on reasonable grounds to be:

(a) evidential material in relation to an offence to which the warrant relates; or

(b) a thing relevant to another offence under this Act;

if the national inspector or person assisting believes, on reasonable grounds, that seizure of the thing is necessary to prevent its concealment, loss or destruction or its use in committing an offence.

(6) Paragraph (4)(e) does not prevent the issue of successive warrants in relation to the same premises.

(7) If an application for the warrant is made under section 63, this section applies as if:

(a) subsection (2) referred to 48 hours rather than 72 hours; and

(b) paragraph (4)(e) referred to 48 hours rather than 7 days.

59 The things that are authorised by search warrant

(1) A warrant that is in force in relation to premises authorises the national inspector executing the warrant and a person assisting:

(a) to enter the warrant premises and, if the premises are a conveyance, to enter the conveyance, whatever it is; and

(b) to search the premises for the kinds of evidential material specified in the warrant, and to seize things of that kind found at the premises; and

(c) to seize other things found at the premises in the course of the search that the national inspector or a person assisting believes on reasonable grounds to be:

(i) evidential material in relation to an offence to which the warrant relates; or

(ii) evidential material in relation to another offence against this Act;

if the national inspector or person assisting believes on reasonable grounds that seizure of the things are necessary to prevent their concealment, loss or destruction or their use in committing an offence.

(2) If the warrant states that it may be executed only during particular hours, the warrant must not be executed outside those hours.

(3) If things are seized under a warrant, the warrant authorises the national inspector executing the warrant to make the things available to officers of other agencies if it is necessary to do so for the purpose of investigating or prosecuting an offence under another law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory to which the things relate.

(4) A power referred to in this section or in section 57, 60, 61, 62 or 64 may only be exercised in a manner that the national inspector believes, on reasonable grounds, to be in accordance with safety procedures applicable at the premises.

60 Specific powers available to national inspectors executing warrants

(1) The national inspector executing a warrant or a person assisting may:

(a) for a purpose incidental to the execution of the warrant; or

(b) if the occupier of the premises consents in writing;

take photographs (including video recordings) of the premises or of things at the premises.

(2) If a warrant in relation to premises is being executed, the national inspector executing the warrant and a person assisting may, if the warrant is still in force, complete the execution of the warrant after all of them temporarily stop its execution and leave the premises:

(a) for not more than one hour; or

(b) for a longer period if the occupier of the premises consents in writing.

(3) If:

(a) the execution of a warrant is stopped by an order of a court; and

(b) the order is later revoked or reversed on appeal; and

the execution of the warrant may be completed.

61 Use of equipment to examine or process things

(1) The national inspector executing a warrant or a person assisting may bring to the warrant premises any equipment reasonably necessary for the examination or processing of things found at the premises in order to determine whether they are things that may be seized under the warrant.

(2) If:

(a) it is not practicable to examine or process the things at the warrant premises; or

(b) the occupier of the premises consents in writing;

the things may be moved to another place so that the examination or processing can be carried out in order to determine whether they are things that may be seized under the warrant.

(3) If things containing electronically stored information are moved to another place for the purpose of examination or processing under subsection (2), the national inspector executing the warrant must, if it is practicable to do so:

(a) inform the occupier of the address of the place and the time at which the examination or processing will be carried out; and

(b) allow the occupier or his or her representative to be present during the examination or processing.

(4) The national inspector executing the warrant or a person assisting may operate equipment already at the warrant premises to carry out the examination or processing of a thing found at the premises in order to determine whether it is a thing that may be seized under the warrant if the national inspector or person assisting believes, on reasonable grounds, that:

(a) the equipment is suitable for the examination or processing; and

(b) the examination or processing can be carried out without damage to the equipment or the thing.

62 Use of electronic equipment at premises

(1) The national inspector executing a warrant or a person assisting may operate electronic equipment located at the premises to see whether evidential material is accessible by doing so if he or she believes, on reasonable grounds, that the operation of the equipment can be carried out without damage to the equipment.

(2) If the national inspector executing the warrant or a person assisting, after operating the equipment, finds that evidential material is accessible by doing so, he or she may:

(a) seize the equipment and any disk, tape or other associated device; or

(b) if the material can, by using facilities at the premises, be put in documentary form—operate the facilities to put the material in that form and seize the documents so produced; or

(i) is brought to the premises; or

(ii) is at the premises and the use of which for the purpose has been agreed to in writing by the occupier of the premises;

operate the equipment or other facilities to copy the material to the storage device and take the storage device from the premises.

(3) The national inspector executing the warrant may seize equipment under paragraph (2)(a) only if:

(a) it is not practicable to put the material in documentary form as mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) or to copy the material as mentioned in paragraph (2)(c); or

(b) possession of the equipment by the occupier could constitute an offence.

(4) If the national inspector executing the warrant or a person assisting believes, on reasonable grounds, that:

(a) evidential material may be accessible by operating electronic equipment at the premises; and

(b) expert assistance is required to operate the equipment; and

(c) if he or she does not take action under this subsection, the material may be destroyed, altered or otherwise interfered with;

he or she may do whatever is necessary to secure the equipment, whether by locking it up, placing a guard or otherwise.

(5) The national inspector executing the warrant or a person assisting must give notice to the occupier of the premises of his or her intention to secure equipment and of the fact that the equipment may be secured for up to 24 hours.

(6) The equipment may be secured:

(a) for a period not exceeding 24 hours; or

(b) until the equipment has been operated by the expert;

whichever happens first.

(7) If the national inspector executing the warrant or a person assisting believes on reasonable grounds that the expert assistance will not be available within 24 hours, he or she may apply to the magistrate who issued the warrant for an extension of that period.

(8) The national inspector executing the warrant or a person assisting must give notice to the occupier of the premises of his or her intention to apply for an extension, and the occupier may be heard in relation to the application.

(9) The provisions of this Division relating to the issue of warrants apply, with such modifications as are necessary, to the issuing of an extension.

63 Warrants by telephone or other electronic means

(1) A national inspector may make an application to a magistrate for a warrant by telephone, telex, facsimile or other electronic means:

(a) in an urgent case; or

(b) if the delay that would occur if an application were made in person would frustrate the effective execution of the warrant.

(2) The magistrate may require communication by voice to the extent that is practicable in the circumstances.

(3) An application under this section must include all information required to be provided in an ordinary application for a warrant, but the application may, if necessary, be made before the information is sworn.

(4) If an application is made to a magistrate under this section and the magistrate, after considering the information and having received and considered such further information (if any) as the magistrate requires, is satisfied that:

(a) a warrant in the terms of the application should be issued urgently; or

(b) the delay that would occur if an application were made in person would frustrate the effective execution of the warrant;

the magistrate may complete and sign the same form of warrant that would be issued under section 58.

(5) If the magistrate decides to issue the warrant, the magistrate is to inform the applicant, by telephone, telex, facsimile or other electronic means, of the terms of the warrant and the day on which and the time at which it was signed.

(6) The national inspector must then complete a form of warrant in terms substantially corresponding to those given by the magistrate, stating on the form the name of the magistrate and the day on which and the time at which the warrant was signed.

(7) The national inspector must, not later than the day after the day of expiry of the warrant or the day after the day on which the warrant was executed, whichever is the earlier, give or transmit to the magistrate the form of warrant completed by the inspector and, if the information referred to in subsection (3) was not sworn, that information duly sworn.

(8) The magistrate is to attach to the documents provided under subsection (7) the form of warrant completed by the magistrate.

(9) If:

(a) it is material, in any proceedings, for a court to be satisfied that the exercise of a power under a warrant issued under this section was duly authorised; and

(b) the form of warrant signed by the magistrate is not produced in evidence;

the court is to assume, unless the contrary is proved, that the exercise of the power was not duly authorised.

64 Retention of things which are seized

(1) Subject to any contrary order of a court, if a national inspector seizes a thing under section 58 or 63, the national inspector must return it if:

(a) the reason for its seizure no longer exists or it is decided that it is not to be used in evidence; or

(b) if the thing was seized under a warrant issued under section 58 or 63:

(i) the reason for its seizure no longer exists or it is decided that it is not to be used in evidence; or

(ii) the period of 60 days after its seizure ends;

whichever occurs first;

unless the thing is forfeited or forfeitable to the Commonwealth or is the subject of a dispute as to ownership.

(2) If a thing is seized under a warrant issued under section 58 or 63, at the end of the 60 days specified in subsection (1), the national inspector must take reasonable steps to return the thing to the person from whom it was seized or to the owner if that person is not entitled to possess it unless:

(a) proceedings in respect of which the thing may afford evidence were begun before the end of the 60 days and have not been completed (including an appeal to a court in relation to those proceedings); or

(b) the national inspector may retain the thing because of an order under section 65; or

(c) the national inspector or another person is authorised (by a law, or an order of a court, of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory) to retain, destroy or dispose of the thing.

65 Court of summary jurisdiction may permit a thing to be retained

(1) If a thing is seized under a warrant issued under section 58 or 63, and:

(a) before the end of 60 days after the seizure; or

(b) before the end of a period previously specified in an order of a court under this section;

proceedings in respect of which the thing may afford evidence have not commenced, the national inspector may apply to a court of summary jurisdiction for an order that he or she may retain the thing for a further period.

(2) If the court is satisfied that it is necessary for the national inspector to continue to retain the thing:

(a) for the purposes of an investigation as to whether an offence has been committed; or

(b) to enable evidence of an offence to be secured for the purposes of a prosecution;

the court may order that the national inspector may retain the thing for a period specified in the order.

(3) Before the court hears the application, it may require notice of the application to be given to such persons as the court thinks fit.

Division 6—Miscellaneous provisions relating to warrants

66 Announcement before entry

(1) Before the national inspector executing a warrant or a person assisting the national inspector enters:

(a) a declared facility under paragraph 39(2)(b), 40(2)(b), 41(2)(b) or 42(2)(b); or

(b) a challenge inspection site under paragraph 47(2)(b); or

the national inspector or person assisting the national inspector must:

(d) announce that he or she is authorised by the warrant to enter the facility, site or premises; and

(e) give any person at the premises an opportunity to allow entry into or onto the facility, site or premises.

(2) The national inspector executing a warrant or a person assisting the national inspector is not required to comply with subsection (1) if he or she believes, on reasonable grounds, that immediate entry to the premises is required to ensure that the effective execution of the warrant is not frustrated.

67 Availability of assistance and use of force in executing warrant

In executing a warrant:

(a) the national inspector executing the warrant may obtain such assistance; and

(b) the national inspector or a person who is assisting in executing the warrant may use such force against persons and things;

as is necessary and reasonable in the circumstances.

68 Details of warrant to be given to occupier etc.

If a warrant in relation to a declared facility, a challenge inspection site or other premises is being executed and the occupier of the facility, site or premises is present at the facility, site or premises, the national inspector executing the warrant must make available a copy of the warrant to the occupier or other person.

69 Copies of seized things to be provided

(1) Subject to subsection (2), if a national inspector executing a warrant or a person assisting seizes under a warrant:

(a) a document, film, computer file or other thing that can be readily copied; or

(b) a storage device, the information in which can be readily copied;

that inspector or person assisting must, if requested to do so by the permit holder or the occupier of the premises or another person who apparently represents the permit holder or occupier and who is present when the warrant is executed, give a copy of the thing or the information to that person as soon as practicable after the seizure.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the thing that has been seized was seized under paragraph 62(2)(a) or (b).

70 Compensation for damage to electronic equipment

(1) If:

(a) damage is caused to an instrument or other equipment as a result of being operated as mentioned in paragraph 34(1)(g), 38(1)(h) or 46(1)(l) or subsection 61(4) or 62(1); and

(b) the damage was caused as a result of:

(i) insufficient care being exercised in selecting the person who was to operate the equipment; or

(ii) insufficient care being exercised by the person operating the equipment;

compensation for the damage is payable to the owner of the instrument or other equipment.

(2) In determining the amount of compensation payable, regard is to be had to whether the occupier of the premises and his or her employees and agents, if they were available at the time, had provided any warning or guidance as to the operation of the instrument or other equipment that was appropriate in the circumstances.

71 Offence of making false statements in applications for warrant

A national inspector must not make, in an application for a warrant, a statement that the inspector knows to be false or misleading in a material particular.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

72 Offences relating to telephone warrants

A national inspector must not:

(a) state in a document that purports to be a form of warrant issued under section 63 the name of a person as the magistrate issuing the warrant unless that magistrate issued the warrant; or

(b) state in a form of warrant under that section a matter that, to the person’s knowledge, departs in a material particular from the form authorised by the magistrate issuing the warrant; or

(c) purport to execute, or present to a person, a document that purports to be a form of warrant under section 63 that the person knows:

(i) has not been approved by the magistrate issuing the warrant; or

(ii) to depart in a material particular from the terms authorised by the magistrate issuing the warrant; or

(d) give to the magistrate a form of warrant under section 63 that is not the form of warrant that the inspector purported to execute.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

Division 7—Manner of conducting international compliance and challenge inspections—facility agreements and managed access

73 Initial inspection plan

(1) An international compliance or challenge inspection must be carried out in the manner that is least intrusive consistent with achieving the purposes of the inspection.

(2) After an initial briefing (whether or not involving a preliminary inspection) and to facilitate the more detailed inspection of premises under an international compliance or challenge inspection, the persons comprising the inspection team must prepare and give to the Director an initial inspection plan specifying the activities proposed to be carried out by the inspection team and the places to which access is desired.

74 Initial inspection plan and conduct of inspection to be consistent with facility agreement

If an international compliance or challenge inspection is an inspection of a declared facility in respect of which a facility agreement is in force, the initial inspection plan and the conduct of the inspection must be consistent with that facility agreement.

75 Managed access

If an international compliance or challenge inspection:

(a) is an inspection of a declared facility in respect of which there is no facility agreement in force; or

(b) is an inspection of a place that is not a declared facility;

the inspection team must, in consultation with the Director, modify their initial inspection plan to whatever extent is justified, in accordance with the provisions relating to managed access in Annex 2 to the Convention, so as to ensure the protection of sensitive equipment, information and places that are not related to chemical weapons.

Division 8—Facility agreements

76 Facility agreements

(1) The Minister, on behalf of Australia, must enter into an agreement or arrangement with the Organization in relation to each single small‑scale facility, each protective facility, and each research facility at which it is anticipated that more than 100 grams of Schedule 1 chemicals will be produced during the year to which the permit relates.

(2) The Minister, on behalf of Australia, may enter into an agreement or arrangement with the Organization in relation to any other Schedule 1 facility, or any Schedule 2 or 3 facility or any OCP facility.

(3) An agreement or arrangement that is entered into under subsection (1) or (2) may cover such matters as the Minister thinks necessary to give effect to the Convention.

Part 6—Offences

77 Production etc. of Scheduled chemicals otherwise than in accordance with permit

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person is required under section 16 to have a permit to operate a facility so far as concerns the production, acquisition, retention or use of Schedule 1 chemicals at that facility, or the transfer of Schedule 1 chemicals from that facility; and

(b) the person produces, acquires, retains or uses Schedule 1 chemicals at that facility, or transfers Schedule 1 chemicals from that facility; and

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years or 500 penalty units, or both.

(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person is required under section 16 to have a permit to operate a facility so far as concerns the production, processing or consumption of Schedule 2 chemicals at that facility; and

(b) the person produces, processes or consumes Schedule 2 chemicals at that facility; and

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 250 penalty units, or both.

(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person is required under section 16 to have a permit to operate a facility so far as concerns the production of particular Schedule 3 chemicals at that facility; and

(b) the person produces that chemical at that facility; and

Penalty: 250 penalty units.

(4) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person fails to do an act; and

(b) the failure to do the act causes a contravention of section 28.

Penalty: 100 penalty units.

(5) Subsection (4) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.

Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (4A). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.

78 Breach of condition of permit

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person engages in conduct; and

(b) the conduct contravenes a condition subject to which a permit is granted.

Penalty: 100 penalty units.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.

Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (4A). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.

(3) An offence under subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.

Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.

(4) In this section:

engage in conduct means:

(a) do an act; or

(b) omit to perform an act.

79 Interference with monitoring equipment

If monitoring equipment has been installed at a declared facility, a person who interferes with:

(a) the equipment; or

(b) its operation;

with the intention of adversely affecting the operation of the equipment is guilty of an offence against this section.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

80 False or misleading statements and documents

(1) A person who intentionally makes a statement, either orally or in writing, to the Minister, the Director, the Controller, a national inspector, an Organization inspector, a foreign country inspector or another person exercising a power or performing a function or duty in relation to this Act that is false or misleading in a material particular, is guilty of an offence against this subsection.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

(2) A person who gives a document to the Minister, the Director, the Controller, a national inspector, an Organization inspector, a foreign country inspector or another person exercising a power or performing a function or duty in relation to this Act, knowing or reckless that the document is false or misleading in a material particular, is guilty of an offence against this subsection.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

(3) A reference in subsection (1) to the making of a statement or in subsection (2) to the giving of a document is to be taken to include a reference to the making of a statement or the giving of a document under a condition of a permit.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1), a statement made on a data storage device, or by way of electronic transmission, is taken to be a statement made in writing.

81 Forfeiture

(1) If a court:

(a) convicts a person of an offence against this Act; or

(b) makes an order under section 19B of the Crimes Act 1914 in respect of a person charged with an offence against this Act;

the court may order the forfeiture to the Commonwealth of any substance or article used or otherwise involved in the commission of the offence.

(2) A substance or article ordered by a court to be forfeited under this section becomes the property of the Commonwealth and may be sold or otherwise dealt with in accordance with the directions of the Minister.

(3) Before the Minister gives a direction, the substance or article must be kept in such custody as the Minister directs.

82 Hearing to be in private in certain circumstances

(1) At any time before or during the hearing of proceedings before a court in relation to an offence against this Act or the regulations, the court may, if the court thinks it appropriate to prevent the disclosure of information relating to chemical technology:

(a) order that some or all of the members of the public are to be excluded during the whole or a part of the proceedings; or

(b) order that no report of the whole or a specified part of the proceedings are to be published; or

(c) make orders, and give directions, prohibiting or restricting access, either before, during or after the proceedings, to any affidavit, exhibit, information or document used in the proceedings that is on the file in the court or in the records of the court.

(2) A person must not contravene an order made, or direction given, under subsection (1).

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

(3) On the completion of proceedings before a court in relation to an offence against this Act or the regulations, any document containing information relating to chemical technology that would otherwise form part of the records of the court must, as soon as practicable after the completion of those proceedings, be given to the Director.

(4) In this section, a reference to proceedings before a court includes a reference to committal proceedings in relation to an indictable offence.

(5) For the purposes of this section, proceedings are not taken to have been completed until:

(a) in the case of committal proceedings in relation to an indictable offence where the defendant is not committed for trial—the time when the committal proceedings end; or

(b) in the case of committal proceedings in relation to a indictable offence where a person is committed for trial in relation to an offence—the trial in relation to the offence has been determined and the time for bringing an appeal arising from the trial has expired or an appeal arising from the trial has been brought and has been determined; or

(c) otherwise—the time for bringing an appeal arising from those proceedings has expired or an appeal arising from those proceedings has been brought and has been determined.

83 Register of Permits and Notifications

(1) In a proceeding, the production of the Register of Permits and Notifications, or of a document certified by the Director to be a true copy of the Register, is prima facie evidence:

(a) if the name of a person has been entered in the Register as the name of the person to whom a permit in relation to a facility and a year has been granted or transferred—that the person became the permit holder on the day entered on the Register as the day on which the grant or transfer took place; or

(b) if the revocation of a permit granted in relation to a facility and a year is entered in the Register—that the permit was revoked on the day entered in the Register as the day of the revocation; or

(c) if the name of a person has not been entered in the Register as the name of a person to whom a permit in relation to a facility and a year has been granted or transferred—that the person is not, and never has been, the holder of that permit; or

(d) if the name of a person has been entered in the Register as the name of a person who notified a facility under section 29—that the person so notified the facility as the day specified in the Register as the day on which the notification was made; or

(e) if the name of a person has not been entered in the Register as the name of a person who notified under section 29—that the person has not so notified the facility.

(2) The production in a proceeding of a document purporting:

(a) to be a copy of the Register; and

(b) to be certified by the Director to be a true copy of the Register is prima facie evidence that it is such a copy and that it has been so certified.

84 Evidence of analyst

(1) The Minister may appoint a person to be an analyst for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Subject to subsection (4), a certificate signed by an analyst appointed under subsection (1) setting out, in relation to a substance or article, one or more of the following:

(a) when and from whom the substance or article was received;

(b) what labels or other means of identifying the substance or article accompanied it when it was received;

(d) a description of the substance or article received;

(e) that he or she has analysed or examined the substance or article;

(f) the date on which the analysis or examination was carried out;

(g) the method used in conducting the analysis or examination;

(h) the results of the analysis or examination;

is, in any proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations, prima facie evidence of the matters in the certificate and the correctness of the results of the analysis or examination.

(3) For the purposes of this section, a document purporting to be a certificate referred to in subsection (2) must, unless the contrary is established, be taken to be such a certificate and to have been duly given.

(4) A certificate must not be received in evidence under subsection (2) in a proceeding for an offence unless the person charged with the offence has been given a copy of the certificate together with reasonable notice of the intention to produce the certificate as evidence in the proceeding.

(5) If, under subsection (2), a certificate of an analyst is admitted in evidence in a proceeding for an offence against this Act or the regulations:

(a) the person charged with the offence may require the analyst to be called as a witness for the prosecution; and

(b) the analyst may be cross‑examined as if he or she had given evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.

(6) Subsection (5) does not entitle a person to require an analyst to be called as a witness for the prosecution unless:

(a) the prosecutor has been given at least 5 days notice of the person’s intention to require the analyst to be so called; or

(b) the Court, by order, allows the person to require the analyst to be so called.

85 Equipment or material approved by Organization

(1) The Director may, by written instrument, certify, for the purposes of this Act, that equipment or material is equipment or material approved by the Organization for use in relation to an international compliance or challenge inspection under this Act.

(2) In any proceedings that relate to the operation of this Act or the regulations, a certificate under subsection (1) is prima facie evidence of the matters in the certificate.

(3) In any proceedings that relate to the operation of this Act or the regulations, a document purporting to be a certificate referred to in subsection (1) must, unless the contrary is established, be taken to be such a certificate and to have been duly given.

Part 7—Administration

Division 1—Director of Chemical Weapons Convention Office

86 Director of the Chemical Weapons Convention Office

(1) The Minister may, by notice in writing, designate:

(a) a particular office within the Department or within an agency for which the Minister is responsible; or

(b) a particular statutory office established under legislation for which the Minister is responsible;

as the office whose occupant is the Director of the Chemical Weapons Convention Office.

(2) The person who, from time to time, holds, or is acting in, the office designated under subsection (1) is the Director of the Chemical Weapons Convention Office.

(3) The Director may be referred to by another title specified by the Minister by notice in the Gazette.

87 Functions of Director

The functions of the Director are:

(a) to ensure the effective operation of this Act; and

(b) to carry out, on behalf of Australia, the obligations that Australia has under the Convention; and

(d) to carry out such duties and exercise such powers as are conferred upon the Director under this Act or the regulations or under any other law of the Commonwealth; and

(e) to do anything incidental or conducive to the performance of any of the functions referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d).

88 The Chemical Weapons Convention Office

(1) The Director, and such other staff of the Department, or of an agency in which the designated office is situated, as the Minister determines, together constitute the Chemical Weapons Convention Office.

(2) The Office may be referred to by another name specified by the Minister by notice in the Gazette.

89 Delegation by Director

The Director may, by signed writing, delegate to a member of the staff referred to in section 88, all or any of the Director’s powers under this Act or the regulations.

Division 2—Controller of Permits and Notifications

90 Controller of Permits and Notifications

The Director must, by notice in writing, designate another office within the Chemical Weapons Convention Office as the Controller of Permits and Notifications.

91 Function of the Controller

The function of the Controller is to process:

(a) applications for permits, renewals and transfers of permits under Division 1 of Part 3; and

(b) notifications to the Minister under Division 2 of that Part.

Division 3—National inspectors and consultants

92 National inspectors

(1) The Director is a national inspector.

(2) The Director may, from time to time, appoint other persons to be national inspectors.

(3) A national inspector may be, but is not required to be, an officer of the Chemical Weapons Convention Office.

93 Identity cards

(1) The Director must have, and must issue to every other national inspector, a card identifying the holder as a national inspector.

(2) An identity card must:

(a) be in an approved form; and

(b) incorporate a recent photograph of the person.

(3) As soon as practicable after a person ceases to be a national inspector the person must return the card to the Director.

Penalty for a contravention of this subsection: 1 penalty unit.

(4) An offence under subsection (3) is an offence of strict liability.

Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.

94 Engagement of consultants etc.

(1) The Director may, on behalf of the Commonwealth and with the approval of the Minister or of another person authorised in writing by the Minister for the purpose, engage, under agreements in writing, persons having suitable qualifications and experience as consultants to the Director.

(2) The terms and conditions of a person engaged by the Director under subsection (1) are such as are determined by the Director.

Part 8—Miscellaneous

95 Powers to be exercised in accordance with Convention

(1) A person may exercise a power or discretion, or perform a duty or function, conferred on the person under this Act only to the extent that the exercise or performance is not inconsistent with Australia’s obligations under the Convention.

(2) A person must, in exercising a power or discretion conferred by this Act, have regard to Australia’s obligations under the Convention.

96 Annual report by Director

(1) The Director must, as soon as practicable after 30 June in each year, prepare and give to the Minister a report on the operation of this Act during that year.

(1A) If:

(a) a person applied for a permit after the day prescribed for the purposes of subsection 17(1); or

(b) a person applied for a renewal of a permit after the day prescribed for the purposes of subsection 20(1);

the Director may name the person in a report under subsection (1) of this section as a person who made a late application for a permit, or for a renewal of a permit, as the case may be.

(2) The Minister must cause a copy of a report given to the Minister under subsection (1) to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the day on which the Minister is given the report.

97 Additional reports

The Director:

(a) must give to the Minister such additional reports or information in relation to the operations of the Director under this Act as the Minister requires; and

(b) may give to the Minister such other reports or information in relation to the operations of the Director under this Act as the Director thinks appropriate.

98 Register of Permits and Notifications

(1) The Director must keep a register to be known as the Register of Permits and Notifications.

(2) The Director must enter in the Register the name of each person to whom a permit is granted under section 18, renewed under section 19A or 20 or transferred under section 24, and particulars of the facility to which the permit relates.

(3) The Director must enter in the Register the name of each person by whom a notification is made under section 29 and particulars of the facility to which the permit relates.

(4) If a person is granted a permit under section 18, the Director must enter in the Register particulars of the permit (including particulars of the day on which the permit takes effect).

(5) If a permit is renewed under section 19A or 20, the Director must enter in the Register particulars of the renewal.

(6) If a permit is transferred to a person under section 24, the Director must enter in the Register particulars of the transfer (including particulars of the reasons why, and of the day on which, the permit was transferred).

(7) If a permit granted to a person under section 18 or renewed under section 19A or 20 is revoked or ends, the Director must enter in the Register particulars of the revocation or ending of the permit (including particulars of the day on which the revocation or ending of the permit occurs).

(8) The Register must be kept in a form prescribed by the regulations.

(9) The Director may correct clerical errors in the Register.

99 Delegation by Minister

The Minister may, by signed writing, delegate to:

(a) the Secretary to the Department; or

(b) the Director; or

all or any of the Minister’s powers under this Act or the regulations.

100 Organization inspectors

(1) If the Minister is satisfied that a person has, in accordance with the Convention been designated as an Organization inspector or an Organization inspector assistant to Australia, the Minister must, in writing, declare the person to be an Organization inspector for the purposes of this Act.

(2) If the Minister declares the person to be an Organization inspector, the Minister must give the person a copy of the declaration.

101 Privileges and immunities of Organization inspectors and foreign country inspectors

An Organization inspector or a foreign country inspector is to have such privileges and immunities as are prescribed for the purposes of this section.

101A Privileges and immunities of observers

An observer is to have such privileges and immunities as are prescribed for the purposes of this section.

101B Privileges and immunities of other persons

(1) The regulations may provide that any or all of the persons referred to in an agreement:

(a) between Australia and the Organization; and

(b) made under paragraph 50 of Article VIII of the Convention;

are to have such of the privileges and immunities referred to in the agreement as are specified in the regulations.

(2) This section does not limit the International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1963.

102 Secrecy

(1) For the purposes of this section, an eligible person is a person who is or has been:

(a) the Secretary to, or other officer of, the Department; or

(b) the Director or the acting Director; or

(d) engaged as a consultant to the Director; or

(e) a national inspector; or

(f) any other Commonwealth officer.

(2) Subject to this section, an eligible person must not either directly or indirectly, except for the purposes of this Act, for the purpose of complying with Australia’s obligations under the Convention, or for the purpose of a prosecution for an offence against this Act:

(a) make a record of, or divulge or communicate to any person, any confidential information concerning the affairs of another person acquired by the eligible person in the performance of duties in relation to this Act; or

(b) produce to any person a confidential document relating to the affairs of another person given for the purposes of this Act; or

(c) make a record of, or divulge or communicate to any person, any confidential information contained in the Register of Permits and Notifications.

(3) An eligible person must not be required to divulge or communicate to a court any information referred to in subsection (2) or to produce in a court any documents referred to in that subsection, except when it is necessary to do so for the purposes of this Act or of a prosecution for an offence against this Act.

(3A) If:

(a) information is divulged or communicated to a person (the recipient) by an eligible person for the purposes of this Act or for the purpose of complying with Australia’s obligations under the Convention; and

(b) at the time the information was divulged or communicated, the eligible person specified that the information was confidential information to which this subsection applies;

the recipient must not, either directly or indirectly:

(d) divulge or communicate the information to another person.

(3B) If:

(b) at the time the information was divulged or communicated, the eligible person specified that the information was confidential information to which subsection (3A) applies;

the recipient must not be required to divulge or communicate the information to a court, unless it is necessary to do so:

(d) for the purposes of a prosecution for an offence against this Act.

(3C) If:

(a) a document is produced to a person (the recipient) by an eligible person for the purposes of this Act or for the purpose of complying with Australia’s obligations under the Convention; and

(b) at the time the document was produced, the eligible person specified that the document was a confidential document to which this subsection applies;

the recipient must not, either directly or indirectly:

(d) produce the document to another person.

(3D) If:

(a) a document is produced to a person (the recipient) by an eligible person for the purposes of this Act or for the purpose of complying with Australia’s obligations under the Convention; and

(b) at the time the document was produced, the eligible person specified that the document was a confidential document to which subsection (3C) applies;

the recipient must not be required to produce the document to a court, unless it is necessary to do so:

(d) for the purposes of a prosecution for an offence against this Act.

(3E) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person engages in conduct; and

(b) the conduct contravenes subsection (2), (3A) or (3C).

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

(3F) In subsection (3E):

engage in conduct means:

(a) do an act; or

(b) omit to perform an act.

(4) In this section:

offence against this Act includes an offence created by:

(a) section 6 of the Crimes Act 1914; or

(b) section 11.1, 11.4 or 11.5 of the Criminal Code;

that relates to this Act.

(4A) For the purposes of this section, if in the course of an inspection under Part 5 an eligible person acquires information concerning the affairs of another person, the information is taken to be confidential information unless, at the time the information was acquired:

(a) the information was already available to the public; or

(b) the other person specified that the other person would have no objection if the information were to become available to the public.

However, if an objection is made, but is later withdrawn, the information is taken not to be confidential information at any time after the withdrawal.

(4B) For the purposes of this section, if in the course of an inspection under Part 5 an eligible person acquires a document relating to the affairs of another person, the document is taken to be a confidential document unless, at the time the document was acquired:

(a) the document was already available to the public; or

(b) the other person specified that the other person would have no objection if the document were to become available to the public.

However, if an objection is made, but is later withdrawn, the document is taken not to be a confidential document at any time after the withdrawal.

(5) In this section:

Commonwealth officer has the same meaning as in section 70 of the Crimes Act 1914.

court includes any tribunal, authority or person having power to require the production of documents or the answering of questions.

produce includes permit access to.

this Act includes the regulations.

103 Australia not liable for acts or omissions of Organization etc.

Nothing in this Act makes Australia or the Director liable for any act or omission on the part of the Organization, or of an Organization inspector, in implementing the Convention in Australia.

104 Regulations

The Governor‑General may make regulations prescribing matters:

(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or

(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act;

and, in particular making provision with respect to:

(c) the manner in which any notification by the Director that is required under this Act, or under the regulations to a declared facility is to be effected; and

(d) the imposition of penalties, not exceeding a fine of 10 penalty units, for offences against the regulations; and

(e) the making of reports to the Organization in compliance with Australia’s obligations under the Convention.

Schedule—The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction

Subsection 7(1)
(definition of “Convention”)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
	Preamble	2
I.	General Obligations	2
II.	Definitions and Criteria	3
III.	Declarations	5
IV.	Chemical Weapons	7
V.	Chemical Weapons Production Facilities	9
VI.	Activities not Prohibited Under this Convention	11
VII.	National Implementation Measures	12
VIII.	The Organization	13
IX.	Consultations, Cooperation and Fact‑Finding	20
X.	Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons	23
XI.	Economic and Technological Development	25
XII.	Measures to Redress a Situation and to Ensure Compliance, including Sanctions	25
XIII.	Relation to Other International Agreements	26
XIV.	Settlement of Disputes	26
XV.	Amendments	27
XVI.	Duration and Withdrawal	28
XVII.	Status of the Annexes	28
XVIII.	Signature	28
XIX.	Ratification	28
XX.	Accession	28
XXI.	Entry into Force	29
XXII.	Reservations	29
XXIII.	Depositary	29
XXIV.	Authentic Texts	29
Annex 1:	Annex on Chemicals	30
Annex 2:	Annex on Implementation and Verification (“Verification Annex”)	35
Annex 3:	Annex on the Protection of Confidential Information (“Confidentiality Annex”)	109

PREAMBLE

The States Parties to this Convention,

DETERMINED to act with a view to achieving effective progress towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, including the prohibition and elimination of all types of weapons of mass destruction,

DESIRING to contribute to the realization of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

RECALLING that the General Assembly of the United Nations has repeatedly condemned all actions contrary to the principles and objectives of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925 (the Geneva Protocol of 1925),

RECOGNIZING that this Convention reaffirms principles and objectives of and obligations assumed under the Geneva Protocol of 1925, and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction signed at London, Moscow and Washington on 10 April 1972,

BEARING IN MIND the objective contained in Article IX of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction,

DETERMINED for the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons, through the implementation of the provisions of this Convention, thereby complementing the obligations assumed under the Geneva Protocol of 1925,

RECOGNIZING the prohibition, embodied in the pertinent agreements and relevant principles of international law, of the use of herbicides as a method of warfare,

CONSIDERING that achievements in the field of chemistry should be used exclusively for the benefit of mankind,

DESIRING to promote free trade in chemicals as well as international cooperation and exchange of scientific and technical information in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under this Convention in order to enhance the economic and technological development of all States Parties,

CONVINCED that the complete and effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer and use of chemical weapons, and their destruction, represent a necessary step towards the achievement of these common objectives,

HAVE AGREED as follows:

Article I

General obligations

1. Each State Party to this Convention undertakes never under any circumstances:

(a) to develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons, or transfer, directly or indirectly, chemical weapons to anyone;

(b) to use chemical weapons;

(d) to assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention.

2. Each State Party undertakes to destroy chemical weapons it owns or possesses, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.

3. Each State Party undertakes to destroy all chemical weapons it abandoned on the territory of another State Party, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.

4. Each State Party undertakes to destroy any chemical weapons production facilities it owns or possesses, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.

5. Each State Party undertakes not to use riot control agents as a method of warfare.

Article II

Definitions and criteria

For the purposes of this Convention:

1. “Chemical Weapons” means the following, together or separately:

(a) toxic chemicals and their precursors, except where intended for purposes not prohibited under this Convention, as long as the types and quantities are consistent with such purposes;

(b) munitions and devices, specifically designed to cause death or other harm through the toxic properties of those toxic chemicals specified in subparagraph (a), which would be released as a result of the employment of such munitions and devices;

(c) any equipment specifically designed for use directly in connection with the employment of munitions and devices specified in subparagraph (b).

2. “Toxic Chemical” means:

Any chemical which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals. This includes all such chemicals, regardless of their origin or of their method of production, and regardless of whether they are produced in facilities, in munitions or elsewhere.

(For the purpose of implementing this Convention, toxic chemicals which have been identified for the application of verification measures are listed in Schedules contained in the Annex on Chemicals.)

3. “Precursor” means:

Any chemical reactant which takes part at any stage in the production by whatever method of a toxic chemical. This includes any key component of a binary or multicomponent chemical system.

(For the purpose of implementing this Convention, precursors which have been identified for the application of verification measures are listed in Schedules contained in the Annex on Chemicals.)

4. “Key Component of Binary or Multicomponent Chemical Systems” (hereinafter referred to as “key component”) means:

The precursor which plays the most important role in determining the toxic properties of the final product and reacts rapidly with other chemicals in the binary or multicomponent system.

5. “Old Chemical Weapons” means:

(a) chemical weapons which were produced before 1925; or

(b) chemical weapons produced in the period between 1925 and 1946 that have deteriorated to such extent that they can no longer be used as chemical weapons.

6. “Abandoned Chemical Weapons” means:

Chemical weapons, including old chemical weapons, abandoned by a State after 1 January 1925 on the territory of another State without the consent of the latter.

7. “Riot Control Agent” means:

Any chemical not listed in a Schedule, which can produce rapidly in humans sensory irritation or disabling physical effects which disappear within a short time following termination of exposure.

8. “Chemical Weapons Production Facility”:

(a) means any equipment, as well as any building housing such equipment, that was designed, constructed or used at any time since 1 January 1946:

(i) as part of the stage in the production of chemicals (“final technological stage”) where the material flows would contain, when the equipment is in operation:

(1) any chemical listed in Schedule 1 in the Annex on Chemicals; or

(2) any other chemical that has no use, above 1 tonne per year on the territory of a State Party or in any other place under the jurisdiction or control of a State Party, for purposes not prohibited under this Convention, but can be used for chemical weapons purposes;

(ii) for filling chemical weapons, including, inter alia, the filling of chemicals listed in Schedule 1 into munitions, devices or bulk storage containers; the filling of chemicals into containers that form part of assembled binary munitions and devices or into chemical submunitions that form part of assembled unitary munitions and devices, and the loading of the containers and chemical submunitions into the respective munitions and devices;

(b) does not mean:

(i) any facility having a production capacity for synthesis of chemicals specified in subparagraph (a)(i) that is less than 1 tonne;

(ii) any facility in which a chemical specified in subparagraph (a)(i) is or was produced as an unavoidable by‑product of activities for purposes not prohibited under this Convention, provided that the chemical does not exceed 3 per cent of the total product and that the facility is subject to declaration and inspection under the Annex on Implementation and Verification (hereinafter referred to as “Verification Annex”); or

(iii) the single small‑scale facility for production of chemicals listed in Schedule 1 for purposes not prohibited under this Convention as referred to in Part VI of the Verification Annex.

9. “Purposes Not Prohibited Under this Convention” means:

(a) industrial, agricultural, research, medical, pharmaceutical or other peaceful purposes;

(b) protective purposes, namely those purposes directly related to protection against toxic chemicals and to protection against chemical weapons;

(c) military purposes not connected with the use of chemical weapons and not dependent on the use of the toxic properties of chemicals as a method of warfare;

(d) law enforcement including domestic riot control purposes.

10. “Production Capacity” means:

The annual quantitative potential for manufacturing a specific chemical based on the technological process actually used or, if the process is not yet operational, planned to be used at the relevant facility. It shall be deemed to be equal to the nameplate capacity or, if the nameplate capacity is not available, to the design capacity. The nameplate capacity is the product output under conditions optimized for maximum quantity for the production facility, as demonstrated by one or more test‑runs. The design capacity is the corresponding theoretically calculated product output.

11. “Organization” means the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons established pursuant to Article VIII of this Convention.

12. For the purposes of Article VI:

(a) “production” of a chemical means its formation through chemical reaction;

(b) “processing” of a chemical means a physical process, such as formulation, extraction and purification, in which a chemical is not converted into another chemical;

Article III

Declarations

1. Each State Party shall submit to the Organization, not later than 30 days after this Convention enters into force for it, the following declarations, in which it shall:

(a) With respect to chemical weapons:

(i) declare whether it owns or possesses any chemical weapons, or whether there are any chemical weapons located in any place under its jurisdiction or control;

(ii) specify the precise location, aggregate quantity and detailed inventory of chemical weapons it owns or possesses, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, in accordance with Part IV(A), paragraphs 1 to 3, of the Verification Annex, except for those chemical weapons referred to in sub‑subparagraph (iii);

(iii) report any chemical weapons on its territory that are owned and possessed by another State and located in any place under the jurisdiction or control of another State, in accordance with Part IV(A), paragraph 4, of the Verification Annex;

(iv) declare whether it has transferred or received, directly or indirectly, any chemical weapons since 1 January 1946 and specify the transfer or receipt of such weapons, in accordance with Part IV(A), paragraph 5, of the Verification Annex;

(v) provide its general plan for destruction of chemical weapons that it owns or possesses, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, in accordance with Part IV(A), paragraph 6, of the Verification Annex;

(b) With respect to old chemical weapons and abandoned chemical weapons:

(i) declare whether it has on its territory old chemical weapons and provide all available information in accordance with Part IV(B), paragraph 3, of the Verification Annex;

(ii) declare whether there are abandoned chemical weapons on its territory and provide all available information in accordance with Part IV(B), paragraph 8, of the Verification Annex;

(iii) declare whether it has abandoned chemical weapons on the territory of other States and provide all available information in accordance with Part IV(B), paragraph 10, of the Verification Annex;

(i) declare whether it has or has had any chemical weapons production facility under its ownership or possession, or that is or has been located in any place under its jurisdiction or control at any time since 1 January 1946;

(ii) specify any chemical weapons production facility it has or has had under its ownership or possession or that is or has been located in any place under its jurisdiction or control at any time since 1 January 1946, in accordance with Part V, paragraph 1, of the Verification Annex, except for those facilities referred to in sub‑subparagraph (iii);

(iii) report any chemical weapons production facility on its territory that another State has or has had under its ownership and possession and that is or has been located in any place under the jurisdiction or control of another State at any time since 1 January 1946, in accordance with Part V, paragraph 2, of the Verification Annex;

(iv) declare whether it has transferred or received, directly or indirectly, any equipment for the production of chemical weapons since 1 January 1946 and specify the transfer or receipt of such equipment, in accordance with Part V, paragraphs 3 to 5, of the Verification Annex;

(v) provide its general plan for destruction of any chemical weapons production facility it owns or possesses, or that is located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, in accordance with Part V, paragraph 6, of the Verification Annex;

(vi) specify actions to be taken for closure of any chemical weapons production facility it owns or possesses, or that is located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, in accordance with Part V, paragraph 1(i), of the Verification Annex;

(vii) provide its general plan for any temporary conversion of any chemical weapons production facility it owns or possesses, or that is located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, into a chemical weapons destruction facility, in accordance with Part V, paragraph 7, of the Verification Annex;

(d) With respect to other facilities:

specify the precise location, nature and general scope of activities of any facility or establishment under its ownership or possession, or located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, and that has been designed, constructed or used since 1 January 1946 primarily for development of chemical weapons. Such declaration shall include, inter alia, laboratories and test and evaluation sites;

(e) With respect to riot control agents:

specify the chemical name, structural formula and Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number, if assigned, of each chemical it holds for riot control purposes. This declaration shall be updated not later than 30 days after any change becomes effective.

2. The provisions of this Article and the relevant provisions of Part IV of the Verification Annex shall not, at the discretion of a State Party, apply to chemical weapons buried on its territory before 1 January 1977 and which remain buried, or which had been dumped at sea before 1 January 1985.

Article IV

Chemical weapons

1. The provisions of this Article and the detailed procedures for its implementation shall apply to all chemical weapons owned or possessed by a State Party, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, except old chemical weapons and abandoned chemical weapons to which Part IV(B) of the Verification Annex applies.

2. Detailed procedures for the implementation of this Article are set forth in the Verification Annex.

3. All locations at which chemical weapons specified in paragraph 1 are stored or destroyed shall be subject to systematic verification through on‑site inspection and monitoring with on‑site instruments, in accordance with Part IV(A) of the Verification Annex.

4. Each State Party shall, immediately after the declaration under Article III, paragraph 1, has been submitted, provide access to chemical weapons specified in paragraph 1 for the purpose of systematic verification of the declaration through on‑site inspection. Thereafter, each State Party shall not remove any of these chemical weapons, except to a chemical weapons destruction facility. It shall provide access to such chemical weapons, for the purpose of systematic on‑site verification.

5. Each State Party shall provide access to any chemical weapons destruction facilities and their storage areas, that it owns or possesses, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, for the purpose of systematic verification through on‑site inspection and monitoring with on‑site instruments.

6. Each State Party shall destroy all chemical weapons specified in paragraph 1 pursuant to the Verification Annex and in accordance with the agreed rate and sequence of destruction(hereinafter referred to as “order of destruction”). Such destruction shall begin not later than two years after this Convention enters into force for it and shall finish not later than 10 years after entry into force of this Convention. A State Party is not precluded from destroying such chemical weapons at a faster rate.

7. Each State Party shall:

(a) submit detailed plans for the destruction of chemical weapons specified in paragraph 1 not later than 60 days before each annual destruction period begins, in accordance with Part IV(A), paragraph 29, of the Verification Annex; the detailed plans shall encompass all stocks to be destroyed during the next annual destruction period;

(b) submit declarations annually regarding the implementation of its plans for destruction of chemical weapons specified in paragraph 1, not later than 60 days after the end of each annual destruction period; and

(c) certify, not later than 30 days after the destruction process has been completed, that all chemical weapons specified in paragraph 1 have been destroyed.

8. If a State ratifies or accedes to this Convention after the 10 year period for destruction set forth in paragraph 6, it shall destroy chemical weapons specified in paragraph 1 as soon as possible. The order of destruction and procedures for stringent verification for such a State Party shall be determined by the Executive Council.

9. Any chemical weapons discovered by a State Party after the initial declaration of chemical weapons shall be reported, secured and destroyed in accordance with Part IV(A) of the Verification Annex.

10. Each State Party, during transportation, sampling, storage and destruction of chemical weapons, shall assign the highest priority to ensuring the safety of people and to protecting the environment. Each State Party shall transport, sample, store and destroy chemical weapons in accordance with its national standards for safety and emissions.

11. Any State Party which has on its territory chemical weapons that are owned or possessed by another State, or that are located in any place under the jurisdiction or control of another State, shall make the fullest efforts to ensure that these chemical weapons are removed from its territory not later than one year after this Convention enters into force for it. If they are not removed within one year, the State Party may request the Organization and other States Parties to provide assistance in the destruction of these chemical weapons.

12. Each State Party undertakes to cooperate with other States Parties that request information or assistance on a bilateral basis or through the Technical Secretariat regarding methods and technologies for the safe and efficient destruction of chemical weapons.

13. In carrying out verification activities pursuant to this Article and Part IV(A) of the Verification Annex, the Organization shall consider measures to avoid unnecessary duplication of bilateral or multilateral agreements on verification of chemical weapons storage and their destruction among States Parties.

To this end, the Executive Council shall decide to limit verification to measures complementary to those undertaken pursuant to such a bilateral or multilateral agreement, if it considers that:

(a) verification provisions of such an agreement are consistent with the verification provisions of this Article and Part IV(A) of the Verification Annex;

(b) implementation of such an agreement provides for sufficient assurance of compliance with the relevant provisions of this Convention; and

(c) parties to the bilateral or multilateral agreement keep the Organization fully informed about their verification activities.

14. If the Executive Council takes a decision pursuant to paragraph 13, the Organization shall have the right to monitor the implementation of the bilateral or multilateral agreement.

15. Nothing in paragraphs 13 and 14 shall affect the obligation of a State Party to provide declarations pursuant to Article III, this Article and Part IV(A) of the Verification Annex.

16. Each State Party shall meet the costs of destruction of chemical weapons it is obliged to destroy. It shall also meet the costs of verification of storage and destruction of these chemical weapons unless the Executive Council decides otherwise. If the Executive Council decides to limit verification measures of the Organization pursuant to paragraph 13, the costs of complementary verification and monitoring by the Organization shall be paid in accordance with the United Nations scale of assessment, as specified in Article VIII, paragraph 7.

17. The provisions of this Article and the relevant provisions of Part IV of the Verification Annex shall not, at the discretion of a State Party, apply to chemical weapons buried on its territory before 1 January 1977 and which remain buried, or which had been dumped at sea before 1 January 1985.

Article V

Chemical weapons production facilities

1. The provisions of this Article and the detailed procedures for its implementation shall apply to any and all chemical weapons production facilities owned or possessed by a State Party, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control.

2. Detailed procedures for the implementation of this Article are set forth in the Verification Annex.

3. All chemical weapons production facilities specified in paragraph 1 shall be subject to systematic verification through on‑site inspection and monitoring with on‑site instruments in accordance with Part V of the Verification Annex.

4. Each State Party shall cease immediately all activity at chemical weapons production facilities specified in paragraph 1, except activity required for closure.

5. No State Party shall construct any new chemical weapons production facilities or modify any existing facilities for the purpose of chemical weapons production or for any other activity prohibited under this Convention.

6. Each State Party shall, immediately after the declaration under Article III, paragraph 1(c), has been submitted, provide access to chemical weapons production facilities specified in paragraph 1, for the purpose of systematic verification of the declaration through on‑site inspection.

7. Each State Party shall:

(a) close, not later than 90 days after this Convention enters into force for it, all chemical weapons production facilities specified in paragraph 1, in accordance with Part V of the Verification Annex, and give notice thereof; and

(b) provide access to chemical weapons production facilities specified in paragraph 1, subsequent to closure, for the purpose of systematic verification through on‑site inspection and monitoring with on‑site instruments in order to ensure that the facility remains closed and is subsequently destroyed.

8. Each State Party shall destroy all chemical weapons production facilities specified in paragraph 1 and related facilities and equipment, pursuant to the Verification Annex and in accordance with an agreed rate and sequence of destruction (hereinafter referred to as “order of destruction”). Such destruction shall begin not later than one year after this Convention enters into force for it, and shall finish not later than 10 years after entry into force of this Convention. A State Party is not precluded from destroying such facilities at a faster rate.

9. Each State Party shall:

(a) submit detailed plans for destruction of chemical weapons production facilities specified in paragraph 1, not later than 180 days before the destruction of each facility begins;

(b) submit declarations annually regarding the implementation of its plans for the destruction of all chemical weapons production facilities specified in paragraph 1, not later than 90 days after the end of each annual destruction period; and

(c) certify, not later than 30 days after the destruction process has been completed, that all chemical weapons production facilities specified in paragraph 1 have been destroyed.

10. If a State ratifies or accedes to this Convention after the 10‑year period for destruction set forth in paragraph 8, it shall destroy chemical weapons production facilities specified in paragraph 1 as soon as possible. The order of destruction and procedures for stringent verification for such a State Party shall be determined by the Executive Council.

11. Each State Party, during the destruction of chemical weapons production facilities, shall assign the highest priority to ensuring the safety of people and to protecting the environment. Each State Party shall destroy these chemical weapons production facilities in accordance with its national standards for safety and emissions.

12. Chemical weapons production facilities specified in paragraph 1 may be temporarily converted for destruction of chemical weapons in accordance with Part V, paragraphs 18 to 25, of the Verification Annex. Such a converted facility must be destroyed as soon as it is no longer in use for destruction of chemical weapons but, in any case, not later than 10 years after entry into force of this Convention.

13. A State Party may request, in exceptional cases of compelling need, permission to use a chemical weapons production facility specified in paragraph 1 for purposes not prohibited under this Convention. Upon the recommendation of the Executive Council, the Conference of the States Parties shall decide whether or not to approve the request and shall establish the conditions upon which approval is contingent in accordance with Part V, Section D, of the Verification Annex.

14. The chemical weapons production facility shall be converted in such a manner that the converted facility is not more capable of being reconverted into a chemical weapons production facility than any other facility used for industrial, agricultural, research, medical, pharmaceutical or other peaceful purposes not involving chemicals listed in Schedule 1.

15. All converted facilities shall be subject to systematic verification through on‑site inspection and monitoring with on‑site instruments in accordance with Part V, Section D, of the Verification Annex.

16. In carrying out verification activities pursuant to this Article and Part V of the Verification Annex, the Organization shall consider measures to avoid unnecessary duplication of bilateral or multilateral agreements on verification of chemical weapons production facilities and their destruction among States Parties.

To this end, the Executive Council shall decide to limit the verification to measures complementary to those undertaken pursuant to such a bilateral or multilateral agreement, if it considers that:

(a) verification provisions of such an agreement are consistent with the verification provisions of this Article and Part V of the Verification Annex;

(b) implementation of the agreement provides for sufficient assurance of compliance with the relevant provisions of this Convention; and

(c) Parties to the bilateral or multilateral agreement keep the Organization fully informed about their verification activities.

17. If the Executive Council takes a decision pursuant to paragraph 16, the Organization shall have the right to monitor the implementation of the bilateral or multilateral agreement.

18. Nothing in paragraphs 16 and 17 shall affect the obligation of a State Party to make declarations pursuant to Article III, this Article and Part V of the Verification Annex.

19. Each State Party shall meet the costs of destruction of chemical weapons production facilities it is obliged to destroy. It shall also meet the costs of verification under this Article unless the Executive Council decides otherwise. If the Executive Council decides to limit verification measures of the Organization pursuant to paragraph 16, the costs of complementary verification and monitoring by the Organization shall be paid in accordance with the United Nations scale of assessment, as specified in Article VIII, paragraph 7.

Article VI

Activities not prohibited under this Convention

1. Each State Party has the right, subject to the provisions of this Convention, to develop, produce, otherwise acquire, retain, transfer and use toxic chemicals and their precursors for purposes not prohibited under this Convention.

2. Each State Party shall adopt the necessary measures to ensure that toxic chemicals and their precursors are only developed, produced, otherwise acquired, retained, transferred, or used within its territory or in any other place under its jurisdiction or control for purposes not prohibited under this Convention. To this end, and in order to verify that activities are in accordance with obligations under this Convention, each State Party shall subject toxic chemicals and their precursors listed in Schedules 1, 2 and 3 of the Annex on Chemicals, facilities related to such chemicals, and other facilities as specified in the Verification Annex, that are located on its territory or in any other place under its jurisdiction or control, to verification measures as provided in the Verification Annex.

3. Each State Party shall subject chemicals listed in Schedule 1 (hereinafter referred to as “Schedule 1 chemicals”) to the prohibitions on production, acquisition, retention, transfer and use as specified in Part VI of the Verification Annex. It shall subject Schedule 1 chemicals and facilities specified in Part VI of the Verification Annex to systematic verification through on‑site inspection and monitoring with on‑site instruments in accordance with that Part of the Verification Annex.

4. Each State Party shall subject chemicals listed in Schedule 2 (hereinafter referred to as “Schedule 2 chemicals”) and facilities specified in Part VII of the Verification Annex to data monitoring and on‑site verification in accordance with that Part of the Verification Annex.

5. Each State Party shall subject chemicals listed in Schedule 3 (hereinafter referred to as “Schedule 3 chemicals”) and facilities specified in Part VIII of the Verification Annex to data monitoring and on‑site verification in accordance with that Part of the Verification Annex.

6. Each State Party shall subject facilities specified in Part IX of the Verification Annex to data monitoring and eventual on‑site verification in accordance with that Part of the Verification Annex unless decided otherwise by the Conference of the States Parties pursuant to Part IX, paragraph 22, of the Verification Annex.

7. Not later than 30 days after this Convention enters into force for it, each State Party shall make an initial declaration on relevant chemicals and facilities in accordance with the Verification Annex.

8. Each State Party shall make annual declarations regarding the relevant chemicals and facilities in accordance with the Verification Annex.

9. For the purpose of on‑site verification, each State Party shall grant to the inspectors access to facilities as required in the Verification Annex.

10. In conducting verification activities, the Technical Secretariat shall avoid undue intrusion into the State Party’s chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under this Convention and, in particular, abide by the provisions set forth in the Annex on the Protection of Confidential Information (hereinafter referred to as “Confidentiality Annex”).

11. The Provisions of this Article shall be implemented in a manner which avoids hampering the economic or technological development of States Parties and international cooperation in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under this Convention, including the international exchange of scientific and technical information and chemicals and equipment for the production, processing or use of chemicals for purposes not prohibited under this Convention.

Article VII

National implementation measures

General undertakings

1. Each State Party shall, in accordance with its constitutional processes, adopt the necessary measures to implement its obligations under this Convention. In particular, it shall:

(a) prohibit natural and legal persons anywhere on its territory or in any other place under its jurisdiction as recognized by international law from undertaking any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention, including enacting penal legislation with respect to such activity;

(b) not permit in any place under its control any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention; and

(c) extend its penal legislation enacted under subparagraph (a) to any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention undertaken anywhere by natural persons, possessing its nationality, in conformity with international law.

2. Each State Party shall cooperate with other States Parties and afford the appropriate form of legal assistance to facilitate the implementation of the obligations under paragraph 1.

3. Each State Party, during the implementation of its obligations under this Convention, shall assign the highest priority to ensuring the safety of people and to protecting the environment, and shall cooperate as appropriate with other States Parties in this regard.

Relations between the State Party and the Organization

4. 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.

5. Each State Party shall inform the Organization of the legislative and administrative measures taken to implement this Convention.

6. Each State Party shall treat as confidential and afford special handling to information and data that it receives in confidence from the Organization in connection with the implementation of this Convention. It shall treat such information and data exclusively in connection with its rights and obligations under this Convention and in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Confidentiality Annex.

7. Each State Party undertakes to cooperate with the Organization in the exercise of all its functions and in particular to provide assistance to the Technical Secretariat.

Article VIII

The Organization

A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The States Parties to this Convention hereby establish the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the object and purpose of this Convention, to ensure the implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States Parties.

2. All States Parties to this Convention shall be members of the Organization. A State Party shall not be deprived of its membership in the Organization.

3. The seat of the Headquarters of the Organization shall be The Hague, Kingdom of the Netherlands.

4. There are hereby established as the organs of the Organization: the Conference of the States Parties, the Executive Council, and the Technical Secretariat.

5. The Organization shall conduct its verification activities provided for under this Convention in the least intrusive manner possible consistent with the timely and efficient accomplishment of their objectives. It shall request only the information and data necessary to fulfil its responsibilities under this Convention. It shall take every precaution to protect the confidentiality of information on civil and military activities and facilities coming to its knowledge in the implementation of this Convention and, in particular, shall abide by the provisions set forth in the Confidentiality Annex.

6. In undertaking its verification activities the Organization shall consider measures to make use of advances in science and technology.

7. The costs of the Organization’s activities shall be paid by States Parties in accordance with the United Nations scale of assessment adjusted to take into account differences in membership between the United Nations and this Organization, and subject to the provisions of Articles IV and V. Financial contributions of States Parties to the Preparatory Commission shall be deducted in an appropriate way from their contributions to the regular budget. The budget of the Organization shall comprise two separate chapters, one relating to administrative and other costs, and one relating to verification costs.

8. A member of the Organization which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contribution to the Organization shall have no vote in the Organization if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contribution due from it for the preceding two full years. The Conference of the States Parties may, nevertheless, permit such a member to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the member.

B. THE CONFERENCE OF THE STATES PARTIES

Composition, procedures and decision‑making

9. The Conference of the States Parties (hereinafter referred to as “the Conference”) shall be composed of all members of this Organization. Each member shall have one representative in the Conference, who may be accompanied by alternates and advisers.

10. The first session of the Conference shall be convened by the depositary not later than 30 days after the entry into force of this Convention.

11. The Conference shall meet in regular sessions which shall be held annually unless it decides otherwise.

12. Special sessions of the Conference shall be convened:

(a) when decided by the Conference;

(b) when requested by the Executive Council;

(d) in accordance with paragraph 22 to undertake reviews of the operation of this Convention.

Except in the case of subparagraph (d), the special session shall be convened not later than 30 days after receipt of the request by the Director‑General of the Technical Secretariat, unless specified otherwise in the request.

13. The Conference shall also be convened in the form of an Amendment Conference in accordance with Article XV, paragraph 2.

14. Sessions of the Conference shall take place at the seat of the Organization unless the Conference decides otherwise.

15. The Conference shall adopt its rules of procedure. At the beginning of each regular session, it shall elect its Chairman and such other officers as may be required. They shall hold office until a new Chairman and other officers are elected at the next regular session.

16. A majority of the members of the Organization shall constitute a quorum for the Conference.

17. Each member of the Organization shall have one vote in the Conference.

18. The Conference shall take decisions on questions of procedure by a simple majority of the members present and voting. Decisions on matters of substance should be taken as far as possible by consensus. If consensus is not attainable when an issue comes up for decision, the Chairman shall defer any vote for 24 hours and during this period of deferment shall make every effort to facilitate achievement of consensus, and shall report to the Conference before the end of this period. If consensus is not possible at the end of 24 hours, the Conference shall take the decision by a two‑thirds majority of members present and voting unless specified otherwise in this Convention. When the issue arises as to whether the question is one of substance or not, that question shall be treated as a matter of substance unless otherwise decided by the Conference by the majority required for decisions on matters of substance.

Powers and functions

19. The Conference shall be the principal organ of the Organization. It shall consider any questions, matters or issues within the scope of this Convention, including those relating to the powers and functions of the Executive Council and the Technical Secretariat. It may make recommendations and take decisions on any questions, matters or issues related to this Convention raised by a State Party or brought to its attention by the Executive Council.

20. The Conference shall oversee the implementation of this Convention, and act in order to promote its object and purpose. The Conference shall review compliance with this Convention. It shall also oversee the activities of the Executive Council and the Technical Secretariat and may issue guidelines in accordance with this Convention to either of them in the exercise of their functions.

21. The Conference shall:

(a) consider and adopt at its regular sessions the report, programme and budget of the Organization, submitted by the Executive Council, as well as consider other reports;

(b) decide on the scale of financial contributions to be paid by States Parties in accordance with paragraph 7;

(d) appoint the Director‑General of the Technical Secretariat (hereinafter referred to as “the Director‑General”);

(e) approve the rules of procedure of the Executive Council submitted by the latter;

(f) establish such subsidiary organs as it finds necessary for the exercise of its functions in accordance with this Convention;

(g) foster international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities;

(h) review scientific and technological developments that could affect the operation of this Convention and, in this context, direct the Director‑General to establish a Scientific Advisory Board to enable him, in the performance of his functions, to render specialized advice in areas of science and technology relevant to this Convention, to the Conference, the Executive Council or States Parties. The Scientific Advisory Board shall be composed of independent experts appointed in accordance with terms of reference adopted by the Conference;

(i) consider and approve at its first session any draft agreements, provisions and guidelines developed by the Preparatory Commission;

(j) establish at its first session the voluntary fund for assistance in accordance with Article X;

(k) take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with this Convention and to redress and remedy any situation which contravenes the provisions of this Convention, in accordance with Article XII.

22. The Conference shall not later than one year after the expiry of the fifth and the tenth year after the entry into force of this Convention, and at such other times within that time period as may be decided upon, convene in special sessions to undertake reviews of the operation of this Convention. Such reviews shall take into account any relevant scientific and technological developments. At intervals of five years thereafter, unless otherwise decided upon, further sessions of the Conference shall be convened with the same objective.

C. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Composition, procedure and decision‑making

23. The Executive Council shall consist of 41 members. Each State Party shall have the right, in accordance with the principle of rotation, to serve on the Executive Council. The members of the Executive Council shall be elected by the Conference for a term of two years. In order to ensure the effective functioning of this Convention, due regard being specially paid to equitable geographical distribution, to the importance of chemical industry, as well as to political and security interests, the Executive Council shall be composed as follows:

(a) nine States Parties from Africa to be designated by States Parties located in this region. As a basis for this designation it is understood that, out of these nine States Parties, three members shall, as a rule, be the States Parties with the most significant national chemical industry in the region as determined by internationally reported and published data; in addition, the regional group shall agree also to take into account other regional factors in designating these three members;

(b) nine States Parties from Asia to be designated by States Parties located in this region. As a basis for this designation it is understood that, out of these nine States Parties, four members shall, as a rule, be the States Parties with the most significant national chemical industry in the region as determined by internationally reported and published data; in addition, the regional group shall agree also to take into account other regional factors in designating these four members;

(c) five States Parties from Eastern Europe to be designated by States Parties located in this region. As a basis for this designation it is understood that, out of these five States Parties, one member shall, as a rule, be the State Party with the most significant national chemical industry in the region as determined by internationally reported and published data; in addition, the regional group shall agree also to take into account other regional factors in designating this one member;

(d) seven States Parties from Latin America and the Caribbean to be designated by States Parties located in this region. As a basis for this designation it is understood that, out of these seven States Parties, three members shall, as a rule, be the States Parties with the most significant national chemical industry in the region as determined by internationally reported and published data; in addition, the regional group shall agree also to take into account other regional factors in designating these three members;

(e) ten States Parties from among Western European and Other States to be designated by States Parties located in this region. As a basis for this designation it is understood that, out of these ten States Parties, five members shall, as a rule, be the States Parties with the most significant national chemical industry in the region as determined by internationally reported and published data; in addition, the regional group shall agree also to take into account other regional factors in designating these five members;

(f) one further State Party to be designated consecutively by States Parties located in the regions of Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. As a basis for this designation it is understood that this State Party shall be a rotating member from these regions.

24. For the first election of the Executive Council 20 members shall be elected for a term of one year, due regard being paid to the established numerical proportions as described in paragraph 23.

25. After the full implementation of Articles IV and V the Conference may, upon the request of a majority of the members of the Executive Council, review the composition of the Executive Council taking into account developments related to the principles specified in paragraph 23 that are governing its composition.

26. The Executive Council shall elaborate its rules of procedure and submit them to the Conference for approval.

27. The Executive Council shall elect its Chairman from among its members.

28. The Executive Council shall meet for regular sessions. Between regular sessions it shall meet as often as may be required for the fulfillment of its powers and functions.

29. Each member of the Executive Council shall have one vote. Unless otherwise specified in this Convention, the Executive Council shall take decisions on matters of substance by a two‑thirds majority of all its members. The Executive Council shall take decisions on questions of procedure by a simple majority of all its members. When the issue arises as to whether the question is one of substance or not, that question shall be treated as a matter of substance unless otherwise decided by the Executive Council by the majority required for decisions on matters of substance.

Powers and functions

30. The Executive Council shall be the executive organ of the Organization. It shall be responsible to the Conference. The Executive Council shall carry out the powers and functions entrusted to it under this Convention, as well as those functions delegated to it by the Conference. In so doing, it shall act in conformity with the recommendations, decisions and guidelines of the Conference and assure their proper and continuous implementation.

31. The Executive Council shall promote the effective implementation of, and compliance with, this Convention. It shall supervise the activities of the Technical Secretariat, cooperate with the National Authority of each State Party and facilitate consultations and cooperation among States Parties at their request.

32. The Executive Council shall:

(a) consider and submit to the Conference the draft programme and budget of the Organization;

(b) consider and submit to the Conference the draft report of the Organization on the implementation of this Convention, the report on the performance of its own activities and such special reports as it deems necessary or which the Conference may request;

33. The Executive Council may request the convening of a special session of the Conference.

34. The Executive Council shall:

(a) conclude agreements or arrangements with States and international organizations on behalf of the Organization, subject to prior approval by the Conference;

(b) conclude agreements with States Parties on behalf of the Organization in connection with Article X and supervise the voluntary fund referred to in Article X;

(c) approve agreements or arrangements relating to the implementation of verification activities, negotiated by the Technical Secretariat with States Parties.

35. The Executive Council shall consider any issue or matter within its competence affecting this Convention and its implementation, including concerns regarding compliance, and cases of non‑compliance, and, as appropriate, inform States Parties and bring the issue or matter to the attention of the Conference.

36. In its consideration of doubts or concerns regarding compliance and cases of non‑compliance, including, inter alia, abuse of the rights provided for under this Convention, the Executive Council shall consult with the States Parties involved and, as appropriate, request the State Party to take measures to redress the situation within a specified time. To the extent that the Executive Council considers further action to be necessary, it shall take, inter alia, one or more of the following measures:

(a) inform all States Parties of the issue or matter;

(b) bring the issue or matter to the attention of the Conference;

The Executive Council shall, in cases of particular gravity and urgency, bring the issue or matter, including relevant information and conclusions, directly to the attention of the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council. It shall at the same time inform all States Parties of this step.

D. THE TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT

37. The Technical Secretariat shall assist the Conference and the Executive Council in the performance of their functions. The Technical Secretariat shall carry out the verification measures provided for in this Convention. It shall carry out the other functions entrusted to it under this Convention as well as those functions delegated to it by the Conference and the Executive Council.

38. The Technical Secretariat shall:

(a) prepare and submit to the Executive Council the draft programme and budget of the Organization;

(b) prepare and submit to the Executive Council the draft report of the Organization on the implementation of this Convention and such other reports as the Conference or the Executive Council may request;

(d) address and receive communications on behalf of the Organization to and from States Parties on matters pertaining to the implementation of this Convention;

(e) provide technical assistance and technical evaluation to States Parties in the implementation of the provisions of this Convention, including evaluation of scheduled and unscheduled chemicals.

39. The Technical Secretariat shall:

(a) negotiate agreements or arrangements relating to the implementation of verification activities with States Parties, subject to approval by the Executive Council;

(b) not later than 180 days after entry into force of this Convention, coordinate the establishment and maintenance of permanent stockpiles of emergency and humanitarian assistance by States Parties in accordance with Article X, paragraphs 7(b) and (c). The Technical Secretariat may inspect the items maintained for serviceability. Lists of items to be stockpiled shall be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to paragraph 21(i) above;

(c) administer the voluntary fund referred to in Article X, compile declarations made by the States Parties and register, when requested, bilateral agreements concluded between States Parties or between a State Party and the Organization for the purposes of Article X.

40. The Technical Secretariat shall inform the Executive Council of any problem that has arisen with regard to the discharge of its functions, including doubts, ambiguities or uncertainties about compliance with this Convention that have come to its notice in the performance of its verification activities and that it has been unable to resolve or clarify through its consultations with the State Party concerned.

41. The Technical Secretariat shall comprise a Director‑General, who shall be its head and chief administrative officer, inspectors and such scientific, technical and other personnel as may be required.

42. The Inspectorate shall be a unit of the Technical Secretariat and shall act under the supervision of the Director‑General.

43. The Director‑General shall be appointed by the Conference upon the recommendation of the Executive Council for a term of four years, renewable for one further term, but not thereafter.

44. The Director‑General shall be responsible to the Conference and the Executive Council for the appointment of the staff and the organization and functioning of the Technical Secretariat. The paramount consideration in the employment of the staff and in the determination of the conditions of service shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. Only citizens of States Parties shall serve as the Director‑General, as inspectors or as other members of the professional and clerical staff. Due regard shall be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. Recruitment shall be guided by the principle that the staff shall be kept to a minimum necessary for the proper discharge of the responsibilities of the Technical Secretariat.

45. The Director‑General shall be responsible for the organization and functioning of the Scientific Advisory Board referred to in paragraph 21(h). The Director‑General shall, in consultation with States Parties, appoint members of the Scientific Advisory Board, who shall serve in their individual capacity. The members of the Board shall be appointed on the basis of their expertise in the particular scientific fields relevant to the implementation of this Convention. The Director‑General may also, as appropriate, in consultation with members of the Board, establish temporary working groups of scientific experts to provide recommendations on specific issues. In regard to the above, States Parties may submit lists of experts to the Director‑General.

46. In the performance of their duties, the Director‑General, the inspectors and the other members of the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any Government or from any other source external to the Organization. They shall refrain from any action that might reflect on their positions as international officers responsible only to the Conference and the Executive Council.

47. Each State Party shall respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Director‑General, the inspectors and the other members of the staff and not seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities.

E. PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

48. The Organization shall enjoy on the territory and in any other place under the jurisdiction or control of a State Party such legal capacity and such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the exercise of its functions.

49. Delegates of States Parties, together with their alternates and advisers, representatives appointed to the Executive Council together with their alternates and advisers, the Director‑General and the staff of the Organization shall enjoy such privileges and immunities as are necessary in the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the Organization.

50. The legal capacity, privileges, and immunities referred to in this Article shall be defined in agreements between the Organization and the States Parties as well as in an agreement between the Organization and the State in which the headquarters of the Organization is seated. These agreements shall be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to paragraph 21(i).

51. Notwithstanding paragraphs 48 and 49, the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the Director‑General and the staff of the Technical Secretariat during the conduct of verification activities shall be those set forth in Part II, Section B, of the Verification Annex.

Article IX

Consultations, cooperation and fact‑finding

1. States Parties shall consult and cooperate, directly among themselves, or through the Organization or other appropriate international procedures, including procedures within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with its Charter, on any matter which may be raised relating to the object and purpose, or the implementation of the provisions, of this Convention.

2. Without prejudice to the right of any State Party to request a challenge inspection, States Parties should, whenever possible, first make every effort to clarify and resolve, through exchange of information and consultations among themselves, any matter which may cause doubt about compliance with this Convention, or which gives rise to concerns about a related matter which may be considered ambiguous. A State Party which receives a request from another State Party for clarification of any matter which the requesting State Party believes causes such a doubt or concern shall provide the requesting State Party as soon as possible, but in any case not later than 10 days after the request, with information sufficient to answer the doubt or concern raised along with an explanation of how the information provided resolves the matter. Nothing in this Convention shall affect the right of any two or more States Parties to arrange by mutual consent for inspections or any other procedures among themselves to clarify and resolve any matter which may cause doubt about compliance or gives rise to a concern about a related matter which may be considered ambiguous. Such arrangements shall not affect the rights and obligations of any State Party under other provisions of this Convention.

Procedure for requesting clarification

3. A State Party shall have the right to request the Executive Council to assist in clarifying any situation which may be considered ambiguous or which gives rise to a concern about the possible non‑compliance of another State Party with this Convention. The Executive Council shall provide appropriate information in its possession relevant to such a concern.

4. A State Party shall have the right to request the Executive Council to obtain clarification from another State Party on any situation which may be considered ambiguous or which gives rise to a concern about its possible non‑compliance with this Convention. In such a case, the following shall apply:

(a) the Executive Council shall forward the request for clarification to the State Party concerned through the Director‑General not later than 24 hours after its receipt;

(b) the requested State Party shall provide the clarification to the Executive Council as soon as possible, but in any case not later than 10 days after the receipt of the request;

(c) the Executive Council shall take note of the clarification and forward it to the requesting State Party not later than 24 hours after its receipt;

(d) if the requesting State Party deems the clarification to be inadequate, it shall have the right to request the Executive Council to obtain from the requested State Party further clarification;

(e) for the purpose of obtaining further clarification requested under subparagraph (d), the Executive Council may call on the Director‑General to establish a group of experts from the Technical Secretariat, or if appropriate staff are not available in the Technical Secretariat, from elsewhere, to examine all available information and data relevant to the situation causing the concern. The group of experts shall submit a factual report to the Executive Council on its findings;

(f) if the requesting State Party considers the clarification obtained under subparagraphs (d) and (e) to be unsatisfactory, it shall have the right to request a special session of the Executive Council in which States Parties involved that are not members of the Executive Council shall be entitled to take part. In such a special session, the Executive Council shall consider the matter and may recommend any measure it deems appropriate to resolve the situation.

5. A State Party shall also have the right to request the Executive Council to clarify any situation which has been considered ambiguous or has given rise to a concern about its possible non‑compliance with this Convention. The Executive Council shall respond by providing such assistance as appropriate.

6. The Executive Council shall inform the States Parties about any request for clarification provided in this Article.

7. If the doubt or concern of a State Party about a possible non‑compliance has not been resolved within 60 days after the submission of the request for clarification to the Executive Council, or it believes its doubts warrant urgent consideration, notwithstanding its right to request a challenge inspection, it may request a special session of the Conference in accordance with Article VIII, paragraph 12(c). At such a special session, the Conference shall consider the matter and may recommend any measure it deems appropriate to resolve the situation.

Procedures for Challenge Inspections

8. 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 Director‑General and in accordance with the Verification Annex.

9. Each State Party is under the obligation to keep the inspection request within the scope of this Convention and to provide in the inspection request all appropriate information on the basis of which a concern has arisen regarding possible non‑compliance with this Convention as specified in the Verification Annex. Each State Party shall refrain from unfounded inspection requests, care being taken to avoid abuse. The challenge inspection shall be carried out for the sole purpose of determining facts relating to the possible non‑compliance.

10. For the purpose of verifying compliance with the provisions of this Convention, each State Party shall permit the Technical Secretariat to conduct the on‑site challenge inspection pursuant to paragraph 8.

11. Pursuant to a request for a challenge inspection of a facility or location, and in accordance with the procedures provided for in the Verification Annex, the inspected State Party shall have:

(a) the right and the obligation to make every reasonable effort to demonstrate its compliance with this Convention and, to this end, to enable the inspection team to fulfil its mandate;

(b) the obligation to provide access within the requested site for the sole purpose of establishing facts relevant to the concern regarding possible non‑compliance; and

(c) the right to take measures to protect sensitive installations, and to prevent disclosure of confidential information and data, not related to this Convention.

12. With regard to an observer, the following shall apply:

(a) The requesting State Party may, subject to the agreement of the inspected State Party, send a representative who may be a national either of the requesting State Party or of a third State Party, to observe the conduct of the challenge inspection.

(b) The inspected State Party shall then grant access to the observer in accordance with the Verification Annex.

(c) The inspected State Party shall, as a rule, accept the proposed observer, but if the inspected State Party exercises a refusal, that fact shall be recorded in the final report.

13. The requesting State Party shall present an inspection request for an on‑site challenge inspection to the Executive Council and at the same time to the Director‑General for immediate processing.

14. The Director‑General shall immediately ascertain that the inspection request meets the requirements specified in Part X, paragraph 4, of the Verification Annex, and, if necessary, assist the requesting State Party in filing the inspection request accordingly. When the inspection request fulfils the requirements, preparations for the challenge inspection shall begin.

15. The Director‑General shall transmit the inspection request to the inspected State Party not less than 12 hours before the planned arrival of the inspection team at the point of entry.

16. After having received the inspection request, the Executive Council shall take cognizance of the Director‑General’s actions on the request and shall keep the case under its consideration throughout the inspection procedure. However, its deliberations shall not delay the inspection process.

17. The Executive Council may, not later than 12 hours after having received the inspection request, decide by a three‑quarter majority of all its members against carrying out the challenge inspection, if it considers the inspection request to be frivolous, abusive or clearly beyond the scope of this Convention as described in paragraph 8. Neither the requesting nor the inspected State Party shall participate in such a decision. If the Executive Council decides against the challenge inspection, preparations shall be stopped, no further action on the inspection request shall be taken, and the States Parties concerned shall be informed accordingly.

18. The Director‑General shall issue an inspection mandate for the conduct of the challenge inspection. The inspection mandate shall be the inspection request referred to in paragraphs 8 and 9 put into operational terms, and shall conform with the inspection request.

19. The challenge inspection shall be conducted in accordance with Part X or, in the case of alleged use, in accordance with Part XI of the Verification Annex. The inspection team shall be guided by the principle of conducting the challenge inspection in the least intrusive manner possible, consistent with the effective and timely accomplishment of its mission.

20. The inspected State Party shall assist the inspection team throughout the challenge inspection and facilitate its task. If the inspected State Party proposes, pursuant to Part X, Section C, of the Verification Annex, arrangements to demonstrate compliance with this Convention, alternative to full and comprehensive access, it shall make every reasonable effort, through consultations with the inspection team, to reach agreement on the modalities for establishing the facts with the aim of demonstrating its compliance.

21. The final report shall contain the factual findings as well as an assessment by the inspection team of the degree and nature of access and cooperation granted for the satisfactory implementation of the challenge inspection. The Director‑General shall promptly transmit the final report of the inspection team to the requesting State Party, to the inspected State Party, to the Executive Council and to all other States Parties. The Director‑General shall further transmit promptly to the Executive Council the assessments of the requesting and of the inspected States Parties, as well as the views of other States Parties which may be conveyed to the Director‑General for that purpose, and then provide them to all States Parties.

22. The Executive Council shall, in accordance with its powers and functions, review the final report of the inspection team as soon as it is presented, and address any concerns as to:

(a) whether any non‑compliance has occurred;

(b) whether the request had been within the scope of this Convention; and

23. If the Executive Council reaches the conclusion, in keeping with its powers and functions, that further action may be necessary with regard to paragraph 22, it shall take the appropriate measures to redress the situation and to ensure compliance with this Convention, including specific recommendations to the Conference. In the case of abuse, the Executive Council shall examine whether the requesting State Party should bear any of the financial implications of the challenge inspection.

24. The requesting State Party and the inspected State Party shall have the right to participate in the review process. The Executive Council shall inform the States Parties and the next session of the Conference of the outcome of the process.

25. If the Executive Council has made specific recommendations to the Conference, the Conference shall consider action in accordance with Article XII.

Article X

Assistance and protection against chemical weapons

1. For the purposes of this Article, “Assistance” means the coordination and delivery to State Parties of protection against chemical weapons, including, inter alia, the following: detection equipment and alarm systems; protective equipment; decontamination equipment and decontaminants; medical antidotes and treatments; and advice on any of these protective measures.

2. Nothing in this Convention shall be interpreted as impeding the right of any State Party to conduct research into, develop, produce, acquire, transfer or use means of protection against chemical weapons, for purposes not prohibited under this Convention.

3. Each State Party undertakes to facilitate, and shall have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, material and scientific and technological information concerning means of protection against chemical weapons.

4. For the purposes of increasing the transparency of national programmes related to protective purposes, each State Party shall provide annually to the Technical Secretariat information on its programme, in accordance with procedures to be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i).

5. The Technical Secretariat shall establish, not later than 180 days after entry into force of this Convention and maintain, for the use of any requesting State Party, a data bank containing freely available information concerning various means of protection against chemical weapons as well as such information as may be provided by States Parties.

The Technical Secretariat shall also, within the resources available to it, and at the request of a State Party, provide expert advice and assist the State Party in identifying how its programmes for the development and improvement of a protective capacity against chemical weapons could be implemented.

6. Nothing in this Convention shall be interpreted as impeding the right of States Parties to request and provide assistance bilaterally and to conclude individual agreements with other States Parties concerning the emergency procurement of assistance.

7. Each State Party undertakes to provide assistance through the Organization and to this end to elect to take one or more of the following measures:

(a) to contribute to the voluntary fund for assistance to be established by the Conference at its first session;

(b) to conclude, if possible not later than 180 days after this Convention enters into force for it, agreements with the Organization concerning the procurement, upon demand, of assistance;

(c) to declare, not later than 180 days after this Convention enters into force for it, the kind of assistance it might provide in response to an appeal by the Organization. If, however, a State Party subsequently is unable to provide the assistance envisaged in its declaration, it is still under the obligation to provide assistance in accordance with this paragraph.

8. Each State Party has the right to request and, subject to the procedures set forth in paragraphs 9, 10 and 11, to receive assistance and protection against the use or threat of use of chemical weapons if it considers that:

(a) chemical weapons have been used against it;

(b) riot control agents have been used against it as a method of warfare; or

9. The request, substantiated by relevant information, shall be submitted to the Director‑General, who shall transmit it immediately to the Executive Council and to all States Parties. The Director‑General shall immediately forward the request to States Parties which have volunteered, in accordance with paragraphs 7(b) and (c), to dispatch emergency assistance in case of use of chemical weapons or use of riot control agents as a method of warfare, or humanitarian assistance in case of serious threat of use of chemical weapons or serious threat of use of riot control agents as a method of warfare to the State Party concerned not later than 12 hours after receipt of the request. The Director‑General shall initiate, not later than 24 hours after receipt of the request, an investigation in order to provide foundation for further action. He shall complete the investigation within 72 hours and forward a report to the Executive Council. If additional time is required for completion of the investigation, an interim report shall be submitted within the same time‑frame. The additional time required for investigation shall not exceed 72 hours. It may, however, be further extended by similar periods. Reports at the end of each additional period shall be submitted to the Executive Council. The investigation shall, as appropriate and in conformity with the request and the information accompanying the request, establish relevant facts related to the request as well as the type and scope of supplementary assistance and protection needed.

10. The Executive Council shall meet not later than 24 hours after receiving an investigation report to consider the situation and shall take a decision by simple majority within the following 24 hours on whether to instruct the Technical Secretariat to provide supplementary assistance. The Technical Secretariat shall immediately transmit to all States Parties and relevant international organizations the investigation report and the decision taken by the Executive Council. When so decided by the Executive Council, the Director‑General shall provide assistance immediately. For this purpose, the Director‑General may cooperate with the requesting State Party, other States Parties and relevant international organizations. The States Parties shall make the fullest possible efforts to provide assistance.

11. If the information available from the ongoing investigation or other reliable sources would give sufficient proof that there are victims of use of chemical weapons and immediate action is indispensable, the Director‑General shall notify all States Parties and shall take emergency measures of assistance, using the resources the Conference has placed at his disposal for such contingencies. The Director‑General shall keep the Executive Council informed of actions undertaken pursuant to this paragraph.

Article XI

Economic and technological development

1. The provisions of this Convention shall be implemented in a manner which avoids hampering the economic or technological development of States Parties, and international cooperation in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under this Convention including the international exchange of scientific and technical information and chemicals and equipment for the production, processing or use of chemicals for purposes not prohibited under this Convention.

2. Subject to the provisions of this Convention and without prejudice to the principles and applicable rules of international law, the States Parties shall:

(a) have the right, individually or collectively, to conduct research with, to develop, produce, acquire, retain, transfer, and use chemicals;

(b) undertake to facilitate, and have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of chemicals, equipment and scientific and technical information relating to the development and application of chemistry for purposes not prohibited under this Convention;

(c) not maintain among themselves any restrictions, including those in any international agreements, incompatible with the obligations undertaken under this Convention, which would restrict or impede trade and the development and promotion of scientific and technological knowledge in the field of chemistry for industrial, agricultural, research, medical, pharmaceutical or other peaceful purposes;

(d) not use this Convention as grounds for applying any measures other than those provided for, or permitted, under this Convention nor use any other international agreement for pursuing an objective inconsistent with this Convention;

(e) undertake to review their existing national regulations in the field of trade in chemicals in order to render them consistent with the object and purpose of this Convention.

Article XII

Measures to redress a situation and to ensure compliance, including sanctions

1. The Conference shall take the necessary measures, as set forth in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, to ensure compliance with this Convention and to redress and remedy any situation which contravenes the provisions of this Convention. In considering action pursuant to this paragraph, the Conference shall take into account all information and recommendations on the issues submitted by the Executive Council.

2. In cases where a State Party has been requested by the Executive Council to take measures to redress a situation raising problems with regard to its compliance, and where the State Party fails to fulfil the request within the specified time, the Conference may, inter alia, upon the recommendation of the Executive Council, restrict or suspend the State Party’s rights and privileges under this Convention until it undertakes the necessary action to conform with its obligations under this Convention.

3. In cases where serious damage to the object and purpose of this Convention may result from activities prohibited under this Convention, in particular by Article I, the Conference may recommend collective measures to States Parties in conformity with international law.

4. The Conference shall in cases of particular gravity, bring the issue, including relevant information and conclusions, to the attention of the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council.

Article XIII

Relation to other international agreements

Nothing in this Convention shall be interpreted as in any way limiting or detracting from the obligations assumed by any State under the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925, and under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, signed at London, Moscow and Washington on 10 April 1972.

Article XIV

Settlement of disputes

1. Disputes that may arise concerning the application or the interpretation of this Convention shall be settled in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Convention and in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

2. When a dispute arises between two or more States Parties, or between one or more States Parties and the Organization, relating to the interpretation or application of this Convention, the parties concerned shall consult together with a view to the expeditious settlement of the dispute by negotiation or by other peaceful means of the parties’ choice, including recourse to appropriate organs of this Convention and, by mutual consent, referral to the International Court of Justice in conformity with the Statute of the Court. The States Parties involved shall keep the Executive Council informed of actions being taken.

3. The Executive Council may contribute to the settlement of a dispute by whatever means it deems appropriate, including offering its good offices, calling upon the States Parties to a dispute to start the settlement process of their choice and recommending a time‑limit for any agreed procedure.

4. The Conference shall consider questions related to disputes raised by States Parties or brought to its attention by the Executive Council. The Conference shall, as it finds necessary, establish or entrust organs with tasks related to the settlement of these disputes in conformity with Article VIII, paragraph 21(f).

5. The Conference and the Executive Council are separately empowered, subject to authorization from the General Assembly of the United Nations, to request the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion on any legal question arising within the scope of the activities of the Organization. An agreement between the Organization and the United Nations shall be concluded for this purpose in accordance with Article VIII, paragraph 34(a).

6. This Article is without prejudice to Article IX or to the provisions on measures to redress a situation and to ensure compliance, including sanctions.

Article XV

Amendments

1. Any State Party may propose amendments to this Convention. Any State Party may also propose changes, as specified in paragraph 4, to the Annexes of this Convention. Proposals for amendments shall be subject to the procedures in paragraphs 2 and 3. Proposals for changes, as specified in paragraph 4, shall be subject to the procedures in paragraph 5.

2. The text of a proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Director‑General for circulation to all States Parties and to the Depositary. The proposed amendment shall be considered only by an Amendment Conference. Such an Amendment Conference shall be convened if one third or more of the States Parties notify the Director‑General not later than 30 days after its circulation that they support further consideration of the proposal. The Amendment Conference shall be held immediately following a regular session of the Conference unless the requesting States Parties ask for an earlier meeting. In no case shall an Amendment Conference be held less than 60 days after the circulation of the proposed amendment.

3. Amendments shall enter into force for all States Parties 30 days after deposit of the instruments of ratification or acceptance by all the States Parties referred to under subparagraph (b) below:

(a) when adopted by the Amendment Conference by a positive vote of a majority of all States Parties with no State Party casting a negative vote; and

(b) ratified or accepted by all those States Parties casting a positive vote at the Amendment Conference.

4. In order to ensure the viability and the effectiveness of this Convention, provisions in the Annexes shall be subject to changes in accordance with paragraph 5, if proposed changes are related only to matters of an administrative or technical nature. All changes to the Annex on Chemicals shall be made in accordance with paragraph 5. Sections A and C of the Confidentiality Annex, Part X of the Verification Annex, and those definitions in Part I of the Verification Annex which relate exclusively to challenge inspections, shall not be subject to changes in accordance with paragraph 5.

5. Proposed changes referred to in paragraph 4 shall be made in accordance with the following procedures:

(a) the text of the proposed changes shall be transmitted together with the necessary information to the Director‑General. Additional information for the evaluation of the proposal may be provided by any State Party and the Director‑General. The Director‑General shall promptly communicate any such proposals and information to all States Parties, the Executive Council and the Depositary;

(b) not later than 60 days after its receipt, the Director‑General shall evaluate the proposal to determine all its possible consequences for the provisions of this Convention and its implementation and shall communicate any such information to all States Parties and the Executive Council;

(c) the Executive Council shall examine the proposal in the light of all information available to it, including whether the proposal fulfils the requirements of paragraph 4. Not later than 90 days after its receipt, the Executive Council shall notify its recommendation, with appropriate explanations, to all States Parties for consideration. States Parties shall acknowledge receipt within 10 days;

(d) if the Executive Council recommends to all States Parties that the proposal be adopted, it shall be considered approved if no State Party objects to it within 90 days after receipt of the recommendation. If the Executive Council recommends that the proposal be rejected, it shall be considered rejected if no State Party objects to the rejection within 90 days after receipt of the recommendation;

(e) if a recommendation of the Executive Council does not meet with the acceptance required under subparagraph (d), a decision on the proposal, including whether it fulfils the requirements of paragraph 4, shall be taken as a matter of substance by the Conference at its next session;

(f) the Director‑General shall notify all States Parties and the Depositary of any decision under this paragraph;

(g) changes approved under this procedure shall enter into force for all States Parties 180 days after the date of notification by the Director‑General of their approval unless another time period is recommended by the Executive Council or decided by the Conference.

Article XVI

Duration and withdrawal

1. This Convention shall be of unlimited duration.

2. Each State Party shall, in exercising its national sovereignty, have the right to withdraw from this Convention if it decides that extraordinary events, related to the subject‑matter of this Convention, have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country. It shall give notice of such withdrawal 90 days in advance to all other States Parties, the Executive Council, the Depositary and the United Nations Security Council. Such notice shall include a statement of the extraordinary events it regards as having jeopardized its supreme interests.

3. The withdrawal of a State Party from this Convention shall not in any way effect the duty of States to continue fulfilling the obligations assumed under any relevant rules of international law, particularly the Geneva Protocol of 1925.

Article XVII

Status of the Annexes

The Annexes form an integral part of this Convention. Any reference to this Convention includes the Annexes.

Article XVIII

Signature

This Convention shall be open for signature for all States before its entry into force.

Article XIX

Ratification

This Convention shall be subject to ratification by States Signatories according to their respective constitutional processes.

Article XX

Accession

Any State which does not sign this Convention before its entry into force may accede to it at any time thereafter.

Article XXI

Entry into force

1. This Convention shall enter into force 180 days after the date of the deposit of the 65th instrument of ratification, but in no case earlier than two years after its opening for signature.

2. For States whose instruments of ratification or accession are deposited subsequent to the entry into force of this Convention, it shall enter into force on the 30th day following the date of deposit of their instrument of ratification or accession.

Article XXII

Reservations

The Articles of this Convention shall not be subject to reservations. The Annexes of this Convention shall not be subject to reservations incompatible with its object and purpose.

Article XXIII

Depositary

The Secretary‑General of the United Nations is hereby designated as the Depositary of this Convention and shall, inter alia:

(a) promptly inform all signatory and acceding States of the date of each signature, the date of deposit of each instrument of ratification or accession and the date of the entry into force of this Convention, and of the receipt of other notices;

(b) transmit duly certified copies of this Convention to the Governments of all signatory and acceding States; and

Article XXIV

Authentic texts

This Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary‑General of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized to that effect, have signed this Convention.

DONE at Paris on 13 January 1993.

ANNEX ON CHEMICALS

CONTENTS

Page

A. Guidelines for Schedules of Chemicals.......................30

B. Schedules of Chemicals..................................31

A. GUIDELINES FOR SCHEDULES OF CHEMICALS

Guidelines for Schedule 1

1. The following criteria shall be taken into account in considering whether a toxic chemical or precursor should be included in Schedule 1:

(a) it has been developed, produced, stockpiled or used as a chemical weapon as defined in Article II;

(b) it poses otherwise a high risk to the object and purpose of this Convention by virtue of its high potential for use in activities prohibited under this Convention because one or more of the following conditions are met:

(i) it possesses a chemical structure closely related to that of other toxic chemicals listed in Schedule 1, and has, or can be expected to have, comparable properties;

(ii) it possesses such lethal or incapacitating toxicity as well as other properties that would enable it to be used as a chemical weapon;

(iii) it may be used as a precursor in the final single technological stage of production of a toxic chemical listed in Schedule 1, regardless of whether this stage takes place in facilities, in munitions or elsewhere;

Guidelines for Schedule 2

2. The following criteria shall be taken into account in considering whether a toxic chemical not listed in Schedule 1 or a precursor to a Schedule 1 chemical or to a chemical listed in Schedule 2, part A, should be included in Schedule 2:

(a) it poses a significant risk to the object and purpose of this Convention because it possesses such lethal or incapacitating toxicity as well as other properties that could enable it to be used as a chemical weapon;

(b) it may be used as a precursor in one of the chemical reactions at the final stage of formation of a chemical listed in Schedule 1 or Schedule 2, part A;

(c) it poses a significant risk to the object and purpose of this Convention by virtue of its importance in the production of a chemical listed in Schedule 1 or Schedule 2, part A;

(d) it is not produced in large commercial quantities for purposes not prohibited under this Convention.

Guidelines for Schedule 3

3. The following criteria shall be taken into account in considering whether a toxic chemical or precursor, not listed in other Schedules, should be included in Schedule 3:

(a) it has been produced, stockpiled or used as a chemical weapon;

(b) it poses otherwise a risk to the object and purpose of this Convention because it possesses such lethal or incapacitating toxicity as well as other properties that might enable it to be used as a chemical weapon;

(c) it poses a risk to the object and purpose of this Convention by virtue of its importance in the production of one or more chemicals listed in Schedule 1 or Schedule 2, part B;

(d) it may be produced in large commercial quantities for purposes not prohibited under this Convention.

B. SCHEDULES OF CHEMICALS

The following Schedules list toxic chemicals and their precursors. For the purpose of implementing this Convention, these Schedules identify chemicals for the application of verification measures according to the provisions of the Verification Annex. Pursuant to Article II, subparagraph 1(a), these Schedules do not constitute a definition of chemical weapons.

(Whenever reference is made to groups of dialkylated chemicals, followed by a list of alkyl groups in parentheses, all chemicals possible by all possible combinations of alkyl groups listed in the parentheses are considered as listed in the respective Schedule as long as they are not explicitly exempted. A chemical marked “*” on Schedule 2, part A, is subject to special thresholds for declaration and verification, as specified in Part VII of the Verification Annex.)

Schedule 1

(CAS registry

number)

A. Toxic chemicals:

(1) O‑Alkyl (≤ C10, incl. cycloalkyl) alkyl
(Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr)‑ phosphonofluoridates

e.g. Sarin: O‑Isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate (107‑44‑8)

Soman: O‑Pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate (96‑64‑0)

(2) O‑Alkyl (≤ C10, incl. cycloalkyl) N,N‑dialkyl
(Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr) phosphoramidocyanidates

e.g. Tabun: O‑Ethyl N,N‑dimethyl
phosphoramidocyanidate (77‑81‑6)

(3) O‑Alkyl (H or ≤ C10, incl. cycloalkyl) S‑2‑dialkyl
(Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr)‑aminoethyl alkyl
(Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr) phosphonothiolates and corresponding alkylated or protonated salts

e.g. VX: O‑Ethyl S‑2‑diisopropylaminoethyl methyl
phosphonothiolate (50782‑69‑9)

(4) Sulfur mustards:
2‑Chloroethylchloromethylsulfide (2625‑76‑5)

Mustard gas: Bis(2‑chloroethyl) sulfide (505‑60‑2)

Bis(2‑chloroethylthio)methane (63869‑13‑6)

Sesquimustard: 1,2‑Bis(2‑chloroethylthio) ethane (3563‑36‑8)

1,3‑Bis(2‑chloroethylthio)‑n‑propane(63905‑10‑2)

1,4‑Bis(2‑chloroethylthio)‑n‑butane(142868‑93‑7)

1,5‑Bis(2‑chloroethylthio)‑n‑pentane(142868‑94‑8)

Bis(2‑chloroethylthiomethyl)ether (63918‑90‑1)

O‑Mustard: Bis(2‑chloroethylthioethyl) ether (63918‑89‑8)

(5) Lewisites:

Lewisite 1: 2‑Chlorovinyldichloroarsine (541‑25‑3)

Lewisite 2: Bis(2‑chlorovinyl)chloroarsine (40334‑69‑8)

Lewisite 3: Tris(2‑chlorovinyl)arsine (40334‑70‑1)

(6) Nitrogen mustards:

HN1: Bis(2‑chloroethyl)ethylamine (538‑07‑8)

HN2: Bis(2‑chloroethyl)methylamine (51‑75‑2)

HN3: Tris(2‑chloroethyl)amine (555‑77‑1)

(7) Saxitoxin (35523‑89‑8)

(8) Ricin (9009‑86‑3)

B. Precursors:

(9) Alkyl (Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr) phosphonyldifluorides

e.g. DF: Methylphosphonyldifluoride (676‑99‑3)

(10) O‑Alkyl (H or ≤ C10, incl. cycloalkyl) O‑2‑dialkyl
(Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr)‑aminoethyl alkyl
(Me, Et, N‑Pr or i‑Pr) phosphonites and corresponding alkylated or protonated salts

e.g. QL: O‑Ethyl O‑2‑diisopropylaminoethyl
methylphosphonite (57856‑11‑8)

(11) Chlorosarin: O‑Isopropyl methylphosphonochloridate (1445‑76‑7)

(12) Chlorosoman: O‑Pinacolyl methylphosphonochloridate (7040‑57‑5)

Schedule 2

A. Toxic chemicals:

(1) Amiton: O,O‑Diethyl
S‑[2‑(diethylamino)ethyl]phosphorothiolate and
corresponding alkylated or protonated salts (78‑53‑5)

(2) PFIB: 1,1,3,3,3‑Pentafluoro‑2‑(trifluoromethyl)‑
1‑propene (382‑21‑8)

(3) BZ: 3‑Quinuclidinyl benzilate (*) (6581‑06‑2)

B. Precursors:

(4) Chemicals, except for those listed in Schedule 1, containing a phosphorus atom to which is bonded one methyl, ethyl or propyl (normal or iso) group but not further carbon atoms,

e.g. Methylphosphonyl dichloride (676‑97‑1)

Dimethyl methylphosphonate (756‑79‑6)

Exemption: Fonofos: O‑Ethyl S‑phenyl
ethylphosphonothiolothionate (944‑22‑9)

(5) N,N‑Dialkyl (Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr) phosphoramidic dihalides

(6) Dialkyl (Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr) N,N‑dialkyl
(Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr)‑phosphoramidates

(7) Arsenic trichloride (7784‑34‑1)

(8) 2,2‑Diphenyl‑2‑hydroxyacetic acid (76‑93‑7)

(9) Quinuclidine‑3‑ol (1619‑34‑7)

(10) N,N‑Dialkyl (Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr) aminoethyl‑2‑chlorides
and corresponding protonated salts

(11) N,N‑Dialkyl (Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr) aminoethane‑2‑ols
and corresponding protonated salts

Exemptions: N,N‑Dimethylaminoethanol and
corresponding protonated salts (108‑01‑0)

N,N‑Diethylaminoethanol
and corresponding protonated salts (100‑37‑8)

(12) N,N‑Dialkyl (Me, Et, n‑Pr or i‑Pr) aminoethane‑2‑thiols
and corresponding protonated salts

(13)Thiodiglycol: Bis(2‑hydroxyethyl)sulfide (111‑48‑8)

(14)Pinacolyl
alcohol: 3,3‑Dimethylbutane‑2‑ol (464‑07‑3)

Schedule 3

A. Toxic chemicals:

(1) Phosgene: Carbonyl dichloride (75‑44‑5)

(2) Cyanogen chloride (506‑77‑4)

(3) Hydrogen cyanide (74‑90‑8)

(4) Chloropicrin: Trichloronitromethane (76‑06‑2)

B. Precursors:

(5) Phosphorus oxychloride (10025‑87‑3)

(6) Phosphorus trichloride (7719‑12‑2)

(7) Phosphorus pentachloride (10026‑13‑8)

(8) Trimethyl phosphite (121‑45‑9)

(9) Triethyl phosphite (122‑52‑1)

(10) Dimethyl phosphite (868‑85‑9)

(11) Diethyl phosphite (762‑04‑9)

(12) Sulfur monochloride (10025‑67‑9)

(13) Sulfur dichloride (10545‑99‑0)

(14) Thionyl chloride (7719‑09‑7)

(15) Ethyldiethanolamine (139‑87‑7)

(16) Methyldiethanolamine (105‑59‑9)

(17) Triethanolamine (102‑71‑6)

ANNEX ON IMPLEMENTATION AND VERIFICATION

(“VERIFICATION ANNEX”)

CONTENTS

Page

Part I:	Definitions..........................	40
Part II:	General Rules of Verification..............	43
A.	Designation of inspectors and inspection assistants	43
B.	Privileges and immunities................	44
C.	Standing arrangements..................	45
	Points of entry.....................	45
	Arrangements for use of non‑scheduled aircraft	46
	Administrative arrangements...........	47
	Approved equipment.................	47
D.	Pre‑inspection activities............	47
	Notification.......................	47
	Entry into the territory of the inspected State Party or Host State and transfer to the inspection site	48
	Pre‑inspection briefing.........	48
E.	Conduct of inspections..................	48
	General rules......................	48
	Safety..........................	49
	Communications...................	49
	Inspection team and inspected State Party rights.......................	49
	Collection, handling and analysis of samples.	50
	Extension of inspection duration.........	51
	Debriefing........................	51
F.	Departure...........................	51
G.	Reports.............................	51
H.	Application of general provisions...........	51
Part III:	General provisions for verification measures pursuant to Articles IV, V and VI, paragraph 3	52
A.	Initial inspections and facility agreements......	52
B.	Standing arrangements..................	53
C.	Pre‑inspection activities............	53
Part IV (A):	Destruction of Chemical Weapons and its verification pursuant to Article IV	54
A.	Declarations.........................	54
	Chemical weapons..................	54
	Declarations of chemical weapons pursuant to Article III, paragraph 1(a)(iii)	55
	Declarations of past transfers and receipts...	55
	Submission of the general plan for destruction of chemical weapons	56
B.	Measures to secure the storage facility and storage facility preparation	56
C.	Destruction..........................	57
	Principles and methods for destruction of chemical weapons	57
	Order of destruction.................	57
	Modification of intermediate destruction deadlines	58
	Extension of the deadline for completion of destruction	59
	Detailed annual plans for destruction......	59
	Annual reports on destruction...........	61
D.	Verification..........................	61
	Verification of declarations of chemical weapons through on‑site inspection	61
	Systematic verification of storage facilities..	61
	Inspections and visits................	61
	Systematic verification of the destruction of chemical weapons	62
	Chemical weapons storage facilities at chemical weapons destruction facilities	64
	Systematic on‑site verification measures at chemical weapons destruction facilities	64
Part IV (B):	Old chemical weapons and abandoned chemical weapons	65
A.	General............................	65
B.	Regime for old chemical weapons...........	65
C.	Regime for abandoned chemical weapons......	66
Part V:	Destruction of chemical weapons production facilities and its verification pursuant to Article V	68
A.	Declarations.........................	68
	Declarations of chemical weapons production facilities	68
	Declarations of chemical weapons production facilities pursuant to Article III, paragraph 1(c)(iii)	69
	Declarations of past transfers and receipts...	69
	Submission of general plans for destruction..	70
	Submission of annual plans for destruction and annual reports on destruction	70
B.	Destruction..........................	70
	General principles for destruction of chemical weapons production facilities	70
	Principles and methods for closure of a chemical weapons production facility	70
	Technical maintenance of chemical weapons production facilities prior to their destruction	71
	Principles and methods for temporary conversion of chemical weapons production facilities into chemical weapons destruction facilities	71
	Principles and methods related to destruction of a chemical weapons production facility	72
	Order of destruction.................	73
	Detailed plans for destruction...........	73
	Review of detailed plans..............	74
C.	Verification..........................	75
	Verification of declarations of chemical weapons production facilities through on‑site inspection	75
	Systematic verification of chemical weapons production facilities and cessation of their activities	76
	Verification of destruction of chemical weapons production facilities	76
	Verification of temporary conversion of a chemical weapons production facility into a chemical weapons destruction facility	77
D.	Conversion of chemical weapons production facilities to purposes not prohibited under this Convention	77
	Procedures for requesting conversion......	77
	Actions pending a decision.............	79
	Conditions for conversion.............	79
	Decisions by the Executive Council and the Conference	79
	Detailed plans for conversion...........	80
	Review of detailed plans..............	80
Part VI:	Activities not prohibited under this Convention in accordance with Article VI:	82
	Regime for Schedule 1 chemicals and facilities related to such chemicals	82
A.	General provisions.....................	82
B.	Transfers...........................	82
C.	Production..........................	82
	General principles for production.........	82
	Single small‑scale facility.......	82
	Other facilities.....................	83
D.	Declarations.........................	83
	Single small‑scale facility.......	83
	Other facilities referred to in paragraphs 10 and 11	84
E.	Verification..........................	85
	Single small‑scale facility.......	85
	Other facilities referred to in paragraphs 10 and 11........................	85
Part VII:	Activities not prohibited under this Convention in accordance with Article VI:	86
	Regime for Schedule 2 chemicals and facilities related to such chemicals	86
A.	Declarations.........................	86
	Declarations of aggregate national data.....	86
	Declarations of plant sites producing, processing or consuming Schedule 2 chemicals	86
	Declarations on past production of Schedule 2 chemicals for chemical weapons purposes	88
	Information to States Parties...............	88
B.	Verification..........................	88
	General.........................	88
	Inspection aims....................	89
	Initial inspections...................	89
	Inspections.......................	89
	Inspection procedures................	90
	Notification of Inspection..............	90
C.	Transfers to States not Party to this Convention..	90
Part VIII:	Activities not prohibited under this Convention in accordance with Article VI:	91
	Regime for Schedule 3 chemicals and facilities related to such chemicals	91
A.	Declarations.........................	91
	Declarations of aggregate national data.....	91
	Declarations of plant sites producing Schedule 3 chemicals	91
	Declarations on past production of Schedule 3 chemicals for chemical weapons purposes	92
	Information to States Parties............	93
B.	Verification..........................	93
	General.........................	93
	Inspection aims....................	93
	Inspection procedures................	93
	Notification of inspection..............	94
C.	Transfers to States not Party to this Convention..	94
Part IX:	Activities not prohibited under this Convention in accordance with Article VI:	94
	Regime for other chemical production facilities..	94
A.	Declarations.........................	94
	List of other chemical production facilities..	94
	Assistance by the Technical Secretariat.....	95
	Information to States Parties............	95
B.	Verification..........................	95
	General.........................	95
	Inspection aims....................	96
	Inspection procedures................	96
	Notification of inspection..............	97
C.	Implementation and review of Section B.......	97
	Implementation....................	97
	Review..........................	97
Part X:	Challenge inspections pursuant to Article IX....	97
A.	Designation and selection of inspectors and inspection assistants	97
B.	Pre‑inspection activities............	98
	Notification.......................	98
	Entry into the territory of the inspected State Party or the Host State	99
	Alternative determination of final perimeter..	99
	Verification of location...............	100
	Securing the site, exit monitoring.........	100
	Pre‑inspection briefing and inspection plan	101
	Perimeter activities.....................	102
C.	Conduct of inspections..................	102
	General rules......................	102
	Managed access....................	103
	Observer.........................	104
	Duration of inspection................	104
D.	Post‑inspection activities...........	104
	Departure........................	104
	Reports..........................	105
Part XI:	Investigations in cases of alleged use of chemical weapons	105
A.	General............................	105
B.	Pre‑inspection activities............	105
	Request for an investigation............	105
	Notification.......................	106
	Assignment of inspection team..........	106
	Dispatch of inspection team............	106
	Briefings.........................	106
C.	Conduct of inspections..................	107
	Access..........................	107
	Sampling........................	107
	Extension of inspection site............	107
	Extension of inspection duration.........	107
	Interviews........................	107
D.	Reports.............................	108
	Procedures.......................	108
	Contents.........................	108
E.	States not Party to this Convention...........	108

PART I

DEFINITIONS

1. “Approved Equipment” means the devices and instruments necessary for the performance of the inspection team’s duties that have been certified by the Technical Secretariat in accordance with regulations prepared by the Technical Secretariat pursuant to Part II, paragraph 27 of this Annex. Such equipment may also refer to the administrative supplies or recording materials that would be used by the inspection team.

2. “Building” as referred to in the definition of chemical weapons production facility in Article II comprises specialized buildings and standard buildings.

(a) “Specialized Building” means:

(i) any building, including underground structures, containing specialized equipment in a production or filling configuration;

(ii) any building, including underground structures, which has distinctive features which distinguish it from buildings normally used for chemical production or filling activities not prohibited under this Convention.

(b) “Standard Building” means any building, including underground structures, constructed to prevailing industry standards for facilities not producing any chemical specified in Article II, paragraph 8(a)(i), or corrosive chemicals.

3. “Challenge Inspection” means the inspection of any facility or location in the territory or in any other place under the jurisdiction or control of a State Party requested by another State Party pursuant to Article IX, paragraphs 8 to 25.

4. “Discrete Organic Chemical” means any chemical belonging to the class of chemical compounds consisting of all compounds of carbon except for its oxides, sulfides and metal carbonates, identifiable by chemical name, by structural formula, if known, and by Chemical Abstracts Service registry number, if assigned.

5. “Equipment” as referred to in the definition of chemical weapons production facility in Article II comprises specialized equipment and standard equipment.

(a) “Specialized Equipment” means:

(i) the main production train, including any reactor or equipment for product synthesis, separation or purification, any equipment used directly for heat transfer in the final technological stage, such as in reactors or in product separation, as well as any other equipment which has been in contact with any chemical specified in Article II, paragraph 8(a)(i), or would be in contact with such a chemical if the facility were operated;

(ii) any chemical weapon filling machines;

(iii) any other equipment specially designed, built or installed for the operation of the facility as a chemical weapons production facility, as distinct from a facility constructed according to prevailing commercial industry standards for facilities not producing any chemical specified in Article II, paragraph 8(a)(i), or corrosive chemicals, such as: equipment made of high‑nickel alloys or other special corrosion‑resistant material; special equipment for waste control, waste treatment, air filtering, or solvent recovery; special containment enclosures and safety shields; non‑standard laboratory equipment used to analyse toxic chemicals for chemical weapons purposes; custom‑designed process control panels; or dedicated spares for specialized equipment.

(b) “Standard Equipment” means:

(i) production equipment which is generally used in the chemical industry and is not included in the types of specialized equipment;

(ii) other equipment commonly used in the chemical industry, such as: fire‑fighting equipment; guard and security/safety surveillance equipment; medical facilities, laboratory facilities; or communications equipment.

6. “Facility” in the context of Article VI means any of the industrial sites as defined below (“plant site”, “plant” and “unit”).

(a) “Plant Site” (Works, Factory) means the local integration of one or more plants, with any intermediate administrative levels, which are under one operational control, and includes common infrastructure, such as:

(i) administration and other offices;

(ii) repair and maintenance shops;

(iii) medical centre;

(iv) utilities;

(v) central analytical laboratory;

(vi) research and development laboratories;

(vii) central effluent and waste treatment area; and

(viii) warehouse storage.

(b) “Plant” (Production facility, Workshop) means a relatively self‑contained area, structure or building containing one or more units with auxiliary and associated infrastructure, such as:

(i) small administrative section;

(ii) storage/handling areas for feedstock and products;

(iii) effluent/waste handling/treatment area;

(iv) control/analytical laboratory;

(v) first aid service/related medical section; and

(vi) records associated with the movement into, around and from the site, of declared chemicals and their feedstock or product chemicals formed from them, as appropriate.

(c) “Unit” (Production unit, Process unit) means the combination of those items of equipment, including vessels and vessel set up, necessary for the production, processing or consumption of a chemical.

7. “Facility Agreement” means an agreement or arrangement between a State Party and the Organization relating to a specific facility subject to on‑site verification pursuant to Articles IV, V and VI.

8. “Host State” means the State on whose territory lie facilities or areas of another State, Party to this Convention, which are subject to inspection under this Convention.

9. “In‑Country Escort” means individuals specified by the inspected State Party and, if appropriate, by the Host State, if they so wish, to accompany and assist the inspection team during the in‑country period.

10. “In‑Country Period” means the period from the arrival of the inspection team at a point of entry until its departure from the State at a point of entry.

11. “Initial Inspection” means the first on‑site inspection of facilities to verify declarations submitted pursuant to Articles III, IV, V and VI and this Annex.

12. “Inspected State Party” means the State Party on whose territory or in any other place under its jurisdiction or control an inspection pursuant to this Convention takes place, or the State Party whose facility or area on the territory of a Host State is subject to such an inspection; it does not, however, include the State Party specified in Part II, paragraph 21 of this Annex.

13. “Inspection Assistant” means an individual designated by the Technical Secretariat as set forth in Part II, Section A, of this Annex to assist inspectors in an inspection or visit, such as medical, security and administrative personnel and interpreters.

14. “Inspection Mandate” means the instructions issued by the Director‑General to the inspection team for the conduct of a particular inspection.

15. “Inspection Manual” means the compilation of additional procedures for the conduct of inspections developed by the Technical Secretariat.

16. “Inspection Site” means any facility or area at which an inspection is carried out and which is specifically defined in the respective facility agreement or inspection request or mandate or inspection request as expanded by the alternative or final perimeter.

17. “Inspection Team” means the group of inspectors and inspection assistants assigned by the Director‑General to conduct a particular inspection.

18. “Inspector” means an individual designated by the Technical Secretariat according to the precedures as set forth in Part II, Section A, of this Annex, to carry out an inspection or visit in accordance with this Convention.

19. “Model Agreement” means a document specifying the general form and content for an agreement concluded between a State Party and the Organization for fulfilling the verification provisions specified in this Annex.

20. “Observer” means a representative of a requesting State Party or a third State Party to observe a challenge inspection.

21. “Perimeter” in case of challenge inspection means the external boundary of the inspection site, defined by either geographic coordinates or description on a map.

(a) “Requested Perimeter” means the inspection site perimeter as specified in conformity with Part X, paragraph 8, of this Annex;

(b) “Alternative Perimeter” means the inspection site perimeter as specified, alternatively to the requested perimeter, by the inspected State Party; it shall conform to the requirements specified in Part X, paragraph 17, of this Annex;

(c) “Final Perimeter” means the final inspection site perimeter as agreed in negotiations between the inspection team and the inspected State Party, in accordance with Part X, paragraphs 16 to 21, of this Annex;

(d) “Declared Perimeter” means the external boundary of the facility declared pursuant to Articles III, IV, V and VI.

22. “Period of Inspection”, for the purposes of Article IX, means the period of time from provision of access to the inspection team to the inspection site until its departure from the inspection site, exclusive of time spent on briefings before and after the verification activities.

23. “Period of Inspection”, for the purposes of Articles IV, V and VI, means the period of time from arrival of the inspection team at the inspection site until its departure from the inspection site, exclusive of time spent on briefings before and after the verification activities.

24. “Point of Entry” / “Point of Exit” means a location designated for the in‑country arrival of inspection teams for inspections pursuant to this Convention or for their departure after completion of their mission.

25. “Requesting State Party” means a State Party which has requested a challenge inspection pursuant to Article IX.

26. “Tonne” means metric ton, i.e. 1,000 kg.

PART II

GENERAL RULES OF VERIFICATION

A. DESIGNATION OF INSPECTORS AND INSPECTION ASSISTANTS

1. Not later than 30 days after entry into force of this Convention the Technical Secretariat shall communicate, in writing, to all States Parties the names, nationalities and ranks of the inspectors and inspection assistants proposed for designation, as well as a description of their qualifications and professional experiences.

2. Each State Party shall immediately acknowledge receipt of the list of inspectors and inspection assistants, proposed for designation communicated to it. The State Party shall inform the Technical Secretariat in writing of its acceptance of each inspector and inspection assistant, not later than 30 days after acknowledgement of receipt of the list. Any inspector and inspection assistant included in this list shall be regarded as designated unless a State Party, not later than 30 days after acknowledgement of receipt of the list, declares its non‑acceptance in writing. The State Party may include the reason for the objection.

In the case of non‑acceptance, the proposed inspector or inspection assistant shall not undertake or participate in verification activities on the territory or in any other place under the jurisdiction or control of the State Party which has declared its non‑acceptance. The Technical Secretariat shall, as necessary, submit further proposals in addition to the original list.

3. Verification activities under this Convention shall only be performed by designated inspectors and inspection assistants.

4. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 5, a State Party has the right at any time to object to an inspector or inspection assistant who has already been designated. It shall notify the Technical Secretariat of its objection in writing and may include the reason for the objection. Such objection shall come into effect 30 days after receipt by the Technical Secretariat. The Technical Secretariat shall immediately inform the State Party concerned of the withdrawal of the designation of the inspector or inspection assistant.

5. A State Party that has been notified of an inspection shall not seek to have removed from the inspection team for that inspection any of the designated inspectors or inspection assistants named in the inspection team list.

6. The number of inspectors or inspection assistants accepted by and designated to a State Party must be sufficient to allow for availability and rotation of appropriate numbers of inspectors and inspection assistants.

7. If, in the opinion of the Director‑General, the non‑acceptance of proposed inspectors or inspection assistants impedes the designation of a sufficient number of inspectors or inspection assistants or otherwise hampers the effective fulfilment of the tasks of the Technical Secretariat, the Director‑General shall refer the issue to the Executive Council.

8. Whenever amendments to the above‑mentioned lists of inspectors and inspection assistants are necessary or requested, replacement inspectors and inspection assistants shall be designated in the same manner as set forth with respect to the initial list.

9. The members of the inspection team carrying out an inspection of a facility of a State Party located on the territory of another State Party shall be designated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Annex as applied both to the inspected State Party and the Host State Party.

B. PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

10. Each State Party shall, not later than 30 days after acknowledgement of receipt of the list of inspectors and inspection assistants or of changes thereto, provide multiple entry/exit and/or transit visas and other such documents to enable each inspector or inspection assistant to enter and to remain on the territory of that State Party for the purpose of carrying out inspection activities. These documents shall be valid for at least two years after their provision to the Technical Secretariat.

11. To exercise their functions effectively, inspectors and inspection assistants shall be accorded privileges and immunities as set forth in subparagraphs (a) to (i). Privileges and immunities shall be granted to members of the inspection team for the sake of this Convention and not for the personal benefit of the individuals themselves. Such privileges and immunities shall be accorded to them for the entire period between arrival on and departure from the territory of the inspected State Party or Host State, and thereafter with respect to acts previously performed in the exercise of their official functions.

(a) the members of the inspection team shall be accorded the inviolability enjoyed by diplomatic agents pursuant to Article 29 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961.

(b) the living quarters and office premises occupied by the inspection team carrying out inspection activities pursuant to this Convention shall be accorded the inviolability and protection accorded to the premises of diplomatic agents pursuant to Article 30, paragraph 1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

(c) the papers and correspondence, including records, of the inspection team shall enjoy the inviolability accorded to all papers and correspondence of diplomatic agents pursuant to Article 30, paragraph 2, of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The inspection team shall have the right to use codes for their communications with the Technical Secretariat.

(d) samples and approved equipment carried by members of the inspection team shall be inviolable subject to provisions contained in this Convention and exempt from all customs duties. Hazardous samples shall be transported in accordance with relevant regulations.

(e) the members of the inspection team shall be accorded the immunities accorded to diplomatic agents pursuant to Article 31, paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

(f) the members of the inspection team carrying out prescribed activities pursuant to this Convention shall be accorded the exemption from dues and taxes accorded to diplomatic agents pursuant to Article 34 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

(g) the members of the inspection team shall be permitted to bring into the territory of the inspected State Party or Host State Party, without payment of any customs duties or related charges, articles for personal use, with the exception of articles the import or export of which is prohibited by law or controlled by quarantine regulations.

(h) the members of the inspection team shall be accorded the same currency and exchange facilities as are accorded to representatives of foreign Governments on temporary official missions.

(i) the members of the inspection team shall not engage in any professional or commercial activity for personal profit on the territory of the inspected State Party or the Host State.

12. When transiting the territory of non‑inspected States Parties, the members of the inspection team shall be accorded the privileges and immunities enjoyed by diplomatic agents pursuant to Article 40, paragraph 1, of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Papers and correspondence, including records, and samples and approved equipment, carried by them, shall be accorded the privileges and immunities set forth in paragraph 11(c) and (d).

13. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities the members of the inspection team shall be obliged to respect the laws and regulations of the inspected State Party or Host State and, to the extent that is consistent with the inspection mandate, shall be obliged not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State. If the inspected State Party or Host State Party considers that there has been an abuse of privileges and immunities specified in this Annex, consultations shall be held between the State Party and the Director‑General to determine whether such an abuse has occurred and, if so determined, to prevent a repetition of such an abuse.

14. The immunity from jurisdiction of members of the inspection team may be waived by the Director‑General in those cases when the Director‑General is of the opinion that immunity would impede the course of justice and that it can be waived without prejudice to the implementation of the provisions of this Convention. Waiver must always be express.

15. Observers shall be accorded the same privileges and immunities accorded to inspectors pursuant to this section, except for those accorded pursuant to paragraph 11(d).

C. STANDING ARRANGEMENTS

Points of entry

16. Each State Party shall designate the points of entry and shall supply the required information to the Technical Secretariat not later than 30 days after this Convention enters into force for it. These points of entry shall be such that the inspection team can reach any inspection site from at least one point of entry within 12 hours. Locations of points of entry shall be provided to all States Parties by the Technical Secretariat.

17. Each State Party may change the points of entry by giving notice of such change to the Technical Secretariat. Changes shall become effective 30 days after the Technical Secretariat receives such notification to allow appropriate notification to all States Parties.

18. If the Technical Secretariat considers that there are insufficient points of entry for the timely conduct of inspections or that changes to the points of entry proposed by a State Party would hamper such timely conduct of inspections, it shall enter into consultations with the State Party concerned to resolve the problem.

19. In cases where facilities or areas of an inspected State Party are located on the territory of a Host State Party or where the access from the point of entry to the facilities or areas subject to inspection requires transit through the territory of another State Party, the inspected State Party shall exercise the rights and fulfil the obligations concerning such inspections in accordance with this Annex. The Host State Party shall facilitate the inspection of those facilities or areas and shall provide for the necessary support to enable the inspection team to carry out its tasks in a timely and effective manner. States Parties through whose territory transit is required to inspect facilities or areas of an inspected State Party shall facilitate such transit.

20. In cases where facilities or areas of an inspected State Party are located on the territory of a State not Party to this Convention, the inspected State Party shall take all necessary measures to ensure that inspections of those facilities or areas can be carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Annex. A State Party that has one or more facilities or areas on the territory of a State not Party to this Convention shall take all necessary measures to ensure acceptance by the Host State of inspectors and inspection assistants designated to that State Party. If an inspected State Party is unable to ensure access, it shall demonstrate that it took all necessary measures to ensure access.

21. In cases where the facilities or areas sought to be inspected are located on the territory of a State Party, but in a place under the jurisdiction or control of a State not Party to this Convention, the State Party shall take all necessary measures as would be required of an inspected State Party and a Host State Party to ensure that inspections of such facilities or areas can be carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Annex. If the State Party is unable to ensure access to those facilities or areas, it shall demonstrate that it took all necessary measures to ensure access. This paragraph shall not apply where the facilities or areas sought to be inspected are those of the State Party.

Arrangements for use of non‑scheduled aircraft

22. For inspections pursuant to Article IX and for other inspections where timely travel is not feasible using scheduled commercial transport, an inspection team may need to utilize aircraft owned or chartered by the Technical Secretariat. Not later than 30 days after this Convention enters into force for it, each State Party shall inform the Technical Secretariat of the standing diplomatic clearance number for non‑scheduled aircraft transporting inspection teams and equipment necessary for inspection into and out of the territory in which an inspection site is located. Aircraft routings to and from the designated point of entry shall be along established international airways that are agreed upon between the States Parties and the Technical Secretariat as the basis for such diplomatic clearance.

23. When a non‑scheduled aircraft is used, the Technical Secretariat shall provide the inspected State Party with a flight plan, through the National Authority, for the aircraft's flight from the last airfield prior to entering the airspace of the State in which the inspection site is located to the point of entry, not less than six hours before the scheduled departure time from that airfield. Such a plan shall be filed in accordance with the procedures of the International Civil Aviation Organization applicable to civil aircraft. For its owned or chartered flights, the Technical Secretariat shall include in the remarks section of each flight plan the standing diplomatic clearance number and the appropriate notation identifying the aircraft as an inspection aircraft.

24. Not less than three hours before the scheduled departure of the inspection team from the last airfield prior to entering the airspace of the State in which the inspection is to take place, the inspected State Party or Host State Party shall ensure that the flight plan filed in accordance with paragraph 23 is approved so that the inspection team may arrive at the point of entry by the estimated arrival time.

25. The inspected State Party shall provide parking, security protection, servicing and fuel as required by the Technical Secretariat for the aircraft of the inspection team at the point of entry when such aircraft is owned or chartered by the Technical Secretariat. Such aircraft shall not be liable for landing fees, departure tax, and similar charges. The Technical Secretariat shall bear the cost of such fuel, security protection and servicing.

Administrative arrangements

26. The inspected State Party shall provide or arrange for the amenities necessary for the inspection team such as communication means, interpretation services to the extent necessary for the performance of interviewing and other tasks, transportation, working space, lodging, meals and medical care. In this regard, the inspected State Party shall be reimbursed by the Organization for such costs incurred by the inspection team.

Approved equipment

27. Subject to paragraph 29, there shall be no restriction by the inspected State Party on the inspection team bringing onto the inspection site such equipment, approved in accordance with paragrah 28, which the Technical Secretariat has determined to be necessary to fulfil the inspection requirements. The Technical Secretariat shall prepare and, as appropriate, update a list of approved equipment, which may be needed for the purposes described above, and regulations governing such equipment which shall be in accordance with this Annex. In establishing the list of approved equipment and these regulations, the Technical Secretariat shall ensure that safety considerations for all the types of facilities at which such equipment is likely to be used, are taken fully into account. A list of approved equipment shall be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i).

28. The equipment shall be in the custody of the Technical Secretariat and be designated, calibrated and approved by the Technical Secretariat. The Technical Secretariat shall, to the extent possible, select that equipment which is specifically designed for the specific kind of inspection required. Designated and approved equipment shall be specifically protected against unauthorized alteration.

29. The inspected State Party shall have the right, without prejudice to the prescribed time‑frames, to inspect the equipment in the presence of inspection team members at the point of entry, i.e., to check the identity of the equipment brought in or removed from the territory of the inspected State Party or the Host State. To facilitate such identification, the Technical Secretariat shall attach documents and devices to authenticate its designation and approval of the equipment. The inspection of the equipment shall also ascertain to the satisfaction of the inspected State Party that the equipment meets the description of the approved equipment for the particular type of inspection. The inspected State Party may exclude equipment not meeting that description or equipment without the above‑mentioned authentication documents and devices. Procedures for the inspection of equipment shall be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i).

30. In cases where the inspection team finds it necessary to use equipment available on site not belonging to the Technical Secretariat and requests the inspected State Party to enable the team to use such equipment, the inspected State Party shall comply with the request to the extent it can.

D. PRE‑INSPECTION ACTIVITIES

Notification

31. The Director‑General shall notify the State Party before the planned arrival of the inspection team at the point of entry and within the prescribed time‑frames, where specified, of its intention to carry out an inspection.

32. Notifications made by the Director‑General shall include the following information:

(a) the type of inspection;

(b) the point of entry;

(d) the means of arrival at the point of entry;

(e) the site to be inspected;

(f) the names of inspectors and inspection assistants;

(g) if appropriate, aircraft clearance for special flights.

33. The inspected State Party shall acknowledge the receipt of a notification by the Technical Secretariat of an intention to conduct an inspection, not later than one hour after receipt of such notification.

34. In the case of an inspection of a facility of a State Party located on the territory of another State Party, both States Parties shall be simultaneously notified in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32.

Entry into the territory of the inspected State Party or Host State and transfer to the inspection site

35. The inspected State Party or Host State Party which has been notified of the arrival of an inspection team, shall ensure its immediate entry into the territory and shall through an in‑country escort or by other means do everything in its power to ensure the safe conduct of the inspection team and its equipment and supplies, from its point of entry to the inspection site(s) and to a point of exit.

36. The inspected State Party or Host State Party shall, as necessary, assist the inspection team in reaching the inspection site not later than 12 hours after the arrival at the point of entry.

Pre‑inspection briefing

37. Upon arrival at the inspection site and before the commencement of the inspection, the inspection team shall be briefed by facility representatives, with the aid of maps and other documentation as appropriate, on the facility, the activities carried out there, safety measures and administrative and logistic arrangements necessary for the inspection. The time spent for the briefing shall be limited to the minimum necessary and in any event not exceed three hours.

E. CONDUCT OF INSPECTIONS

General rules

38. The members of the inspection team shall discharge their functions in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, as well as rules established by the Director‑General and facility agreements concluded between States Parties and the Organization.

39. The inspection team shall strictly observe the inspection mandate issued by the Director‑General. It shall refrain from activities going beyond this mandate.

40. The activities of the inspection team shall be so arranged as to ensure the timely and effective discharge of its functions and the least possible inconvenience to the inspected State Party or Host State and disturbance to the facility or area inspected. The inspection team shall avoid unnecessarily hampering or delaying the operation of a facility and avoid affecting its safety. In particular, the inspection team shall not operate any facility. If inspectors consider that, to fulfil their mandate, particular operations should be carried out in a facility, they shall request the designated representative of the inspected facility to have them performed. The representative shall carry out the request to the extent possible.

41. In the performance of their duties on the territory of an inspected State Party or Host State, the members of the inspection team shall, if the inspected State Party so requests, be accompanied by representatives of the inspected State Party, but the inspection team must not thereby be delayed or otherwise hindered in the exercise of its functions.

42. Detailed procedures for the conduct of inspections shall be developed for inclusion in the inspection manual by the Technical Secretariat, taking into account guidelines to be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i).

Safety

43. In carrying out their activities, inspectors and inspection assistants shall observe safety regulations established at the inspection site, including those for the protection of controlled environments within a facility and for personal safety. In order to implement these requirements, appropriate detailed procedures shall be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i).

Communications

44. Inspectors shall have the right throughout the in‑country period to communicate with the Headquarters of the Technical Secretariat. For this purpose they may use their own, duly certified, approved equipment and may request that the inspected State Party or Host Party provide them with access to other telecommunications. The inspection team shall have the right to use its own two‑way system of radio communications between personnel patrolling the perimeter and other members of the inspection team.

Inspection team and inspected State Party rights

45. The inspection team shall, in accordance with the relevant Articles and Annexes of this Convention as well as with facility agreements and procedures set forth in the inspection manual, have the right to unimpeded access to the inspection site. The items to be inspected will be chosen by the inspectors.

46. Inspectors shall have the right to interview any facility personnel in the presence of representatives of the inspected State Party with the purpose of establishing relevant facts. Inspectors shall only request information and data which are necessary for the conduct of the inspection, and the inspected State Party shall furnish such information upon request. The inspected State Party shall have the right to object to questions posed to the facility personnel if those questions are deemed not relevant to the inspection. If the head of the inspection team objects and states their relevance, the questions shall be provided in writing to the inspected State Party for reply. The inspection team may note any refusal to permit interviews or to allow questions to be answered and any explanations given, in that part of the inspection report that deals with the cooperation of the inspected State Party.

47. Inspectors shall have the right to inspect documentation and records they deem relevant to the conduct of their mission.

48. Inspectors shall have the right to have photographs taken at their request by representatives of the inspected State Party or of the inspected facility. The capability to take instant development photographic prints shall be available. The inspection team shall determine whether photographs conform to those requested and, if not, repeat photographs shall be taken. The inspection team and the inspected State Party shall each retain one copy of every photograph.

49. The representatives of the inspected State Party shall have the right to observe all verification activities carried out by the inspection team.

50. The inspected State Party shall receive copies, at its request, of the information and data gathered about its facility(ies) by the Technical Secretariat.

51. Inspectors shall have the right to request clarifications in connection with ambiguities that arise during an inspection. Such requests shall be made promptly through the representative of the inspected State Party. The representative of the inspected State Party shall provide the inspection team, during the inspection, with such clarification as may be necessary to remove the ambiguity. If questions relating to an object or a building located within the inspection site are not resolved, the object or building shall, if requested, be photographed for the purpose of clarifying its nature and function. If the ambiguity cannot be removed during the inspection, the inspectors shall notify the Technical Secretariat immediately. The inspectors shall include in the inspection report any such unresolved question, relevant clarifications, and a copy of any photographs taken.

Collection, handling and analysis of samples

52. Representatives of the inspected State Party or of the inspected facility shall take samples at the request of the inspection team in the presence of inspectors. If so agreed in advance with the representatives of the inspected State Party or of the inspected facility, the inspection team may take samples itself.

53. Where possible, the analysis of samples shall be performed on‑site. The inspection team shall have the right to perform on‑site analysis of samples using approved equipment brought by it. At the request of the inspection team, the inspected State Party shall, in accordance with agreed procedures, provide assistance for the analysis of samples on‑site. Alternatively, the inspection team may request that appropriate analysis on‑site be performed in its presence.

54. The inspected State Party has the right to retain portions of all samples taken or take duplicate samples and be present when samples are analysed on‑site.

55. The inspection team shall, if it deems it necessary, transfer samples for analysis off‑site at laboratories designated by the Organization.

56. The Director‑General shall have the primary responsibility for the security, integrity and preservation of samples and for ensuring that the confidentiality of samples transferred for analysis off‑site is protected. The Director‑General shall do so in accordance with procedures, to be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i), for inclusion in the inspection manual. He shall:

(a) establish a stringent regime governing the collection, handling, transport and analysis of samples;

(b) certify the laboratories designated to perform different types of analysis;

(c) oversee the standardization of equipment and procedures at these designated laboratories, mobile analytical equipment and procedures, and monitor quality control and overall standards in relation to the certification of these laboratories, mobile equipment and procedures; and

(d) select from among the designated laboratories those which shall perform analytical or other functions in relation to specific investigations.

57. When off‑site analysis is to be performed, samples shall be analysed in at least two designated laboratories. The Technical Secretariat shall ensure the expeditious processing of the analysis. The samples shall be accounted for by the Technical Secretariat and any unused samples or portions thereof shall be returned to the Technical Secretariat.

58. The Technical Secretariat shall compile the results of the laboratory analysis of samples relevant to compliance with this Convention and include them in the final inspection report. The Technical Secretariat shall include in the report detailed information concerning the equipment and methodology employed by the designated laboratories.

Extension of inspection duration

59. Periods of inspection may be extended by agreement with the representative of the inspected State Party.

Debriefing

60. Upon completion of an inspection the inspection team shall meet with representatives of the inspected State Party and the personnel responsible for the inspection site to review the preliminary findings of the inspection team and to clarify any ambiguities. The inspection team shall provide to the representatives of the inspected State Party its preliminary findings in written form according to a standardized format, together with a list of any samples and copies of written information and data gathered and other material to be taken off site. The document shall be signed by the head of the inspection team. In order to indicate that he has taken notice of the contents of the document, the representative of the inspected State Party shall countersign the document. This meeting shall be completed not later than 24 hours after the completion of the inspection.

F. DEPARTURE

61. Upon completion of the post‑inspection procedures, the inspection team shall leave, as soon as possible, the territory of the inspected State Party or the Host State.

G. REPORTS

62. Not later than 10 days after the inspection, the inspectors shall prepare a factual, final report on the activities conducted by them and on their findings. It shall only contain facts relevant to compliance with this Convention, as provided for under the inspection mandate. The report shall also provide information as to the manner in which the State Party inspected cooperated with the inspection team. Differing observations made by inspectors may be attached to the report. The report shall be kept confidential.

63. The final report shall immediately be submitted to the inspected State Party. Any written comments, which the inspected State Party may immediately make on its findings shall be annexed to it. The final report together with annexed comments made by the inspected State Party shall be submitted to the Director‑General not later than 30 days after the inspection.

64. Should the report contain uncertainties, or should cooperation between the National Authority and the inspectors not measure up to the standards required, the Director‑General shall approach the State Party for clarification.

65. If the uncertainties cannot be removed or the facts established are of a nature to suggest that obligations undertaken under this Convention have not been met, the Director‑General shall inform the Executive Council without delay.

H. APPLICATION OF GENERAL PROVISIONS

66. The provisions of this Part shall apply to all inspections conducted pursuant to this Convention, except where the provisions of this Part differ from the provisions set forth for specific types of inspections in Parts III to XI of this Annex, in which case the latter provisions shall take precedence.

PART III

GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR VERIFICATION MEASURES PURSUANT TO ARTICLES IV, V and VI, PARAGRAPH 3

A. INITIAL INSPECTIONS AND FACILITY AGREEMENTS

1. Each declared facility subject to on‑site inspection pursuant to Articles IV, V, and VI, paragraph 3, shall receive an initial inspection promptly after the facility is declared. The purpose of this inspection of the facility shall be to verify information provided and to obtain any additional information needed for planning future verification activities at the facility, including on‑site inspections and continuous monitoring with on‑site instruments, and to work on the facility agreements.

2. States Parties shall ensure that the verification of declarations and the initiation of the systematic verification measures can be accomplished by the Technical Secretariat at all facilities within the established time‑frames after this Convention enters into force for them.

3. Each State Party shall conclude a facility agreement with the Organization for each facility declared and subject to on‑site inspection pursuant to Articles IV, V, and VI, paragraph 3.

4. Facility agreements shall be completed not later than 180 days after this Convention enters into force for the State Party or after the facility has been declared for the first time, except for a chemical weapons destruction facility to which paragraphs 5 to 7 shall apply.

5. In the case of a chemical weapons destruction facility that begins operations more than one year after this Convention enters into force for the State Party, the facility agreement shall be completed not less than 180 days before the facility begins operation.

6. In the case of a chemical weapons destruction facility that is in operation when this Convention enters into force for the State Party, or begins operation not later than one year thereafter, the facility agreement shall be completed not later than 210 days after this Convention enters into force for the State Party, except that the Executive Council may decide that transitional verification arrangements, approved in accordance with Part IV(A), paragraph 51, of this Annex and including a transitional facility agreement, provisions for verification through on‑site inspection and monitoring with on‑site instruments, and the time‑frame for application of the arrangements, are sufficient.

7. In the case of a facility, referred to in paragraph 6, that will cease operations not later than two years after this Convention enters into force for the State Party, the Executive Council may decide that transitional verification arrangements, approved in accordance with Part IV(A), paragraph 51, of this Annex and including a transitional facility agreement, provisions for verification through on‑site inspection and monitoring with on‑site instruments, and the time‑frame for application of the arrangements, are sufficient.

8. Facility agreements shall be based on models for such agreements and provide for detailed arrangements which shall govern inspections at each facility. The model agreements shall include provisions to take into account future technological developments and shall be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i).

9. The Technical Secretariat may retain at each site a sealed container for photographs, plans and other information that it may wish to refer to in the course of subsequent inspections.

B. STANDING ARRANGEMENTS

10. Where applicable, the Technical Secretariat shall have the right to have continuous monitoring instruments and systems and seals installed and to use them, in conformity with the relevant provisions in this Convention and the facility agreements between States Parties and the Organization.

11. The inspected State Party shall, in accordance with agreed procedures, have the right to inspect any instrument used or installed by the inspection team and to have it tested in the presence of representatives of the inspected State Party. The inspection team shall have the right to use the instruments that were installed by the inspected State Party for its own monitoring of the technological process of the destruction of chemical weapons. To this end, the inspection team shall have the right to inspect those instruments that it intends to use for purposes of verification of the destruction of chemical weapons and to have them tested in its presence.

12. The inspected State Party shall provide the necessary preparation and support for the establishment of continuous monitoring instruments and systems.

13. In order to implement paragraphs 11 and 12, appropriate detailed procedures shall be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i).

14. The inspected State Party shall immediately notify the Technical Secretariat if an event occurs or may occur at a facility where monitoring instruments are installed which may have an impact on the monitoring system. The inspected State Party shall coordinate subsequent actions with the Technical Secretariat with a view to restoring the operation of the monitoring system and establishing interim measures, if necessary, as soon as possible.

15. The inspection team shall verify during each inspection that the monitoring system functions correctly and that emplaced seals have not been tampered with. In addition, visits to service the monitoring system may be required to perform any necessary maintenance or replacement of equipment, or to adjust the coverage of the monitoring system as required.

16. If the monitoring system indicates any anomaly, the Technical Secretariat shall immediately take action to determine whether this resulted from equipment malfunction or activities at the facility. If, after this examination, the problem remains unresolved, the Technical Secretariat shall immediately ascertain the actual situation, including through immediate on‑site inspection of, or visit to, the facility if necessary. The Technical Secretariat shall report any such problem immediately after its detection to the inspected State Party which shall assist in its resolution.

C. PRE‑INSPECTION ACTIVITIES

17. The inspected State Party shall, except as specified in paragraph 18, be notified of inspections not less than 24 hours in advance of the planned arrival of the inspection team at the point of entry.

18. The inspected State Party shall be notified of initial inspections not less than 72 hours in advance of the estimated time of arrival of the inspection team at the point of entry.

PART IV(A)

DESTRUCTION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND ITS VERIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE IV

A. DECLARATIONS

Chemical Weapons

1. The declaration of chemical weapons by a State Party pursuant to Article III, paragraph 1(a)(ii), shall include the following:

(a) the aggregate quantity of each chemical declared;

(b) the precise location of each chemical weapons storage facility, expressed by:

(i) name;

(ii) geographical coordinates; and

(iii) a detailed site diagram, including a boundary map and the location of bunkers/storage areas within the facility.

(i) chemicals defined as chemical weapons in accordance with Article II;

(ii) unfilled munitions, sub‑munitions, devices and equipment defined as chemical weapons;

(iii) equipment specially designed for use directly in connection with the employment of munitions, sub‑munitions, devices or equipment specified in sub‑subparagraph (ii);

(iv) chemicals specifically designed for use directly in connection with the employment of munitions, sub‑munitions, devices or equipment specified in sub‑subparagraph (ii).

2. For the declaration of chemicals referred to in paragraph 1(c)(i) the following shall apply:

(a) chemicals shall be declared in accordance with the Schedules specified in the Annex on Chemicals;

(b) for a chemical not listed in the Schedules in the Annex on Chemicals the information required for possible assignment of the chemical to the appropriate Schedule shall be provided, including the toxicity of the pure compound. For a precursor, the toxicity and identity of the principal final reaction product(s) shall be provided;

(c) chemicals shall be identified by chemical name in accordance with current International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature, structural formula and Chemical Abstracts Service registry number, if assigned. For a precursor, the toxicity and identity of the principal final reaction product(s) shall be provided;

(d) in cases involving mixtures of two or more chemicals, each chemical shall be identified and the percentage of each shall be provided, and the mixture shall be declared under the category of the most toxic chemical. If a component of a binary chemical weapon consists of a mixture of two or more chemicals, each chemical shall be identified and the percentage of each provided;

(e) binary chemical weapons shall be declared under the relevant end product within the framework of the categories of chemical weapons referred to in paragraph 16. The following supplementary information shall be provided for each type of binary chemical munition/device:

(i) the chemical name of the toxic end‑product;

(ii) the chemical composition and quantity of each component;

(iii) the actual weight ratio between the components;

(iv) which component is considered the key component;

(v) the projected quantity of the toxic end‑product calculated on a stoichiometric basis from the key component, assuming 100 per cent yield. A declared quantity (in tonnes) of the key component intended for a specific toxic end‑product shall be considered equivalent to the quantity (in tonnes) of this toxic end‑product calculated on a stoichiometric basis assuming 100 per cent yield.

(f) for multicomponent chemical weapons, the declaration shall be analogous to that envisaged for binary chemical weapons;

(g) for each chemical the form of storage, i.e. munitions, sub‑munitions, devices, equipment or bulk containers and other containers shall be declared. For each form of storage the following shall be listed:

(i) type;

(ii) size or calibre;

(iii) number of items; and

(iv) nominal weight of chemical fill per item.

(h) for each chemical the total weight present at the storage facility shall be declared;

(i) in addition, for chemicals stored in bulk, the percentage purity shall be declared, if known.

3. For each type of unfilled munitions, sub‑munitions, devices or equipment, referred to in paragraph 1(c)(ii), the information shall include:

(a) the number of items;

(b) the nominal fill volume per item;

Declarations of chemical weapons pursuant to Article III, paragraph 1(a)(iii)

4. The declaration of chemical weapons pursuant to Article III, paragraph 1(a)(iii), shall contain all information specified in paragraphs 1 to 3 above. It is the responsibility of the State Party on whose territory the chemical weapons are located to make appropriate arrangements with the other State to ensure that the declarations are made. If the State Party on whose territory the chemical weapons are located is not able to fulfil its obligations under this paragraph, it shall state the reasons therefor.

Declarations of past transfers and receipts

5. A State Party that has transferred or received chemical weapons since 1 January 1946 shall declare these transfers or receipts pursuant to Article III, paragraph 1(a)(iv), provided the amount transferred or received exceeded 1 tonne per chemical per year in bulk and/or munition form. This declaration shall be made according to the inventory format specified in paragraphs 1 and 2. This declaration shall also indicate the supplier and recipient countries, the dates of the transfers or receipts and, as precisely as possible, the current location of the transferred items. When not all the specified information is available for transfers or receipts of chemical weapons for the period between 1 January 1946 and 1 January 1970, the State Party shall declare whatever information is still available to it and provide an explanation as to why it cannot submit a full declaration.

Submission of the general plan for destruction of chemical weapons

6. The general plan for destruction of chemical weapons submitted pursuant to Article III, paragraph 1(a)(v), shall provide an overview of the entire national chemical weapons destruction programme of the State Party and information on the efforts of the State Party to fulfil the destruction requirements contained in this Convention. The plan shall specify:

(a) a general schedule for destruction, giving types and approximate quantities of chemical weapons planned to be destroyed in each annual destruction period for each existing chemical weapons destruction facility and, if possible, for each planned chemical weapons destruction facility;

(b) the number of chemical weapons destruction facilities existing or planned to be operated over the destruction period;

(i) name and location; and

(ii) the types and approximate quantities of chemical weapons, and the type (for example, nerve agent or blister agent) and approximate quantity of chemical fill, to be destroyed;

(d) the plans and programmes for training personnel for the operation of destruction facilities;

(e) the national standards for safety and emissions that the destruction facilities must satisfy;

(f) information on the development of new methods for destruction of chemical weapons and on the improvement of existing methods;

(g) the cost estimates for destroying the chemical weapons; and

(h) any issues which could adversely impact on the national destruction programme.

B. MEASURES TO SECURE THE STORAGE FACILITY AND STORAGE FACILITY PREPARATION

7. Not later than when submitting its declaration of chemical weapons, a State Party shall take such measures as it considers appropriate to secure its storage facilities and shall prevent any movement of its chemical weapons out of the facilities, except their removal for destruction.

8. A State Party shall ensure that chemical weapons at its storage facilities are configured to allow ready access for verification in accordance with paragraphs 37 to 49.

9. While a storage facility remains closed for any movement of chemical weapons out of the facility other than their removal for destruction, a State Party may continue at the facility standard maintenance activities, including standard maintenance of chemical weapons; safety monitoring and physical security activities; and preparation of chemical weapons for destruction.

10. Maintenance activities of chemical weapons shall not include:

(a) replacement of agent or of munition bodies;

(b) modification of the original characteristics of munitions, or parts or components thereof.

11. All maintenance activities shall be subject to monitoring by the Technical Secretariat.

C. DESTRUCTION

Principles and methods for destruction of chemical weapons

12. “Destruction of chemical weapons” means a process by which chemicals are converted in an essentially irreversible way to a form unsuitable for production of chemical weapons, and which in an irreversible manner renders munitions and other devices unusable as such.

13. Each State Party shall determine how it shall destroy chemical weapons, except that the following processes may not be used: dumping in any body of water, land burial or open‑pit burning. It shall destroy chemical weapons only at specifically designated and appropriately designed and equipped facilities.

14. Each State Party shall ensure that its chemical weapons destruction facilities are constructed and operated in a manner to ensure the destruction of the chemical weapons; and that the destruction process can be verified under the provisions of this Convention.

Order of destruction

15. The order of destruction of chemical weapons is based on the obligations specified in Article I and the other Articles, including obligations regarding systematic on‑site verification. It takes into account interests of States Parties for undiminished security during the destruction period; confidence‑building in the early part of the destruction stage; gradual acquisition of experience in the course of destroying chemical weapons; and applicability irrespective of the actual composition of the stockpiles and the methods chosen for the destruction of the chemical weapons. The order of destruction is based on the principle of levelling out.

16. For the purpose of destruction, chemical weapons declared by each State Party shall be divided into three categories:

Category 1:	Chemical weapons on the basis of Schedule 1 chemicals and their parts and components;
Category 2:	Chemical weapons on the basis of all other chemicals and their parts and components;
Category 3:	Unfilled munitions and devices, and equipment specifically designed for use directly in connection with employment of chemical weapons.

17. A State Party shall start:

(a) the destruction of Category 1 chemical weapons not later than two years after this Convention enters into force for it, and shall complete the destruction not later than 10 years after entry into force of this Convention. A State Party shall destroy chemical weapons in accordance with the following destruction deadlines:

(i) Phase 1: Not later than two years after entry into force of this Convention, testing of its first destruction facility shall be completed. Not less than 1 per cent of the Category 1 chemical weapons shall be destroyed not later than three years after the entry into force of this Convention;

(ii) Phase 2: Not less than 20 per cent of the Category 1 chemical weapons shall be destroyed not later than five years after the entry into force of this Convention;

(iii) Phase 3: Not less than 45 per cent of the Category 1 chemical weapons shall be destroyed not later than seven years after the entry into force of this Convention;

(iv) Phase 4: All Category 1 chemical weapons shall be destroyed not later than 10 years after the entry into force of this Convention.

(b) the destruction of Category 2 chemical weapons not later than one year after this Convention enters into force for it and shall complete the destruction not later than five years after the entry into force of this Convention. Category 2 chemical weapons shall be destroyed in equal annual increments throughout the destruction period. The comparison factor for such weapons is the weight of the chemicals within Category 2; and

(c) the destruction of Category 3 chemical weapons not later than one year after this Convention enters into force for it, and shall complete the destruction not later than five years after the entry into force of this Convention. Category 3 chemical weapons shall be destroyed in equal annual increments throughout the destruction period. The comparison factor for unfilled munitions and devices is expressed in nominal fill volume (m3) and for equipment in number of items.

18. For the destruction of binary chemical weapons the following shall apply:

(a) for the purposes of the order of destruction, a declared quantity (in tonnes) of the key component intended for a specific toxic end‑product shall be considered equivalent to the quantity (in tonnes) of this toxic end‑product calculated on a stoichiometric basis assuming 100 per cent yield.

(b) a requirement to destroy a given quantity of the key component shall entail a requirement to destroy a corresponding quantity of the other component, calculated from the actual weight ratio of the components in the relevant type of binary chemical munition/device.

(c) if more of the other component is declared than is needed, based on the actual weight ratio between components, the excess shall be destroyed over the first two years after destruction operations begin.

(d) at the end of each subsequent operational year a State Party may retain an amount of the other declared component that is determined on the basis of the actual weight ratio of the components in the relevant type of binary chemical munition/device.

19. For multicomponent chemical weapons the order of destruction shall be analogous to that envisaged for binary chemical weapons.

Modification of intermediate destruction deadlines

20. The Executive Council shall review the general plans for destruction of chemical weapons, submitted pursuant to Article III, paragraph 1(a)(v), and in accordance with paragraph 6, inter alia, to assess their conformity with the order of destruction set forth in paragraphs 15 to 19. The Executive Council shall consult with any State Party whose plan does not conform, with the objective of bringing the plan into conformity.

21. If a State Party, due to exceptional circumstances beyond its control, believes that it cannot achieve the level of destruction specified for Phase 1, Phase 2 or Phase 3 of the order of destruction of Category 1 chemical weapons, it may propose changes in those levels. Such a proposal must be made not later than 120 days after the entry into force of this Convention and shall contain a detailed explanation of the reasons for the proposal.

22. Each State Party shall take all necessary measures to ensure destruction of Category 1 chemical weapons in accordance with the destruction deadlines set forth in paragraph 17(a) as changed pursuant to paragraph 21. However, if a State Party believes that it will be unable to ensure the destruction of the percentage of Category 1 chemical weapons required by an intermediate destruction deadline, it may request the Executive Council to recommend to the Conference to grant an extension of its obligation to meet that deadline. Such a request must be made not less than 180 days before the intermediate destruction deadline and shall contain a detailed explanation of the reasons for the request and the plans of the State Party for ensuring that it will be able to fulfil its obligation to meet the next intermediate destruction deadline.

23. If an extension is granted, the State Party shall still be under the obligation to meet the cumulative destruction requirements set forth for the next destruction deadline. Extensions granted pursuant to this Section shall not, in any way, modify the obligation of the State Party to destroy all Category 1 chemical weapons not later than 10 years after the entry into force of this Convention.

Extension of the deadline for completion of destruction

24. If a State Party believes that it will be unable to ensure the destruction of all Category 1 chemical weapons not later than 10 years after the entry into force of this Convention, it may submit a request to the Executive Council for an extension of the deadline for completing the destruction of such chemical weapons. Such a request must be made not later than nine years after the entry into force of this Convention.

25. The request shall contain:

(a) the duration of the porposed extension;

(b) a detailed explanation of the reasons for the proposed extension; and

(c) a detailed plan for destruction during the proposed extension and the remaining portion of the original 10‑year period for destruction.

26. A decision on the request shall be taken by the Conference at its next session, on the recommendation of the Executive Council. Any extension shall be the minimum necessary, but in no case shall the deadline for a State Party to complete its destruction of all chemical weapons be extended beyond 15 years after the entry into force of this Convention. The Executive Council shall set conditions for the granting of the extension, including the specific verification measures deemed necessary as well as specific actions to be taken by the State Party to overcome problems in its destruction programme. Costs of verification during the extension period shall be allocated in accordance with Article IV, paragraph 16.

27. If an extension is granted, the State Party shall take appropriate measures to meet all subsequent deadlines.

28. The State Party shall continue to submit detailed annual plans for destruction in accordance with paragraph 29 and annual reports on the destruction of Category 1 chemical weapons in accordance with paragraph 36, until all Category 1 chemical weapons are destroyed. In addition, not later than at the end of each 90 days of the extension period, the State Party shall report to the Executive Council on its destruction activity. The Executive Council shall review progress towards completion of destruction and take the necessary measures to document this progress. All information concerning the destruction activities during the extension period shall be provided by the Executive Council to States Parties, upon request.

Detailed annual plans for destruction

29. The detailed annual plans for destruction shall be submitted to the Technical Secretariat not less than 60 days before each annual destruction period begins pursuant to Article IV, paragraph 7(a), and shall specify:

(a) the quantity of each specific type of chemical weapon to be destroyed at each destruction facility and the inclusive dates when the destruction of each specific type of chemical weapon will be accomplished;

(b) the detailed site diagram for each chemical weapons destruction facility and any changes to previously submitted diagrams; and

(c) the detailed schedule of activities for each chemical weapons destruction facility for the upcoming year, identifying time required for design, construction or modification of the facility, installation of equipment, equipment check‑out and operator training, destruction operations for each specific type of chemical weapon, and scheduled periods of inactivity.

30. A State Party shall provide, for each of its chemical weapons destruction facilities, detailed facility information to assist the Technical Secretariat in developing preliminary inspection procedures for use at the facility.

31. The detailed facility information for each destruction facility shall include the following information:

(a) name, address and location;

(b) detailed, annotated facility drawings;

(d) detailed technical descriptions, including design drawings and instrument specifications, for the equipment required for: removing the chemical fill from the munitions, devices, and containers; temporarily storing the drained chemical fill; destroying the chemical agent; and destroying the munitions, devices, and containers;

(e) detailed technical descriptions of the destruction process, including material flow rates, temperatures and pressures, and designed destruction efficiency;

(f) design capacity for each specific type of chemical weapon;

(g) a detailed description of the products of destruction and the method of their ultimate disposal;

(h) a detailed technical description of measures to facilitate inspections in accordance with this Convention;

(i) a detailed description of any temporary holding area at the destruction facility that will be used to provide chemical weapons directly to the destruction facility, including site and facility drawings and information on the storage capacity for each specific type of chemical weapon to be destroyed at the facility;

(j) a detailed description of the safety and medical measures in force at the facility;

(k) a detailed description of the living quarters and working premises for the inspectors; and

(l) Suggested measures for international verification.

32. A State Party shall provide, for each of its chemical weapons destruction facilities, the plant operations manuals, the safety and medical plans, the laboratory operations and quality assurance and control manuals, and the environmental permits that have been obtained, except that this shall not include material previously provided.

33. A State Party shall promptly notify the Technical Secretariat of any developments that could affect inspection activities at its destruction facilities.

34. Deadlines for submission of the information specified in paragraphs 30 to 32 shall be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i).

35. After a review of the detailed facility information for each destruction facility, the Technical Secretariat, if the need arises, shall enter into consultation with the State Party concerned in order to ensure that its chemical weapons destruction facilities are designed to assure the destruction of chemical weapons, to allow advanced planning on how verification measures may be applied and to ensure that the application of verification measures is consistent with proper facility operation, and that the facility operation allows appropriate verification.

Annual reports on destruction

36. Information regarding the implementation of plans for destruction of chemical weapons shall be submitted to the Technical Secretariat pursuant to Article IV, paragraph 7(b), not later than 60 days after the end of each annual destruction period and shall specify the actual amounts of chemical weapons which were destroyed during the previous year at each destruction facility. If appropriate, reasons for not meeting destruction goals should be stated.

D. VERIFICATION

Verification of declarations of chemical weapons through on‑site inspection

37. The purpose of the verification of declarations of chemical weapons shall be to confirm through on‑site inspection the accuracy of the relevant declarations made pursuant to Article III.

38. The inspectors shall conduct this verification promptly after a declaration is submitted. They shall, inter alia, verify the quantity and identity of chemicals, types and number of munitions, devices and other equipment.

39. The inspectors shall employ, as appropriate, agreed seals, markers or other inventory control procedures to facilitate an accurate inventory of the chemical weapons at each storage facility.

40. As the inventory progresses, inspectors shall install such agreed seals as may be necessary to clearly indicate if any stocks are removed, and to ensure the securing of the storage facility during the inventory. After completion of the inventory, such seals will be removed unless otherwise agreed.

Systematic verification of storage facilities

41. The purpose of the systematic verification of storage facilities shall be to ensure that no undetected removal of chemical weapons from such facilities takes place.

42. The systematic verification shall be initiated as soon as possible after the declaration of chemical weapons is submitted and shall continue until all chemical weapons have been removed from the storage facility. It shall in accordance with the facility agreement, combine on‑site inspection and monitoring with on‑site instruments.

43. When all chemical weapons have been removed from the storage facility, the Technical Secretariat shall confirm the declaration of the State Party to that effect. After this confirmation, the Technical Secretariat shall terminate the systematic verification of the storage facility and shall promptly remove any monitoring instruments installed by the inspectors.

Inspections and visits

44. The particular storage facility to be inspected shall be chosen by the Technical Secretariat in such a way as to preclude the prediction of precisely when the facility is to be inspected. The guidelines for determining the frequency of systematic on‑site inspections shall be elaborated by the Technical Secretariat, taking into account the recommendations to be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i).

45. The Technical Secretariat shall notify the inspected State Party of its decision to inspect or visit the storage facility 48 hours before the planned arrival of the inspection team at the facility for systematic inspections or visits. In cases of inspections or visits to resolve urgent problems, this period may be shortened. The Technical Secretariat shall specify the purpose of the inspection or visit.

46. The inspected State Party shall make any necessary preparations for the arrival of the inspectors and shall ensure their expeditious transportation from their point of entry to the storage facility. The facility agreement will specify administrative arrangements for inspectors.

47. The inspected State Party shall provide the inspection team upon its arrival at the chemical weapons storage facility to carry out an inspection, with the following data on the facility:

(a) the number of storage buildings and storage locations;

(b) for each storage building and storage location, the type and the identification number or designation, shown on the site diagram; and

(c) for each storage building and storage location at the facility, the number of items of each specific type of chemical weapon, and, for containers that are not part of binary munitions, the actual quantity of chemical fill in each container.

48. In carrying out an inventory, within the time available, inspectors shall have the right:

(a) To use any of the following inspection techniques:

(i) inventory all the chemical weapons stored at the facility;

(ii) inventory all the chemical weapons stored in specific buildings or locations at the facility, as chosen by the inspectors; or

(iii) inventory all the chemical weapons of one or more specific types stored at the facility, as chosen by the inspectors; and

(b) To check all items inventoried against agreed records.

49. Inspectors shall, in accordance with facility agreements:

(a) have unimpeded access to all parts of the storage facilities including any munitions, devices, bulk containers, or other containers therein. While conducting their activity, inspectors shall comply with the safety regulations at the facility. The items to be inspected will be chosen by the inspectors; and

(b) have the right, during the first and any subsequent inspection of each chemical weapons storage facility, to designate munitions, devices, and containers from which samples are to be taken, and to affix to such munitions, devices, and containers a unique tag that will indicate an attempt to remove or alter the tag. A sample shall be taken from a tagged item at a chemical weapons storage facility or a chemical weapons destruction facility as soon as it is practically possible in accordance with the corresponding destruction programmes, and, in any case, not later than by the end of the destruction operations.

Systematic verification of the destruction of chemical weapons

50. The purpose of verification of destruction of chemical weapons shall be:

(a) to confirm the identity and quantity of the chemical weapons stocks to be destroyed; and

(b) to confirm that these stocks have been destroyed.

51. Chemical weapons destruction operations during the first 390 days after the entry into force of this Convention shall be governed by transitional verification arrangements. Such arrangements, including a transitional facility agreement, provisions for verification through on‑site inspection and monitoring with on‑site instruments, and the time‑frame for application of the arrangements, shall be agreed between the Organization and the inspected State Party. These arrangements shall be approved by the Executive Council not later than 60 days after this Convention enters into force for the State Party, taking into account the recommendations of the Technical Secretariat, which shall be based on an evaluation of the detailed facility information provided in accordance with paragraph 31 and a visit to the facility. The Executive Council shall, at its first session, establish the guidelines for such transitional verification arrangements, based on the recommendations to be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i). The transitional verification arrangements shall be designed to verify, throughout the entire transitional period, the destruction of chemical weapons in accordance with the purposes set forth in paragraph 50, and to avoid hampering ongoing destruction operations.

52. The provisions of paragraphs 53 to 61 shall apply to chemical weapons destruction operations that are to begin not earlier than 390 days after the entry into force of this Convention.

53. On the basis of this Convention and the detailed destruction facility information, and as the case may be, on experience from previous inspections, the Technical Secretariat shall prepare a draft plan for inspecting the destruction of chemical weapons at each destruction facility. The plan shall be completed and provided to the inspected State Party for comment not less than 270 days before the facility begins destruction operations pursuant to this Convention. Any differences between the Technical Secretariat and the inspected State Party should be resolved through consultations. Any unresolved matter shall be forwarded to the Executive Council for appropriate action with a view to facilitating the full implementation of this Convention.

54. The Technical Secretariat shall conduct an initial visit to each chemical weapons destruction facility of the inspected State Party not less than 240 days before each facility begins destruction operations pursuant to this Convention, to allow it to familiarize itself with the facility and assess the adequacy of the inspection plan.

55. In the case of an existing facility where chemical weapons destruction operations have already been initiated, the inspected State Party shall not be required to decontaminate the facility before the Technical Secretariat conducts an initial visit. The duration of the visit shall not exceed five days and the number of visiting personnel shall not exceed 15.

56. The agreed detailed plans for verification, with an appropriate recommendation by the Technical Secretariat, shall be forwarded to the Executive Council for review. The Executive Council shall review the plans with a view to approving them, consistent with verification objectives and obligations under this Convention. It should also confirm that verification schemes for destruction are consistent with verification aims and are efficient and practical. This review should be completed not less than 180 days before the destruction period begins.

57. Each member of the Executive Council may consult with the Technical Secretariat on any issues regarding the adequacy of the plan for verification. If there are no objections by any member of the Executive Council, the plan shall be put into action.

58. If there are any difficulties, the Executive Council shall enter into consultations with the State Party to reconcile them. If any difficulties remain unresolved they shall be referred to the Conference.

59. The detailed facility agreements for chemical weapons destruction facilities shall specify, taking into account the specific characteristics of the destruction facility and its mode of operation:

(a) detailed on‑site inspection procedures; and

(b) provisions for verification through continuous monitoring with on‑site instruments and physical presence of inspectors.

60. Inspectors shall be granted access to each chemical weapons destruction facility not less than 60 days before the commencement of the destruction, pursuant to this Convention, at the facility. Such access shall be for the purpose of supervising the installation of the inspection equipment, inspecting this equipment and testing its operation, as well as for the purpose of carrying out a final engineering review of the facility. In the case of an existing facility where chemical weapons destruction operations have already been initiated, destruction operations shall be stopped for the minimum amount of time required, not to exceed 60 days, for installation and testing of the inspection equipment. Depending on the results of the testing and review, the State Party and the Technical Secretariat may agree on additions or changes to the detailed facility agreement for the facility.

61. The inspected State Party shall notify, in writing, the inspection team leader at a chemical weapons destruction facility not less than four hours before the departure of each shipment of chemical weapons from a chemical weapons storage facility to that destruction facility. This notification shall specify the name of the storage facility, the estimated times of departure and arrival, the specific types and quantities of chemical weapons being transported, whether any tagged items are being moved, and the method of transportation. This notification may include notification of more than one shipment. The inspection team leader shall be promptly notified, in writing, of any changes in this information.

Chemical weapons storage facilities at chemical weapons destruction facilities

62. The inspectors shall verify the arrival of the chemical weapons at the destruction facility and the storing of these chemical weapons. The inspectors shall verify the inventory of each shipment, using agreed procedures consistent with facility safety regulations, prior to the destruction of the chemical weapons. They shall employ, as appropriate, agreed seals, markers or other inventory control procedures to facilitate an accurate inventory of the chemical weapons prior to destruction.

63. As soon and as long as chemical weapons are stored at chemical weapons storage facilities located at chemical weapons destruction facilities, these storage facilities shall be subject to systematic verification in conformity with the relevant facility agreements.

64. At the end of an active destruction phase, inspectors shall make an inventory of the chemical weapons, that have been removed from the storage facility, to be destroyed. They shall verify the accuracy of the inventory of the chemical weapons remaining, employing inventory control procedures as referred to in paragraph 62.

Systematic on‑site verification measures at chemical weapons destruction facilities

65. The inspectors shall be granted access to conduct their activities at the chemical weapons destruction facilities and the chemical weapons storage facilities located at such facilities during the entire active phase of destruction.

66. At each chemical weapons destruction facility, to provide assurance that no chemical weapons are diverted and that the destruction process has been completed, inspectors shall have the right to verify through their physical presence and monitoring with on‑site instruments:

(a) the receipt of chemical weapons at the facility;

(b) the temporary holding area for chemical weapons and the specific type and quantity of chemical weapons stored in that area;

(d) the process of destruction;

(e) the end‑product of destruction;

(f) the mutilation of metal parts; and

(g) the integrity of the destruction process and of the facility as a whole.

67. Inspectors shall have the right to tag, for sampling, munitions, devices, or containers located in the temporary holding areas at the chemical weapons destruction facilities.

68. To the extent that it meets inspection requirements, information from routine facility operations, with appropriate data authentication, shall be used for inspection purposes.

69. After the completion of each period of destruction, the Technical Secretariat shall confirm the declaration of the State Party, reporting the completion of destruction of the designated quantity of chemical weapons.

70. Inspectors shall, in accordance with facility agreements:

(a) have unimpeded access to all parts of the chemical weapons destruction facilities and the chemical weapons storage facilities located at such facilities, including any munitions, devices, bulk containers, or other containers, therein. The items to be inspected shall be chosen by the inspectors in accordance with the verification plan that has been agreed to by the inspected State Party and approved by the Executive Council;

(b) monitor the systematic on‑site analysis of samples during the destruction process; and

(c) receive, if necessary, samples taken at their request from any devices, bulk containers and other containers at the destruction facility or the storage facility thereat.

PART IV(B)

OLD CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND ABANDONED CHEMICAL WEAPONS

A. GENERAL

1. Old chemical weapons shall be destroyed as provided for in Section B.

2. Abandoned chemical weapons, including those which also meet the definition of Article II, paragraph 5(b), shall be destroyed as provided for in Section C.

B. REGIME FOR OLD CHEMICAL WEAPONS

3. A State Party which has on its territory old chemical weapons as defined in Article II, paragraph 5(a), shall, not later than 30 days after this Convention enters into force for it, submit to the Technical Secretariat all available relevant information, including, to the extent possible, the location, type, quantity and the present condition of these old chemical weapons.

In the case of old chemical weapons as defined in Article II, paragraph 5(b), the State Party shall submit to the Technical Secretariat a declaration pursuant to Article III, paragraph 1(b)(i), including, to the extent possible, the information specified in Part IV(A), paragraphs 1 to 3, of this Annex.

4. A State Party which discovers old chemical weapons after this Convention enters into force for it shall submit to the Technical Secretariat the information specified in paragraph 3 not later than 180 days after the discovery of the old chemical weapons.

5. The Technical Secretariat shall conduct an initial inspection, and any further inspections as may be necessary, in order to verify the information submitted pursuant to paragraphs 3 and 4 and in particular to determine whether the chemical weapons meet the definition of old chemical weapons as specified in Article II, paragraph 5. Guidelines to determine the usability of chemical weapons produced between 1925 and 1946 shall be considered and approved by the Conference pursuant to Article VIII, paragraph 21(i).

6. A State Party shall treat old chemical weapons that have been confirmed by the Technical Secretariat as meeting the definition in Article II, paragraph 5(a), as toxic waste. It shall inform the Technical Secretariat of the steps being taken to destroy or otherwise dispose of such old chemical weapons as toxic waste in accordance with its national legislation.

7. Subject to paragraphs 3 to 5, a State Party shall destroy old chemical weapons that have been confirmed by the Technical Secretariat as meeting the definition in Article II, paragraph 5(b), in accordance with Article IV and Part IV(A) of this Annex. Upon request of a State Party, the Executive Council may, however, modify the provisions on time‑limit and order of destruction of these old chemical weapons, if it determines that doing so would not pose a risk to the object and purpose of this Convention. The request shall contain specific proposals for modification of the provisions and a detailed explanation of the reasons for the proposed modification.

C. REGIME FOR ABANDONED CHEMICAL WEAPONS

8. A State Party on whose territory there are abandoned chemical weapons (hereinafter referred to as the “Territorial State Party”) shall, not later than 30 days after this Convention enters into force for it, submit to the Technical Secretariat all available relevant information concerning the abandoned chemical weapons. This information shall include, to the extent possible, the location, type, quantity and the present condition of the abandoned chemical weapons as well as information on the abandonment.

9. A State Party which discovers abandoned chemical weapons after this Convention enters into force for it shall, not later than 180 days after the discovery, submit to the Technical Secretariat all available relevant information concerning the discovered abandoned chemical weapons. This information shall include, to the extent possible, the location, type, quantity and the present condition of the abandoned chemical weapons as well as the information on the abandonment.

10. A State Party which has abandoned chemical weapons on the territory of another State Party (hereinafter referred to as the “Abandoning State Party”) shall, not later than 30 days after this Convention enters into force for it, submit to the Technical Secretariat all available relevant information concerning the abandoned chemical weapons. This information shall include, to the extent possible, the location, type, quantity as well as information on the abandonment, and the condition of the abandoned chemical weapons.

11. The Technical Secretariat shall conduct an initial inspection, and any further inspections as may be necessary, in order to verify all available relevant information submitted pursuant to paragraphs 8 to 10 and determine whether systematic verification in accordance with Part IV(A), paragraphs 41 to 43, of this Annex is required. It shall, if necessary, verify the origin of the abandoned chemical weapons and establish evidence concerning the abandonment and the identity of the Abandoning State.

12. The report of the Technical Secretariat shall be submitted to the Executive Council, the Territorial State Party, and to the Abandoning State Party or the State Party declared by the Territorial State Party or identified by the Technical Secretariat as having abandoned the chemical weapons. If one of the States Parties directly concerned is not satisfied with the report it shall have the right to settle the matter in accordance with provisions of this Convention or bring the issue to the Executive Council with a view to settling the matter expeditiously.

13. Pursuant to Article I, paragraph 3, the Territorial State Party shall have the right to request the State Party which has been established as the Abandoning State Party pursuant to paragraphs 8 to 12 to enter into consultations for the purpose of destroying the abandoned chemical weapons in cooperation with the Territorial State Party. It shall immediately inform the Technical Secretariat of this request.

14. Consultations between the Territorial State Party and the Abandoning State Party with a view to establishing a mutually agreed plan for destruction shall begin not later than 30 days after the Technical Secretariat has been informed of the request referred to in paragraph 13. The mutually agreed plan for destruction shall be transmitted to the Technical Secretariat not later than 180 days after the Technical Secretariat has been informed of the request referred to in paragraph 13. Upon the request of the Abandoning State Party and the Territorial State Party, the Executive Council may extend the time‑limit for transmission of the mutually agreed plan for destruction.

15. For the purpose of destroying abandoned chemical weapons, the Abandoning State Party shall provide all necessary financial, technical, expert, facility as well as other resources. The Territorial State Party shall provide appropriate cooperation.

16. If the Abandoning State cannot be identified or is not a State Party, the Territorial State Party, in order to ensure the destruction of these abandoned chemical weapons, may request the Organization and other States Parties to provide assistance in the destruction of these abandoned chemical weapons.

17. Subject to paragraphs 8 to 16, Article IV and Part IV(A) of this Annex shall also apply to the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons. In the case of abandoned chemical weapons which also meet the definition of old chemical weapons in Article II, paragraph 5(b), the Executive Council, upon the request of the Territorial State Party, individually or together with the Abandoning State Party, may modify or in exceptional cases suspend the application of provisions on destruction, if it determines that doing so would not pose a risk to the object and purpose of this Convention. In the case of abandoned chemical weapons which do not meet the definition of old chemical weapons in Article II, paragraph 5(b), the Executive Council, upon the request of the Territorial State Party, individually or together with the Abandoning State Party, may in exceptional circumstances modify the provisions on the time‑limit and the order of destruction, if it determines that doing so would not pose a risk to the object and purpose of this Convention. Any request as referred to in this paragraph shall contain specific proposals for modification of the provisions and a detailed explanation of the reasons for the proposed modification.

18. States Parties may conclude between themselves agreements or arrangements concerning the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons. The Executive Council may, upon request of the Territorial State Party, individually or together with the Abandoning State Party, decide that selected provisions of such agreements or arrangements take precedence over provisions of this Section, if it determines that the agreement or arrangement ensures the destruction of the abandoned chemical weapons in accordance with paragraph 17.

PART V

DESTRUCTION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS PRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ITS VERIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE V

A. DECLARATIONS

Declarations of chemical weapons production facilities

1. The declaration of chemical weapons production facilities by a State Party pursuant to Article III, paragraph 1(c)(ii), shall contain for each facility:

(a) the name of the facility, the names of the owners, and the names of the companies or enterprises operating the facility since 1 January 1946;

(b) the precise location of the facility, including the address, location of the complex, location of the facility within the complex including the specific building and structure