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S/1626/2018 page 2 1.5 The FFM also noted the presence of chemicals that can neither be explained as occurring naturally in the environment nor as being related to chlorine. Furthermore, some of the medical signs and symptoms reported were different to those that would be expected from exposure to pure chlorine. There was insufficient information and evidence to enable the FFM to draw any further conclusions on these chemicals at this stage. 2. LEGAL FRAMEWORK 2.1 The FFM was set up in May 2014 “to establish facts surrounding allegations of the use of toxic chemicals, reportedly chorine, for hostile purposes in the Syrian Arab Republic” on the basis of the Director-General’s authority under the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter “the Convention”) to seek to uphold at all times the object and purpose of the Convention, as reinforced by the relevant decisions of the OPCW Executive Council (hereinafter “the Council”). 2.2 The terms of reference of the FFM were mutually agreed upon by the OPCW and the Syrian Arab Republic through the exchange of letters between the OPCW Director-General and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, dated 1 and 10 May 2014, respectively (Annex to the Note by the Technical Secretariat S/1255/2015*, dated 10 March 2015). 2.3 The continuation of the FFM was subsequently endorsed by the Council in decision EC-M-48/DEC.1, dated 4 February 2015, as recalled by United Nations Security Council resolution 2209 (2015), and subsequently decision EC-M-50/DEC.1, dated 23 November 2015. Both of these Council decisions and resolution 2209 (2015) require the FFM to study all available information relating to allegations of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, including that provided by the Syrian Arab Republic and by others. 3. METHODOLOGY 3.1 The FFM followed the same methodology that had been used in previous missions. This methodology has been comprehensively described in previous reports and therefore will not be repeated in detail here. 3.2 While the overarching methodology has been consistently applied in establishing facts related to the use of chemicals as weapons in Syria, there is a unique set of circumstances presented by each allegation. These circumstances include access to physical evidence, electronic evidence, witnesses, and documentation, in addition to evaluating the time lag between the allegation and such access. As such, the differing circumstances of each allegation assign lesser or greater relevance to the various components of the detailed methodology. 3.3 In particular, the evidentiary value of samples taken close to the time of the allegation, supported by photographic and video evidence and in association with witness testimony, was balanced against the evidentiary value of the FFM visiting the site some time later to collect its own samples. 3.4 Accordingly, the FFM reviewed and compared the methodology applied in reports S/1318/2015.Rev.1 (dated 17 December 2015) and Add.1 (dated 29 February 2016), S/1319/2015 and S/1320/2015 (both dated 29 October 2015), S/1444/2016 (date