Overview

The 2004 Meeting of States Parties was chaired by Peter Goosen of South Africa. It met to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on mechanisms for the surveillance, detection, diagnosis and combating of infectious diseases affecting humans, animals, and plants, as well as on capabilities for responding to, investigating and mitigating the effects of cases of alleged use of biological or toxin weapons or suspicious outbreaks of disease. It was attended by 89 States Parties, 5 Signatory States, 2 Observer States, 4 international organizations and 14 non-governmental organizations.