Under Article VII each State Party in accordance with its constitutional processes is required to adopt the necessary measures to implement its obligations under the CWC. The importance of States Parties fulfilling their obligations under Article VII has been repeatedly reaffirmed by the Conference of the States Parties.
The table below compares the status of implementation of Article VII obligations by States Parties at the time of the adoption of the Action Plan regarding the Implementation of Article VII Obligations at the Eighth Conference of the States Parties (C-8/DEC.16, dated 24 October 2003) with the current status.
Under Article VII each State Party in accordance with its constitutional processes is required to adopt the necessary measures to implement its obligations under the CWC. The importance of States Parties fulfilling their obligations under Article VII has been repeatedly reaffirmed by the Conference of the States Parties. At its Twelfth Session, the Conference adopted a decision regarding the implementation of Article VII obligations (C-12/DEC.9, dated 9 November 2007), which urged States Parties that have yet to designate or establish a National Authority to do so, and to notify the OPCW thereof. The decision also requested States Parties to take the necessary steps to enact legislation and/or adopt administrative measures to implement the Convention, and to notify the OPCW of such steps.
Status of implementation of Article VII obligations
| OBLIGATIONS | As at 24 Oct 2003 (155 States Parties) | As at 18 August 2008 (184 States Parties) |
| National Authority designated or established | 126 (81%) | 177 (96%) |
| Article VII(5) submission received | 94 (61%) | 126 (68%) |
| Legislation covers all key areas | 51 (33%) | 82 (45%) |
| Text of adopted measures provided | 62 (40%) | 112 (61%) |
| Confirmation regarding Article XI(2e) Review | 39 (25%) | 59 (32%) |
Achievements since the last update on 19 May 2008:
- In August 2008, Bangladesh informed the Secretariat that it had drafted and adopted a National Authority Decree.
- In August 2008, Guinea informed the Secretariat that the draft of its implementing legislation had been submitted to the National Assembly.
- In July 2008, Liberia informed the Secretariat that the Parliament had adopted the national implementing legislation, which had been forwarded to the President for signature.
- In July 2008, Montenegro informed the Secretariat that it had adopted additional national implementing measures (a Law on Chemicals and a Law on the Transport of Dangerous Goods).
- In June 2008, Peru submitted to the Secretariat the text of its recently adopted national implementing legislation. This legislation is to enter into force 120 days after the publication of the implementing regulations that are to be adopted within 120 days after publication of the law.
- In May 2008, Indonesia submitted to the Secretariat the text of its implementing measures that had recently entered into force.