Chemical Weapons Convention procedures

Chemical Weapons Convention Chemicals Analysis discusses sample collection, sample preparation and analysis, and concentrates on verification that takes place on site, analyses off site, and methods and procedures used. In the first part of the book is discussed the mobile laboratory of the OPCW and instrumentation and software used therein, as well as other on-site analysis equipment, procedures, and strategies. The OPCW gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer for on-site analysis is described and... 

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) provides sampling and analysis as a tool for verification. General procedures to use sampling and analysis are outlined under the general rules of verification in the Verification Annex (VA) Part II paragraph 52-58, special provisions concerning different types of inspections are given in various parts of the VA. 

Between 1989 and 1993, the Finnish Institute for Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (VERIFTN) initiated four international interlaboratory comparison (round-robin) tests for the verification of chemical disarmament (2) to test the effectiveness of their procedures for the recovery of treaty-related chemicals (Chemical Warfare agents... 

This article reviews the sample preparation methods for analytical techniques used in offsite laboratories. The procedures described are from the ROPs (7) and procedures followed at the Finnish Institute for Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention, VERIFIN. The usefulness of the methods as demonstrated in international comparison and proficiency tests is noted. 

The Chemical Weapons Convention is intended to reinforce the existing political and legal inhibitions, add new norms against the possession of chemical weapons, and raise the possibility of states incurring economic and other sanctions if they fail to adhere to its provisions. Several commentators share the optimism expressed within the diplomatic community about its likely effects. Jay Brin maintains that the CWC, even with its imperfect verification procedures,. .. will deter illicit production . By removing the easiest proliferation pathways , the treaty, he contends, will drive up the financial and political costs of producing chemical... 

Recalling that the Preparatory Commission developed a Draft OPCW Policy on Confidentiality (OPOC) that includes the above mentioned issues as well as rules governing the composition and operating procedures of the Commission for the Settlement of Disputes Related to Confidentiality (hereinafter the Confidentiality Commission ) as required by paragraph 23 the Confidentiality Annex to the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter the the Confidentiality Annex ), in a combined manner ... 

Noting that paragraph 4 of Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter the Convention ) requires each State Party, for the purposes of increasing the transparency of national programmes related to protective purposes, to provide annually to the Technical Secretariat (hereinafter the Secretariat ) information on its programme, in accordance with procedures to be considered and approved by the Conference of the States Parties (hereinafter the Conference ) pursuant to paragraph 21 (i) of Article Vlll of the Convention ... 

The Third Review Conference considered and adopted a decision entitled Amendment of Rule 33 of the Rules of Procedure of the Conference of the States Parties with Respect to Attendance of Non-Governmental Organisations at Meetings of Special Sessions of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (RC-3/DEC.2, dated 8 April 2013). 

An interesting example deals with the identification of organophosphorus compounds in soil samples [13]. Such compounds can occur as degradation products of chemical weapons (CWs) in soil and other matrices. The convention for the prohibition of chemical weapons sets up procedures for the... 

Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC), and the international use of ricin or abrin as weapons is prohibited under the 1972 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (BTWC) Procedural Report and Rolling Text Ad Hoc Group 23rd session (April 23-May 11, 2001). 

The radical departure of this Convention from previous agreements is that it not only prohibits the use of chemical weapons (under any circumstances), but also prohibits their production and stockpiling. Furthermore, procedures for ensuring compliance, including routine and challenge inspections of declared or suspected CW facilities, are included in the agreement. 

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. 

Noting also that the challenge inspection procedures of the Convention, in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, also apply to such chemical weapons ... 

Recalling that the Commission, in its PC-V/12, subparagraph 6.2(a), adopted the understanding that the set of procedures identified as being necessary for the elosure/inactivation of CWPFs in the context of their subsequent destruction or, pending a final decision, their temporary conversion to chemical weapons destruction facilities or possible conversion for purposes not prohibited by the Convention, should apply in aU of the above three cases. 

It is arguable that the effectiveness of conventional munitions is such that the Russians would have no incentive to resort to chemical weapons which are likely to invite retaliation in kind or even a nuclear response. NATO, however, views the Soviet capability as a real threat and considers its use highly plausible. The DIA states The Soviets have developed the doctrine and plans for the use of chemical weapons including the targets to be attacked, and Soviet tacticians have standardized the procedures required . 

OSPAR Commission, The 2004 update on Convention-wide Practices and Procedures in Relation to Dumped Chemical Weapons and Munitions, 2004, ISBN 1-904426-53-0. 

In the event of an enemy attack with chemical agents, those in the military medical departments must consider first aid, treatment, evacuation, and decontamination procedures of contaminated casualties—some of whom may have injuries made by conventional weapons in addition to their chemical injuries. The ultimate objective in the management of all contaminated casualties is to provide the earliest and most effective treatment without compounding injuries or contaminating medical personnel and treatment facilities. 

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