Existing BTWC Confidence-Building Measures

For CBM Forms click here

The Government of Canada has prepared a guide on how to complete the CBM forms. For this guide click here.

Some States Parties have posted their annual CBM declarations on the web. Click here for such CBM declarations.

In accordance with Article XII of the BTWC, Review Conferences have been held at approximately five-year intervals since it entered into force in 1975. At the Second Review Conference of the BTWC in 1986, the States Parties agreed some measures intended to strengthen compliance with the Convention and to improve transparency. These were enhanced and extended at the Third Review Conference in 1991. See Annex on Confidence Building Measures to the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference. These confidence-building measures (CBMs) consist of annual exchanges of data and information, as well as declarations of past and present activities of relevance to the Convention. The measures include:

* Measure A, Part 1 - Exchange of data on research centers and laboratories that meet very high national or international safety standards (WHO BL4/P4).

* Measure A, Part 2 - Exchange of information on national biological defence research and development (R&D) programs, including declarations of facilities where biological defence R&D programs are conducted. This measure also includes information relating to contractors and on available publications.

* Measure B - Exchange of information on outbreaks of infectious diseases and similar occurrences caused by toxins that seem to deviate from the normal pattern.

* Measure C - Encouragement of publication of results of biological research directly related to the Convention and promotion of use of knowledge.

* Measure D - Active promotion of contacts between scientists, other experts and facilities engaged in biological research directly related to the Convention, including exchanges and visits for joint research on a mutually agreed basis.

* Measure E - Declaration of legislation, regulations and other measures including exports and/or imports of pathogenic micro-organisms in accordance with the Convention.

* Measure F - Declaration of past activities in offensive and/or defensive biological R&D programmes since 1 January 1946.

* Measure G - Declarations on vaccine production facilities, licensed by the State Party for the protection of humans.

States Parties have also agreed annually to complete and submit a simple proforma indicating for each CBM whether they have "Nothing to declare" or "Nothing new to declare". Since 1987, over half of the States Parties have made one or more CBM declarations.*

 

Top | © Copyright/Disclaimer | Contact