Press Release

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the National Authority of the Royal Government of Bhutan for the Chemical Weapons Convention in collaboration with the Organization of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is hosting the 16th Regional Meeting of the National Authorities of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in Asia from 19 to 21 June 2018 in Thimphu. Representatives from 21 countries in Asia including three officials from the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW are attending the meeting. Participants from the RGoB include members of the Core Working Group for CWC.
This meeting will serve as a key platform for the National Authorities in Asia to discuss and share experiences regarding national implementation of the Convention with focus on issues related to trade in chemicals and the role of customs in enforcing the Convention transfers regime for scheduled chemicals. It is also expected to provide with a forum to cultivate mutual cooperation and support, discuss various implementation issues, and exchange views on the challenges and opportunities for advancing the fulfillment of national obligations under the Convention. The National Authority of Bhutan (MFA) for CWC and officials from the OPCW held a bilateral meeting on 18 June, 2018 to discuss national implementation issues faced by Bhutan.

Bhutan signed the Convention on 24 April 1997 and ratified it on 18 August 2005. The Convention entered into force for Bhutan on 17 September 2005. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, commonly known as the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is an arms control agreement which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. The CWC entered into force on April 29, 1997.
The Convention is implemented by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) based in The Hague. The OPCW is an independent international organization with a working relationship with the United Nations.