Support to OPCW Investigation Mandate
21 October 2022
Australia has reinforced its support for the vital work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) by signing a Technical Agreement in Canberra today.
Director General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias, and Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro AC, signed the agreement as part of ongoing efforts to prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons.
Under the agreement, Defence’s Chemical Agents Analysis Facility (CAAF) will play an integral role supporting the OPCW efforts to investigate and verify the alleged use of chemical weapons.
CAAF is one of only 15 laboratories in the world designated to undertake both biomedical and environmental sample analysis for the OPCW.
It will be responsible for preparing proficiency test samples for OPCW-nominated laboratories around the world.
This work will ensure overseas laboratories maintain the highest standards to analyse samples to detect the use of chemical weapons.
Source: Defence Press Release