BIS eyes Chemical Weapons Convention’s impact

Information will be used to prepare certification to Congress on whether chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms are harmed by the convention’s implementation.    The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security is requesting comments from the industry on the commercial impacts of implementing the certain substances controlled by the Chemical Weapons Convention.
   Specifically, BIS is focused on those impacts involving so-called “Schedule 1” toxic chemicals during the 2018 calendar year.
   The agency will use this information to prepare its annual certification to Congress on whether chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms are harmed by the convention’s implementation through the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act and U.S. Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations. 
   The certification is required under Condition 9 of Senate Resolution 75 (April 24, 1997), in which the Senate gave its advice and consent to the ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
   The CWC is an international arms control treaty that contains certain verification provisions. In order to implement these verification provisions, the CWC established the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
   The CWC prohibits the import of “Schedule 1” chemicals from countries not party to the convention and opens chemical facilities to initial and routine inspections by OPCW monitors, among other things.
   BIS requires that all comments be submitted in writing by Jan. 10, 2019. The Federal Register notice is available here.