PEER REVIEW PILOT EXERCISE Paris, December BWC – MSP December 2014

Peer Review mechanism BWC/confVII/WP.28 : « a peer review mechanism for the BWC: Enhancing confidence in national implementation and cooperation » - Strengthening the BTWC by enhancing national implementation - Strengthening confidence between States Parties - Sharing good practices on national implementation - On a voluntary basis BWC – MSP December 2014

The proposed concept: a flexible mechanism - Presentation by a State party of its national implementation of the Convention - On a voluntary basis - Respecting national sovereignty - Topics presented are freely chosen by the hosting State party - A team of national experts appointed by participating States Parties and, possibly, a representative of the ISU BWC – MSP December 2014

Pilot exercise organized by France Goal of the exercise: Illustrating the concept promoted by France, assessing its relevance and the proposed approach. Demonstrating the potential form of such an exercise Providing input for consideration of including such a mechanism in the BWC framework BWC – MSP December 2014

11 experts participating from 9 States Parties : Canada, China, Germany, India, Mexico, Morocco, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States + ISU (observer) BWC – MSP December 2014 Pilot exercise – 4-6 december 2013

3 topics: The national authorization and control system for manipulating dangerous pathogens by the ANSM (French National Agency for Medecines and Health Products Safety) : The Agency, status and mission The French regulation on microorganisms and toxins The assessment process The inspection process The national export control system : The national export control system by the Ministry of Industrial renewal, SBDU (Dual-use items service): Presentation of the procedure and focus on the biological items The CIBDU, an Interagency committee for dual use items, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy head of the Strategic Affairs and Disarmament Department, CIBDU Chairman The awareness-raising policy : Biosecurity and Biosafety : teaching and training course in France by National Institute for health and medical research (INSERM) Biosecurity and biosafety training: example of the French military health service by the French Military Health Service BWC – MSP December 2014

2 laboratory visits: The Biological Emergency intervention Unit (Institut Pasteur) : a unit created in 2002 by the French Ministry of Health and Institut Pasteur to respond to specialized biological emergencies The ANSES Animal Health Laboratory in Maisons-Alfort BWC – MSP December 2014

A first feedback on the exercise NAM, emerging and Western countries participated Strong interest around topics and visits Very active debates around the presentations showing strong involvement from the participating experts Positive comments from the participants about the exercise BWC – MSP December 2014

The report Questionnaire given to experts and filled on a voluntary basis during the exercise. France drafted a summary with all the information returned in forms (no specific comment or element of content shall be attributed to a given expert or country) This draft was then circulated to all participants for comments/ amendments. The report was submitted as a French working paper at the Meeting of experts (August 2014) BWC/MSP/2014/MX/WP.12 BWC – MSP December 2014

Lessons learned from the exercise In our view, the peer review mechanism is relevant in the framework of the BWC. It would: allow a better understanding of measures implemented by the host State Party; contribute to improve confidence between States Parties by increasing transparency; enable States Parties to exchange information and share lessons learned and best practices; help to promote the development of international cooperation through a valuable networking; opportunity to develop ownership and involvement among national actors in biological sciences; The concept is flexible and respect States’ sovereignty BWC – MSP December 2014