The Verification Research, Training and Information Centre

1

• The Verification Research, Training and
  Information Centre
• Lunchtime seminar
• Technical assistance for BWC implementation
• Friday, 9 December 2005

2
The Panel

• Angela Woodward, VERTIC
• VERTICs Guide to national implementation
  measures for the BWC
• Andreas Persbo, VERTIC
• Adopting appropriate and effective national
  measures technical assistance
• Adrian Baciu, Interpol
• Technical assistance and training for law
  enforcement

3
VERTICs project

• Building capacity to adopt national implementing
  legislation for biological and nuclear weapons
  treaties and UN Security Council Resolutions
• Awareness-raising and training materials
• Seminars in Geneva, New York and Vienna
• Regional seminars during 2006
• Focus nuclear and biological weapons

4
VERTICs Guide to national implementation
measures for the BWC

• General information on the BWC and implementation
  requirements
• Checklist for the legislator
• A model law The Biological and Toxin Weapons
  Crimes Act
• Sample legislation

5
Model implementing legislation

• The Biological and Toxin Weapons Crimes Act
• Part I Short Title
• Part II Implementation of the Convention
• Part III Enforcement
• Part IV Information and Documents
• Part V Regulations
• Part VI Final Provisions
• Schedule 1 Text of 1972 Biological Weapons
  Convention
• Schedule 2 Text of 1925 Geneva Protocol

6
Model implementing legislation

• The Biological and Toxin Weapons Crimes Act
• Offences
• No person shall develop, produce, manufacture,
  possess, stockpile, otherwise acquire or retain
  directly or indirectly or use BW,using
  definition in Article 1 BWC (Section 6)
• No person shall aid, abet, encourage, assist,
  counsel, procure, incite or finance the
  commission of, or attempt or conspire to commit,
  an offence under Section 6 (Section 7)
• Other offences relate to breaches of licensing
  arrangements, obstructing investigations, failing
  to fulfill directions or provide information and
  documents (Sections 8,14, 16, 20 and 22 and
  Subsection 21(2))
• Extra-territorial application (Section 18)
• Punishment
• Terms of imprisonment and fines for individuals
  and bodies corporate (Section 17)
• The terms and amount are not specified

7
Model implementing legislation

• The Biological and Toxin Weapons Crimes Act
• Enforcement
• Designation of a Responsible Authority to oversee
  implementation of the Act (Section 9)
• Designation of inspectors to enforce the Act
  (Section 10)
• Powers of inspectors entry and inspection,
  search and seizure (Sections 11-13)
• Directions requiring security measures (to ensure
  the security of dangerous substances) (Section
  15)
• Directions requiring disposal of dangerous
  substances (Section 16)
• Information and documents (Sections 20-23)
• Facilitates monitoring and investigations
• Facilitates the collection of information to
  report under the Confidence-Building Measure data
  exchanges under the BWC
• Regulations (Section 24)
• Identifying agents and toxins for licensing
  purposes