ARTICLE III

COMPLIANCE MEASURES
(continued)

C. [THRESHOLDS]¹⁹

[1. Each State Party can store at facilities participating in a programme for protection against biological weapons established quantities of biological materials containing listed agents (Annex A, section I). Specific values of quantities of biological materials shall be determined in accordance with Annex A, section III. This requirement shall not cover quantities of biological materials that are used at the facilities in question in day-to-day work and for the production of immune and other biological preparations for medical, veterinary and agricultural purposes.

2. Upper and lower threshold quantities of biological materials are established for each listed agent or toxin.²⁰

3. The lower threshold is used in the declaration format and corresponds to the maximum quantity of biological material containing an agent or toxin which, if exceeded, is subject to annual declaration in a yes/no format.

4. The upper threshold is used in carrying out on-site measures and corresponds to the minimum quantity of biological material containing an agent or toxin of a specific type which may not be exceeded at the facility.]

[5. Each State Party can receive and store at facilities subject to declaration in accordance with Annex A, section V, established quantities of listed agents and toxins (Annex A, section I). Specific values of quantities of agents and toxins shall be determined in accordance with Annex A, section III.

6. Total and current threshold quantities are established for each listed agent or toxin.

7. Total threshold corresponds to the total quantity of listed agents or toxins received and/or produced at any facility during the previous year which, if exceeded, is subject to accounting and annual declaration in facility format.

8. The current threshold corresponds to the quantity of a listed agent or toxin of a specific type stored currently at any facility which, if exceeded, is subject to accounting and immediate notification through the Organization.

9. Each State Party shall have an obligation to notify through the Organization as soon as possible any necessary information concerning the exceeding of the current threshold level of listed agents and toxins.

10. Each State Party shall have the right to request, through the Organization, and seek the immediate provision of any necessary information concerning the exceeding of the current threshold level of listed agents and toxins by another State Party.

11. The Organization shall have the right to require of a State Party, on the basis of well- founded concerns on the part of other States Parties, that it should prevent the current threshold level from being exceeded for specific facilities, agents and toxins.

12. The Conference of State Parties shall, taking into account scientific and technical achievements and in accordance with a principle of the effective collective safety, examine proposals whereby total and current threshold levels to the specific listed agent or toxin are to be included, changed or excluded from Annex A, and shall take a decision thereon.]²¹

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