Decision of the Fifth Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) Weapons and on Their Destruction

Approved by Consensus of States Parties, 14 November, 2002

1.   The Conference decides to hold three annual meetings of the States Parties of one week duration each year, commencing in 2003 until the Sixth Review Conference, to be held no later than the end of 2006, to discuss and promote common understanding and effective action on:

i.     the adoption of necessary national measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the Convention, including the enactment of penal legislation;

ii.    national mechanisms to establish and maintain the security and oversight of pathogenic microorganisms and toxins;

iii.    enhancing international capabilities for responding to, investigating and mitigating the effects of cases of alleged use of biological or toxin weapons or suspicious outbreaks of disease;

iv.    strengthening and broadening national and international institutional efforts and existing mechanisms for the surveillance, detection, diagnosis, and combating of infectious diseases affecting humans, animals, and plants;

v.    the content, promulgation, and adoption of codes of conduct for scientists.

2.   All meetings, both of experts and of States Parties, will reach any conclusions or results by consensus.

3.   Each meeting of the States Parties will be prepared by a two-week meeting of experts. The topics for consideration at each annual meeting of States Parties will be as follows: items i and ii will be considered in 2003; items iii and iv will be considered in 2004; item v will be considered in 2005. The first meeting will be chaired by a representative of the Eastern Group, the second by a representative of the Group of Non-Aligned and Other States, and the third by a representative of the Western Group.

4.   The meetings of experts will prepare factual reports describing their work.

5.   The Sixth Review Conference will consider the work of these meetings and decide on any further action.

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