Section 13Sec./Art. 13

Inspection. - The ATC shall issue a certificate to every member of the OPCW inspection team, containing the bearer's name, status, authority to conduct inspections, applicable privileges, and any other information and conditions applicable to the person's inspection activities. Every international inspector shall present the certificate to the person-in-charge.

Inspections, with the purpose of verifying the accuracy of the declarations submitted, shall be conducted with the consent of the person-in-charge of the facility or under a warrant issued by the courts, and shall be done at any reasonable time and consistent with the provisions of the Convention. An inspection shall also be conducted when an investigation has been initiated.

No inspection of a facility or any location pursuant to the Convention shall take place without the authorization of the ATC.

Any foreign OPCW-designated inspector shall be accompanied by an authorized representative from the ATC or any designated government official. To facilitate the conduct of inspection, the authorized representative from the ATC or any designated government official shall direct any proper person to provide the inspectors with access to the facility being inspected, examine records related thereto, document the inspection, take samples for analysis, interview persons in the facility, and any other activity pursuant to the provisions of the Convention's Verification Annex.

National and local government authorities conducting inspections pursuant to their regulatory functions under existing laws are exempt from the requirements provided under this section.