Verex

VEREX was an ad hoc committee assembled in 1991 by the Third Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) to research verification measures to enforce the BWC from a scientific and technical standpoint. Mandate and evaluation VEREX was mandated to “identify and examine potential verification measures from a scientific and technical standpoint”. These verification measures sought to determineWhether a State Party is developing, producing, stockpiling, acquiring or retaining microbial or other biological agents or toxins, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes.The measures, which could be assessed singly or in combination, were to be evaluated against the following set of criteria: Their strengths and weaknesses based on, but not limited to the amount and quality of information they provide, and fail to provide; Their ability to differentiate between prohibited and permitted activities; Their ability to resolve ambiguities about compliance; Their technology, material, manpower and equipment requirements; Their financial, legal, safety and organisational implications; Their impact on scientific research, scientific co-operation, industrial development and other permitted activities, and their implications for the confidentiality of commercial proprietary information. Process The VEREX committee, which consisted of governmental experts, met in a series of four sessions in 1992 and 1993.