Chemical Weapons Convention
(Redirected from Convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction)
Categories: Arms control | Chemical weapons | Treaties | 1997 in law
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| Chemical Weapons Convention | |||
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| Opened for signature | January 13, 1993 at Paris | ||
| Entered into force | April 29, 1997 | ||
| Conditions for entry into force | Ratification by 50 states and the convening of a Preparatory Commission | ||
| Parties | 174 | ||
The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is an arms control
agreement which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. Its full name is the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction.
Contents |
Administration
Signed in 1993 and entered into force on April 29, 1997 the convention augments the Geneva Protocol of 1925 for chemical weapons and includes extensive verification measures such as on-site inspections. It does not, however, cover biological weapons. The convention is administered by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which conducts inspection of military and industrial plants in all of the member nations as well as working with stockpile countries.
Controlled Substances
The Convention distinguishes three classes of controlled substance:
Certain of these substances are used in medical research. These and other uses are still permitted under the convention.
Known Stockpiles (of Chemical Weapons)
As of 2005, there were six member countries which had declared stockpiles:
- United States
- Russia
- India
- Albania
- Libya
- A "state party", possibly South Korea
Iraq's chemical weapons were destroyed under a United Nations reduction programme.
Known Production Facilities (of Chemical Weapons)
Twelve countries declared chemical weapons production facilities:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- People's Republic of China
- France
- India
- Iran
- Japan
- Libya
- Russian Federation
- Serbia and Montenegro
- United Kingdom
- United States
- A "state party"
By the end of 2004, 47 of 64 declared facilities had been destroyed or converted to civilian uses.
World Stockpile
The total world declared stockpile of chemical weapons was about 61,325 tons in 2004. A total of 71,373 tons have been declared to OPCW of which about 10,048 tons (14%) had been destroyed by the end of that year. Several countries that are not members are suspected of having chemical weapons, especially Syria and North Korea while some member states (including Sudan and China) have been accused by others of failing to disclose their stockpiles.
Timeline
The treaty set up several steps with deadlines toward complete destruction of chemical weapons.
| Phase | % Reduction | Deadline | Notes |
| I | 1% | April 2000 | |
| II | 20% | April 2002 | Complete destruction of empty munitions, precursor chemicals, filling equipment and weapons systems |
| III | 45% | April 2004 | |
| IV | 100% | April 2007 | No extensions permitted past April 2012 |
Current Progress
By 2004, 14% of known chemical weapons stockpiles had been destroyed worldwide, falling far short of the intended 45% goal. Furthermore, only 40% of countries had passed the required legislation to outlaw participation in chemical weapons production. All known 64 weapons production facilities were inactivated or destroyed. Albania, India, and "a state party", which together accounted for three percent of world stockpiles, had destroyed 0%, 39% and 29% of their weapons and were considered to be on track to meet the April 2007 deadline for total destruction.
The United States of America completed Phase II, and was granted an extension until December 2007 for the completion of Phase III. Over 80% of the chemical weapons destroyed in the world since the treaty came into force were destroyed in the U.S. Russia completed Phase I and received extensions on the remaining phases. Libya joined the convention a few months prior to this time, and had just commenced activities.
The United States' General Accounting Office has announced it does not expect Russia to reach 100% destruction until 2027, and the United States, 2014; both after the treaty's final deadline.
Financing
Financial support for the Albanian and Libyan programmes was provided by the United States. Russia received support from a number of nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Canada; some $2 billion given by 2004.
See also
Related International Law
Chemical Weapons
Restricted substances
- List of Schedule 1 substances (CWC)
- List of Schedule 2 substances (CWC)
- List of Schedule 3 substances (CWC)