Brunei Darussalam makes progress toward Chemical Weapons Convention legislation implementation

Brunei Darussalam created a plan to establish a National Authority and draft implementing legislation on the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) during a National Awareness-Raising and Legislative Assistance Workshop held recently April in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

Workshop participants identified declarable activities in trade of scheduled chemicals and made a commitment for the relevant bodies to start implementing them in addition to creating an action plan for the creation of the National Authority of Brunei and finalized its national CWC implementing legislation.

The Ministry of Defence of Brunei and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) organized the event.

Haji Adi Ihram bin Dato Paduka Haji Mahmud, director of defence policy of the Ministry of Defence, said that the workshop “is part of an ongoing effort to equip the Government Ministries, industries and other relevant stakeholders with the requisite know-how to enable Brunei Darussalam to effectively implement its obligations under the CWC.”

During the event, Brunei ministerial officials and industry representatives received an overview of the CWC and the work of the OPCW, the role of the National Authority in implementing the CWC and the relevance of implementing legislation on the CWC in addressing current and emerging security threats. Participants also completed practical exercises and discussed case studies on the application of the CWC.

The Guest of Honour, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Datin Paduka Tan Bee Yong, highlighted in her closing remarks OPCW’s role in improving the capacity of local experts to ensure effective measures to address risks from chemical weapons use.

More than 50 representatives from the Attorney General’s Chambers of the Prime Minister’s Office; Royal Customs and Excise Department of the Ministry of Finance; Directorates and Units of the Ministry of Defence and Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF); Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Fire and Rescue Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Development; Ministry of Health; Energy and Industry Department; and the energy company Total E&P Borneo attended the workshop.