Arusha - Green Customs Initiative

A delegate from Uganda noted that chemical weapons have linkage to environmental issues as
well as national security and therefore wanted to know which ministries/departments which
usually house National Authorities responsible for Chemical Weapons. In addition, he wanted
to know whether the CWC provide standardized permit forms to each State Party. In
response, Mr. Laza noted that the placement of the National Authority has much less influence
on its effectiveness and general functioning. He pointed out that some countries have their
National Authorities under Ministry of Defence for those handling chemical weapons, or
under the Ministries of Trade/Industry/Commerce for those not handling chemical weapons,
or some countries have National Committee/Commission of few experts with the opportunity
to co-opt additional experts from other relevant ministries when the need arises. He was of the
opinion that the last setting is more practical particularly in terms of resource requirements.
With regard to provision of standard permit forms, Mr. Laza explained that the OPCW does
not provide such forms; however, the Secretariat of the CWC can provide guidelines when
requested.
Referring to the reporting requirements by the CWC, a delegate from Kenya wanted to know
whether a company handling chemical weapons is required to report directly to the Secretariat
of the CWC. Mr. Laza explained that with reference to the Convention, companies are
required to report to the National Authority which will then transmit the information to the
Secretariat of the CWC.
A delegate from Kenya asked on what punitive measures are imposed onto a State Party that
is non-compliant to the CWC. Mr. Laza informed that compliance has different levels
including typos, unintentional wrong declaration, and technical breaches or at times could
involve exportation of chemical weapons from non-Parties. In addition, he pointed out that at
times States do not intentionally breach the Convention but rather individual companies.
However, he indicated that if a State Party is established to be breaching the Convention, the
matter will be reported to the Executive Council of the Convention, then transmitted to the
Conference of the Parties and finally to the United Nations Security Council for guidance and
final decision.
Customs Related Issues
Mr. Sandor Laza representing the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
based in Hague, the Netherlands highlighted on the key roles of Customs Officer in the
implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). He underscored the fact that
Customs Officers are in a unique position to detect illegal trafficking in chemical weapons
(CW) at borders. He noted that with faster and free trade, there are a few opportunities for
meaningful inspection of goods. He said that it is estimated that less than 2% of imported
cargo is inspected in many ports and borders. Moreover, Customs Officers are charged with
enforcing many laws regulating trade and have focused their resources on illegal narcotics and
goods that produce revenue through tariffs and security threats. In this regard, he stressed that
training Customs Officers in how to recognize and respond to illegal shipment of CW is
critical for the implementation of the CWC and for the national implementation of the
Convention.
Mr. Laza informed that the CWC Contains no overt Customs requirements, but State Parties
are obliged to: prevent shipments of Schedule 1 chemicals to non-States Parties and to third
States; report shipment of Schedule 1 chemicals in declarations; prevent shipments of
Schedule 2 chemicals above specified concentration limits to non-States Parties; prevent
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