Defense and national security

Executive Order 13049: Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

President: Bill Clinton

Designated the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons as a public international organization entitled to US statutory privileges and immunities.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 13049 still in effect? Yes. Active designation; the OPCW remains listed under the International Organizations Immunities Act.

What does Executive Order 13049 do?

EO 13049 designated the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons as a public international organization under the International Organizations Immunities Act. That gave it the Act’s specified privileges, exemptions and immunities in the United States, without cutting off any separate treaty or statutory protections. The designation continues to appear in the official U.S. Code note. The scope of any particular immunity depends on the statute and applicable agreements.

Administration position: The designation protects the organization within the limits of the statute and treaty; it does not grant blanket personal immunity for unrelated private conduct.
SignedJune 11, 1997
OrganizationOPCW
AuthorityInternational Organizations Immunities Act

Before and after

Before the order

The new treaty organization participated in the United States without this specific IOIA designation.

After the order

US authorities could accord the OPCW the statutory treatment given to designated public international organizations.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Federal and state authoritiesRecognize covered privileges and immunitiesWhen applicable
State DepartmentAddress treaty and organization-status questionsContinuing

What happened next

The Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force.

EO 13049 designated the OPCW under the Immunities Act.

The designation was checked in the official U.S. Code note.