IUPAC - the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry -
today provided to the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
a report on Impact of Scientific Developments on the Chemical
Weapons Convention. This report provides an evaluation of scientific
and technological advances in the chemical sciences that is expected
to assist the OPCW and the States Parties in preparations for the
First Review Conference of the Convention, scheduled for The Hague
in April, 2003.
Of the "weapons of mass destruction" - biological, chemical and
nuclear - only chemical weapons have a multilateral verification
regime. The IUPAC report comes against a backdrop of international
concern about potential use of chemical weapons by terrorists or
by rogue nations.
A copy of the report is attached [pdf
file - 222KB]. The report highlights developments in organic
synthesis and changes in chemical plant design that will pose new
challenges to the Convention, but it also describes recent and probable
future developments in analytical chemistry that may assist in implementation
of the Convention. The Key Issues identified at the Workshop are
given on p. 4 of the report, and IUPAC's Findings and Observations
are summarized in eighteen points on pp. 5-8.
The report was developed following a workshop held by IUPAC in
Bergen, Norway, June 30 to July 3, 2002. A number of eminent scientists
described advances in various fields, and the 79 participants from
34 countries discussed the implications for the implementation of
the Convention.
> link
to workshop report
IUPAC was asked to undertake this review as the leading international,
non-governmental organization devoted to the chemical sciences.
IUPAC is an organization of adhering organizations (chemical societies
or academies of science) in 44 countries..
Further information may be obtained from the IUPAC web site: www.iupac.org.
Background information on the Chemical Weapons Convention is available
at www.opcw.org .
Contact: Dr. John W. Jost,
Executive Director, IUPAC