Chemical weapons

The basis for the international prohibition against chemical warfare is the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention which prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical weapons. It prohibits the use of toxic chemicals and their precursors to cause death or harm through their toxic properties as a ‘method of warfare’.

A continuing challenge is to ensure that materials, equipment and know-how not be misused for chemical warfare purposes. In general, the prevention of the development, production, transfer and use of chemical weapons can be achieved and maintained through: (a) the elimination of chemical weapons (including old and/or abandoned); (b) the prevention of their development, production, transfer or use; (c) protection against the potential use of chemical weapons; (d) remediation; and (e) other response measures (e.g. criminal investigation).