This page contains information about past official meetings of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, in reverse chronological order. All meetings were held in Geneva.


Meeting of States Parties in 2005 (5 – 9 December 2005)

Meeting of Experts in 2005 (13 – 24 June 2005)

The 2005 Meeting of Experts was chaired by Ambassador John Freeman of the United Kingdom. It met to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on codes of conduct for scientists. It was attended by 82 States Parties, 3 Signatory States, an Observer State, 8 international organizations and 16 non-governmental organizations. Twenty-three scientific, professional, academic and industry bodies participated in informal exchanges in the open sessions as guests of the meeting.

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/1 Provisional Agenda for the Meeting of Experts

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/2 Revised Provisional Programme of Work for the Meeting of Experts

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/3 Report of the Meeting of Experts

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/INF.1/Summary Existing Codes of Conduct which Refer to Biological and Toxin Weapons - Background paper prepared by the Secretariat

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/INF.1 Existing Codes of Conduct which Refer to Biological and Toxin Weapons - Background paper prepared by the Secretariat

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/INF.2/Summary Codes of Conduct Relevant to the Life Sciences or Biotechnology which do not Refer to Biological and Toxin Weapons - Background paper prepared by the Secretariat

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/INF.2 Codes of Conduct Relevant to the Life Sciences or Biotechnology which do not Refer to Biological and Toxin Weapons - Background paper prepared by the Secretariat

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/INF.3/Summary Review and Analysis of Relevant Elements of Existing Codes of Conduct in Other Fields - Background paper prepared by the Secretariat

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/INF.3 Review and Analysis of Relevant Elements of Existing Codes of Conduct in Other Fields - Background paper prepared by the Secretariat

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/INF.4 Relevant Organisations, Associations, Professional Bodies and Institutions Which Might Serve as Sources of Guidance on the Formulation of Codes of Conduct and as Agents for Adopting and Promulgating Such Codes - Background paper prepared by the Secretariat

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/INF.5 List of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, as at June 2005 - Prepared by the Secretariat

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/INF.6 List of Participants

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/CRP.1 Draft Report of the Meeting of Experts

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/MISC.1 Provisional List of Participants

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/MISC.2 Normas de Ética de la Asociación Física Argentina - Submitted by Argentina

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/MISC.3 The Avicenna Prize For Ethics In Science - Submitted by the Islamic Republic of Iran

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/MISC.4 Presentations Submitted by the United States - Submitted by the United States of America

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.1 Preliminary Overview of an International Code of Conduct Related to the Biological Weapons Convention - Submitted by Argentina

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.2 Common Elements of Codes of Conduct (I): Canadian Government Codes - Submitted by Canada

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.3 Common Elements of Codes of Conduct (II): Professional Association Codes - Submitted by Canada

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.4 Common Elements of Codes of Conduct (III): Academic Codes - Submitted by Canada

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.5 Biodefence: Codes of Conduct and Practice - Submitted by Canada

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.6 Thoughts on the Functions of Codes of Conduct: Potential Weaknesses and Solutions - Submitted by Canada

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.7 The Overlap Between Codes of Conduct and Legislation - Submitted by Canada

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.7/Corr.1 The Overlap Between Codes of Conduct and Legislation - Submitted by Canada

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.8 Content of Codes of Conduct Relevant to the BTWC - Submitted by the United Kingdom

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.9 The Promulgation and Adoption of Codes of Conduct - Submitted by the United Kingdom

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.10 German Policies for Biodefence Research - Submitted by Germany

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.11 Regulations for the Prevention of Bioterrorism – Pros and Contras from a Scientist’s Point of View - Submitted by Germany

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.12 Codes of Conduct and their Application in the Life Sciences at Universities - Submitted by Germany

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.13 The University Science Perspective - Submitted by Germany

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.14 Infectious Diseases, Biosafety and Biosecurity - Submitted by Germany

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.15 Legislation and Freedom of Research - Submitted by Germany

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.16 Report of Seminars Organised by the Foreign And Commonwealth Office - Submitted by the United Kingdom

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.17 United Kingdom Examples of Codes of Conduct and Associated Activities Related to Government Science - Submitted by the United Kingdom

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.18 Some Reflections on the Ethic Norms and Codes of Conduct for Scientists Majoring in Biosciences - Submitted by the Russian Federation

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.19 Answers to the Questions Regarding Codes of Conduct for Scientists Majoring in Biological Sciences - Submitted by the Russian Federation

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.20 China’s Views and Practices in Adopting and Implementing Code of Conduct of Scientists - Submitted by China

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.21 Codes of Conduct for Scientists: Discussions in Japan on the Issue - Submitted by Japan

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.22 Codes of Conduct for Scientists: A View from Analysis of the Bioindustrial Sectors in Japan - Submitted by Japan

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.23 Indian Initiatives on Codes of Conduct for Scientists - Submitted by India

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.24 Bioethics Related Activities in Indonesia - Submitted by Indonesia

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.25 ‘Codes’ in the Context of the BTWC - Submitted by South Africa

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.26 The Content, Promulgation and Adoption of Codes of Conduct for Scientists - submitted by the Islamic Republic of Iran

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.27 Ethical Principles in Gene Technology, Environmental Ethics and the Biological Weapons Convention — Is there a Link? - Submitted by Australia

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.28 Elements for Use in Developing Codes of Conduct for Scientists - Submitted by Australia

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.29 Raising Awareness: Approaches and Opportunities for Outreach - Submitted by Australia

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.30 Selected Canadian Codes of Conduct for Life Sciences - Submitted by Canada

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.31 Códigos Y Principios - Submitted by Cuba

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.32 Experiencia Nacional Sobre la Promulgación de Códigos - Submitted by Cuba

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.33 Approach to Codes of Conduct - Submitted by the Republic of Korea

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.34 Codes of Conduct for Biological Scientists - Submitted by Italy

BWC/MSP/2005/MX/WP.35 Codes of Conduct for Scientists: Considerations During a BWC Regional Workshop and Subsequent Reflections – Submitted by Australia

Meeting of States Parties in 2004 (6 – 10 December 2004)

Meeting of Experts in 2004 (19 – 30 July 2004)

Meeting of States Parties in 2003 (10 – 14 November 2003)

The 2003 Meeting of States Parties was chaired by Ambassador Tibor Toth of Hungary. It met to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on national measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the Convention as well as on national mechanisms to establish and maintain the security and oversight of pathogenic microorganisms and toxins. It was attended by 92 States Parties, 4 Signatory States, 2 Observer States, 2 international organizations and 9 non-governmental organizations.

BWC/MSP/2003/1 Provisional Agenda

BWC/MSP/2003/2 Provisional Programme of Work for the Meeting of States Parties

BWC/MSP/2003/3 Annotated Provisional Agenda for the Meeting of States Parties

BWC/MSP/2003/4 Report of the Meeting of States Parties Vol. I

BWC/MSP/2003/4 Report of the Meeting of States Parties Vol. II

BWC/MSP/2003/INF.1 List of Participants

BWC/MSP/2003/INF.2 List of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) Weapons and on Their Destruction

BWC/MSP/2003/WP.1 Working Paper Submitted by the Netherlands

BWC/MSP/2003/WP.2 Working Paper Submitted by the Federal Republic of Germany: Core Elements of National Measures to Implement the Prohibitions Contained in the BTWC

BWC/MSP/2003/WP.3 Working Paper Submitted by the Federal Republic of Germany: Core Elements of National Mechanisms to Establish and Maintain the Security and Oversight of Dangerous Microorganisms and Toxins

BWC/MSP/2003/WP.4 Working Paper Submitted by the Federal Republic of Germany: Sources of Expert Advice on National BTWC Implementing Legislation and Legislation on Security and Oversight of Dangerous Pathogens in the Federal Republic of Germany

BWC/MSP/2003/WP.5 Working Paper Submitted by Japan: Japan's BWC Implementing Law

BWC/MSP/2003/WP.5/Add.1 Working Paper Submitted by Japan: Japan's BWC Implementing Law

BWC/MSP/2003/WP.6 Working Paper Submitted by the Russian Federation: Answers to the Questionnaire on National Legislation Ensuring Compliance with the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons

BWC/MSP/2003/WP.7 Working Paper Submitted by the Russian Federation: On the Procedure for the Management of Microorganisms of the Pathogenicity Groups I – IV in the Territory of the Russian Federation

BWC/MSP/2003/WP.8 Working Paper Submitted by Italy: the Italian National Committee for Biosafety and Biotechnology

BWC/MSP/2003/WP.9 Working Paper Submitted by Switzerland: National Surveillance of Activities with Pathogenic and Genetically Modified Organisms

BWC/MSP/2003/WP.10 Working Paper Submitted by the Netherlands

Meeting of Experts in 2003 (18-29 August 2003)