Chemical Weapons Act 1996

27 Privileges and immunities in connection with inspections

(1) Members of inspection teams and observers shall enjoy the same privileges and immunities as are enjoyed by diplomatic agents in accordance with the following provisions of the 1961 Articles, namely—

(a) Article 29,

(b) paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 30,

(c) paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Article 31, and

(d) Article 34.

(2) Such persons shall, in addition, enjoy the same privileges as are enjoyed by diplomatic agents in accordance with paragraph 1(b) of Article 36 of the 1961 Articles, except in relation to articles the importing or exporting of which is prohibited by law or controlled by the enactments relating to quarantine.

(3) Samples and approved equipment carried by members of an inspection team shall be inviolable and exempt from customs duties.

(4) The privileges and immunities accorded to members of inspection teams and observers by virtue of this section shall be enjoyed by them at any time when they are in the United Kingdom—

(a) in connection with the carrying out there of a routine inspection, a challenge inspection or an assistance inspection, or

(b) while in transit to or from the territory of another party to the Convention in connection with the carrying out of such an inspection there.

(5) If—

(a) immunity from jurisdiction of a member of an inspection team is waived in accordance with the verification annex, and

(b) a notice made by the Secretary of State and informing the member of the waiver is delivered to him in person,

then, from the time the notice is so delivered, this section shall not have effect to confer that immunity on the member.

(6) If in any proceedings any question arises whether a person is or is not entitled to any privilege or immunity by virtue of this section, a certificate issued by or under the authority of the Secretary of State stating any fact relating to that question shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.

(7) In this section—

• “the 1961 Articles” means the Articles which are set out in Schedule 1 to the [1964 c. 81.] Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 (Articles of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 having force of law in United Kingdom);

• “approved equipment” and “samples” shall be construed in accordance with the verification annex;

• “enactment” includes an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the [1978 c. 30.] Interpretation Act 1978).