View source for Chemical Weapons Convention

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox Treaty
|name                = Chemical Weapons Convention
|long_name           = Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction
|image               =File:CWC Participation.svg
|image_width         =400px
|caption             =Participation in the Chemical Weapons Convention
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{legend|#00aa00|Signed and ratified}}{{legend|#008000|Acceded}}
{{Col-2}}
{{legend|#eeee00|Signed but not ratified}}{{legend|#ff1111|Non-signatory}}
{{Col-end}}
|type                =
|date_drafted        = 3 September 1992<ref name=untc/>
|date_signed         = 13 January 1993<ref name=untc/>
|location_signed     = Paris and New York<ref name=untc/>
|date_sealed         =
|date_effective      = 29 April 1997<ref name=untc/>
|condition_effective = Ratification by 65 states<ref>Chemical Weapons Convention, [http://www.opcw.org/chemical-weapons-convention/articles/article-xxi-entry-into-force Article 21].</ref>
|date_expiration     =
|signatories         = 165<ref name=untc/>
|parties             = 192<ref name=untc/> ([[List of parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention|List of state parties]])<br /><small>Four UN states are not party: Egypt, Israel, North Korea and South Sudan.
|depositor           = [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|UN Secretary-General]]<ref>Chemical Weapons Convention, [http://www.opcw.org/chemical-weapons-convention/articles/article-xxiii-depositary Article 23].</ref>
|language            =
|languages           = Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish<ref>Chemical Weapons Convention, [http://www.opcw.org/chemical-weapons-convention/articles/article-xxiv-authentic-texts Article 24].</ref>
|wikisource          =
}}

The '''Chemical Weapons Convention''' ('''CWC''') is an [[arms control]] [[treaty]] that outlaws the production, stockpiling, and use of [[chemical weapon]]s and their [[precursor (chemistry)|precursor]]s. The full name of the treaty is the '''Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction''' and it is administered by the [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] (OPCW), an intergovernmental organization based in [[The Hague]], Netherlands. The treaty entered into force in 1997. The Chemical Weapons Convention comprehensively prohibits the use, development, production, stockpiling and transfer of chemical weapons. Any chemical used for warfare is considered a chemical weapon by the Convention. The parties' main obligation under the convention is to effect this prohibition, as well as the destruction of all current chemical weapons. The destruction activities are verified by the OPCW.

As of April 2016, 192 states have given their consent to be bound by the CWC. [[Israel]] has signed but not ratified the agreement, while three other [[UN member states]] ([[Egypt]], [[North Korea]] and [[South Sudan]]) have neither signed nor [[acceded]] to the treaty.<ref name=untc>{{cite web |work=United Nations Treaty Collection |url=http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-3&chapter=26&lang=en |title=Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction |accessdate=15 May 2015}}</ref><ref name=nonmembers>{{cite web |title=Angola Joins the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons |url=https://www.opcw.org/news/article/angola-joins-the-organisation-for-the-prohibition-of-chemical-weapons/|work=OPCW |accessdate=1 May 2016}}</ref> Most recently, [[Angola]] deposited its instrument of accession to the CWC on 16 September 2015.<ref name=angola>{{cite web|url=https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2015/CN.492.2015-Eng.pdf|title=Reference: C.N.492.2015.TREATIES-XXVI.3 (Depositary Notification)|date=2015-09-18|accessdate=2015-09-18|publisher=[[Secretary-General of the United Nations]]}}</ref> In September 2013 Syria acceded to the convention as part of an agreement for the [[Destruction of Syria's chemical weapons]].

As of October 2016, about 93% of the world's declared stockpile of chemical weapons had been destroyed.<ref name=factsfigures /> The convention has provisions for systematic evaluation of chemical production facilities, as well as for investigations of allegations of use and [[chemical weapon proliferation|production of chemical weapons]] based on intelligence of other state parties.

Some chemicals which have been used extensively in warfare but have numerous large-scale industrial uses such as phosgene are highly regulated, however certain notable exceptions exist. [[Chlorine gas]] is highly toxic, but being a pure element and extremely widely used for peaceful purposes, is not officially listed as a chemical weapon. Certain state-powers (eg. the [[Assad regime]] of [[Syria]]) continue to regularly manufacture and implement such chemicals in combat munitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://undocs.org/S/2016/738|title= Third report of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism|date=24 August 2016}}</ref> Although these chemicals are not specifically listed as controlled by the CWC, the use of any toxic chemical as a weapon (when used to produce fatalities solely or majoritively through its toxic action) is in-and-of itself forbidden by the treaty. Other chemicals, such as [[white phosphorous]], are highly toxic but are legal under the CWC when they are used by military forces for reasons other than their toxicity.

==History==
Intergovernmental consideration of a chemical and biological weapons ban was initiated in 1968 within the 18-nation Disarmament Committee, which, after numerous changes of name and composition, became the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in 1984.<ref>[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hsp/chemical.html The 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention], THE HARVARD SUSSEX PROGRAM ON CBW ARMAMENT AND ARMS LIMITATION</ref> On 3 September 1992 the Conference on Disarmament submitted to the [[U.N. General Assembly]] its annual report, which contained the text of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The General Assembly approved the Convention on 30 November 1992, and the U.N. Secretary-General then opened the Convention for signature in Paris on 13 January 1993. The CWC remained open for signature until its entry into force on 29 April 1997, 180 days after the deposit of the 65th instrument of ratification (by Hungary). 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 weapon]]s.

==Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)==
[[File:HQ of OPCW in The Hague.jpg|thumb|Headquarters in [[The Hague]]]]
{{main article|Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons}}
The convention is administered by the [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] (OPCW), which acts as the legal platform for specification of the CWC provisions.<ref>[http://www.sciencediplomacy.org/perspective/2015/intersection-science-and-chemical-disarmament The Intersection of Science and Chemical Disarmament], Beatrice Maneshi and Jonathan E. Forman, Science & Diplomacy, 21 September 2015.</ref> The ''Conference of the States Parties'' is mandated to change the CWC and pass regulations on implementation of CWC requirements. The ''Technical Secretariat'' of the organization conducts inspections to ensure compliance of member states. These inspections target destruction facilities (where permanent monitoring takes place during destruction), chemical weapons production facilities which have been dismantled or converted for civil use, as well as inspections of the chemical industry. The Secretariat may furthermore conduct "investigations of alleged use" of chemical weapons and give assistance after use of chemical weapons.

The [[2013 Nobel Peace Prize]] was awarded to the organization because it had, with the Chemical Weapons Convention, "defined the use of chemical weapons as a [[taboo]] under [[international law]]" according to [[Thorbjørn Jagland]], Chairman of the [[Norwegian Nobel Committee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24490925|title=Syria chemical weapons monitors win Nobel Peace Prize|date=11 October 2013|accessdate=12 October 2013|publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2013/press.html | title=Official press release from Nobel prize Committee | publisher=Nobel Prize Organization | date=11 October 2013 | accessdate=11 October 2013}}</ref>

==Key points of the Convention==
* Prohibition of production and use of chemical weapons
* Destruction (or monitored conversion to other functions) of chemical weapons production facilities
* Destruction of all chemical weapons (including chemical weapons abandoned outside the state parties territory)
* Assistance between State Parties and the OPCW in the case of use of chemical weapons
* An OPCW inspection regime for the production of chemicals which might be converted to chemical weapons
* International cooperation in the peaceful use of chemistry in relevant areas

===Controlled substances===
The convention distinguishes three classes of controlled substance,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opcw.org/chemical-weapons-convention/annexes/annex-on-chemicals/|title=Annex on Chemicals|publisher=}}</ref> chemicals that can either be used as weapons themselves or used in the manufacture of weapons. The classification is based on the quantities of the substance produced commercially for legitimate purposes. Each class is split into Part A, which are chemicals that can be used directly as weapons, and Part B, which are chemicals useful in the manufacture of chemical weapons. Separate from the precursors, the convention defines toxic chemicals as "[a]ny chemical which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals. This includes all such chemicals, regardless of their origin or of their method of production, and regardless of whether they are produced in facilities, in munitions or elsewhere."<ref>{{cite web|title=CWC Article II. Definitions and Criteria|url=http://www.opcw.org/chemical-weapons-convention/articles/article-ii-definitions-and-criteria/|work=Chemical Weapons Convention|publisher=[[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]]|accessdate=7 September 2013}}</ref>

*[[List of Schedule 1 substances (CWC)|Schedule 1]] chemicals have few, or no uses outside chemical weapons. These may be produced or used for research, medical, pharmaceutical or chemical weapon defence testing purposes but production above 100&nbsp;grams per year must be declared to the [[OPCW]]. A country is limited to possessing a maximum of 1 tonne of these materials. Examples are [[sulfur mustard]] and [[nerve agent]]s, and substances which are solely used as precursor chemicals in their manufacture. A few of these chemicals have very small scale non-military applications, for example milligram quantities of [[nitrogen mustard]] are used to treat certain cancers.
*[[List of Schedule 2 substances (CWC)|Schedule 2]] chemicals have legitimate small-scale applications. Manufacture must be declared and there are restrictions on export to countries that are not CWC signatories. An example is [[thiodiglycol]] which can be used in the manufacture of mustard agents, but is also used as a solvent in [[ink]]s.
*[[List of Schedule 3 substances (CWC)|Schedule 3]] chemicals have large-scale uses apart from chemical weapons. Plants which manufacture more than 30 tonnes per year must be declared and can be inspected, and there are restrictions on export to countries which are not CWC signatories. Examples of these substances are [[phosgene]] (the most lethal chemical weapon employed in [[World war one|WWI]]),<ref>{{cite web|title=CDC Facts about Phosgene|url=https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/phosgene/basics/facts.asp|accessdate=April 13, 2017}}</ref> which has been used as a chemical weapon but which is also a precursor in the manufacture of many legitimate organic compounds (eg. [[pharmaceutical|pharmaceutical agents]] and many common [[pesticides]]), and [[triethanolamine]], used in the manufacture of nitrogen mustard but also commonly used in toiletries and detergents.

The treaty also deals with carbon compounds called in the treaty "discrete organic chemicals", the majority of which exhibit moderate-high direct toxicity or can be readily converted into compounds with toxicity sufficient for practical use as a chemical weapon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chemlink.com.au/chemweap.htm|title=Chemical Weapons Convention|publisher=}}</ref> These are any carbon compounds apart from long chain polymers, oxides, sulfides and metal carbonates, such as [[organophosphate]]s. The OPCW must be informed of, and can inspect, any plant producing (or expecting to produce) more than 200 tonnes per year, or 30 tonnes if the chemical contains phosphorus, sulfur or fluorine, unless the plant solely produces explosives or hydrocarbons.

==Member states==
{{main article|List of parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention}}
165 states signed the CWC prior to its entry into force in 1997, allowing them to ratify the agreement after obtaining domestic approval.<ref name=untc/>  Following the treaty's entry into force, it was closed for signature and the only method for non-signatory states to become a party was through accession. As of April 2016, 192 states, representing over 98 percent of the world's population, are party to the CWC.<ref name=untc/> Of the four [[United Nations member states]] that are not parties to the treaty, [[Israel]] has signed but not ratified the treaty, while [[Egypt]], [[North Korea]], and [[South Sudan]] have neither signed nor acceded to the Convention. Neither has the [[State of Palestine]], which since becoming a [[UN observer state]] is eligible to accede to the Convention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legal.un.org/ola/media/info_from_lc/POB%20COJUR.pdf|title=EU Council Working Group on Public International Law - COJUR|last=O’Brien|first=Patricia|author-link1 =Patricia O’Brien|date=2013-02-06|accessdate=2016-04-25|publisher=[[United Nations Office of Legal Affairs]]}}</ref>  Taiwan, though not a Member State, has stated that it complies with the treaty.<ref name=taiwan>{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F97E6CC8BA785BC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Taiwan fully supports Chemical Weapons Convention|publisher=BBC|date=27 August 2002|accessdate=6 October 2013}}</ref>

===Key organizations of member states===
Member states are represented at the [[OPCW]] by their ''Permanent Representative''. This function is generally combined with the function of Ambassador. For the preparation of OPCW inspections and preparation of declarations, member states have to constitute a ''National Authority''.

==World stockpile of chemical weapons==
{{Weapons of mass destruction}}
A total of 72,524 metric tonnes of chemical agent, 8.67 million chemical munitions and containers, and 97 production facilities have been declared to OPCW.<ref name=factsfigures />

===Timeline of destruction===
The treaty set up several steps with deadlines toward complete destruction of chemical weapons, with a procedure for requesting deadline extensions. No country reached total elimination by the original treaty date although several have finished under allowed extensions.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+ Reduction Phases
! '''Phase''' || '''% Reduction''' || '''Deadline''' || '''Notes'''
|-
| I ||1% ||April 2000 ||&nbsp;
|-
| II || 20% || April 2002 ||Complete destruction of empty munitions, precursor chemicals,<br> filling equipment and weapons systems
|-
|III ||45% ||April 2004 ||&nbsp;
|-
|IV || 100% || April 2007 ||No extensions permitted past April 2012
|}

===Progress of destruction===
As of October 2016, 67,098 of 72,524 (93%) metric tonnes of chemical agent have been verifiably destroyed. More than 57% (4.97 million) of chemical munitions and containers have been destroyed.<ref name=factsfigures />

Five State Parties, namely Albania, an unspecified state party (widely believed to be South Korea), India, Libya have completed the destruction of their stockpiles. Russia and the United States, which declared the largest amounts of chemical weapons, are in the process of destruction.<ref name=CSP16>{{cite web|url=http://www.opcw.org/index.php?eID=dam_frontend_push&docID=15203|title=Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Sixteenth Session|date=28 November 2011|accessdate=1 May 2012|publisher=[[OPCW]]}}</ref> The deadline set for both countries of April 2012, however, was not met. The destruction of Libya's Category 1 chemical weapons was completed in 2014; destruction of its chemical weapon precursors is scheduled to finish in 2016.<ref name="france24 libya">{{cite web|author=Text by FRANCE 24 |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20140205-libya-gaddafi-chemical-weapons-destroyed/ |title=Libya destroys last of Gaddafi’s chemical weapons - France |publisher=France 24 |date= |accessdate=5 February 2014}}</ref> Iraq has yet to start destruction. Japan and China started in October 2010 the destruction of World War II era chemical weapons abandoned by Japan in China by means of mobile destruction units and reported destruction of 35,203 chemical weapons (75% of the Nanjing stockpile).<ref name=CSP16/><ref>[http://www.opcw.org/index.php?eID=dam_frontend_push&docID=13876 Executive Council 61, Decision 1]. OPCW. 2010</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: normal; table-layout: fixed;"
|-
! Country
! Date of Accession/<br>Entry into force
! Declared Stockpile <br>(Schedule 1) (tonnes)
! % OPCW (verified destroyed) <br>(Date of Full destruction)
! Destruction <br>deadline
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Albania}} [[Albania and weapons of mass destruction|Albania]]
| 29 April 1997  || 17<ref name=albaniadestroy>{{cite web |url=https://www.opcw.org/news/article/albania-the-first-country-to-destroy-all-its-chemical-weapons/ |title=Albania the First Country to Destroy All Its Chemical Weapons |work=OPCW |date=12 July 2007 |accessdate=15 May 2015}}</ref>|| 100% (July 2007)<ref name=albaniadestroy />||n.a.
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[South Korea and weapons of mass destruction|South Korea]]
| 29 April 1997 || 3,000–3,500<ref name=southkoreadestroy /> ||100% (July 2008)<ref name=southkoreadestroy>{{cite web |title=South Korea Completes Chemical Weapons Disposal |url=http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/south-korea-completes-chemical-weapons-disposal/ |first=Chris |last=Schneidmiller |date=17 October 2008 |accessdate=15 May 2015 |work=Nuclear Threat Initiative}}</ref>|| n.a.
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|India}} [[India and weapons of mass destruction|India]]
|  29 April 1997 ||1,044<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/india/chemical/ |title=India Country Profile - Chemical |work=Nuclear Threat Initiative |date=February 2015 |accessdate= 15 May 2015}}</ref> ||100% (March 2009)<ref name="India">{{cite web |url=http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/india-completes-chemical-weapons-disposal-iraq-declares-stockpile |title=India Completes Chemical Weapons Disposal; Iraq Declares Stockpile |first=Chris |last=Schneidmiller |work=Nuclear Threat Initiative |date=27 April 2009 |accessdate=15 May 2015}}</ref>|| n.a.
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Libya}} [[Libya and weapons of mass destruction|Libya]]
| 5 February 2004 ||25<ref name=libyaend />||100% (January 2014)<ref name=libyaend>{{cite web |title=Libya Completes Destruction of Its Category 1 Chemical Weapons |url=http://www.opcw.org/news/article/libya-completes-destruction-of-its-category-1-chemical-weapons/ |work=OPCW |date=4 February 2014}}</ref>||n.a.
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Syria}} [[Syria and weapons of mass destruction|Syria]]
|  14 October 2013<ref>Syria applied the convention provisionally from 14 September 2013</ref> ||1,040<ref name=syriaend>{{cite web |title=OPCW: All Category 1 Chemicals Declared by Syria Now Destroyed |url=http://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-all-category-1-chemicals-declared-by-syria-now-destroyed |work=OPCW |date=28 August 2014 |accessdate=14 May 2015}}</ref>||<ref name=syriaend /> || n.a.
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States and weapons of mass destruction|United States]]
|  29 April 1997||33,600<ref name=us2015>{{cite news |title=U.S. to begin destroying its stockpile of chemical weapons in Pueblo, Colorado |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/17/us/chemical-weapons-pueblo-debot/ |first=Evelio |last=Contreras |work=CNN |date=17 March 2015 |accessdate=15 May 2015}}</ref> ||90%<ref name=us2015 /> ||29 April 2012 <small>(intends by 2023)</small><ref name="usatodaydestroydate">{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Trevor |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/04/25/mustard-agent-destruction/25825513/ |title=780,000 chemical weapons being destroyed in Colo. |work=USA TODAY |date=25 April 2015 |accessdate=15 May 2015}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Russia and weapons of mass destruction|Russia]]
|  5 December 1997 ||40,000<ref name=russiadestroy>{{cite web |url=http://www.international.gc.ca/gpp-ppm/chemical_weapons-armes_chimiques.aspx?lang=eng |title=Chemical Weapons Destruction |work=Government of Canada - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada |date=16 October 2012 |accessdate=15 May 2015}}</ref> ||92%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-director-general-visits-russia-to-mark-closure-of-maradykovsky-chemical-weapons-destruction-facility/|title=OPCW Director-General Visits Russia to Mark Closure of Maradykovsky Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility|publisher=}}</ref>||29 April 2012 <small>(intends by December 2020)</small>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|Iraq]]
| 12 February 2009 ||remnant munitions<ref name=iraqplan />||not started<ref name=iraqplan />||-
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan and weapons of mass destruction|Japan]] (in China)
| 29 April 1997 ||-||ongoing ||2022 <small>(commitment)</small><ref>http://www.opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW/CSP/RC-3/national-statements/rc3nat20__e_.pdf</ref>
|}

====Iraqi stockpile====
{{See also|Iraqi chemical weapons program}}

The U.N. Security Council ordered the dismantling of Iraq's chemical weapon stockpile in 1991. By 1998, [[UNSCOM]] inspectors had accounted for the destruction of 88,000 filled and unfilled chemical munitions, over 690 metric tons of weaponized and bulk chemical agents, approximately 4,000 tonnes of precursor chemicals, and 980 pieces of key production equipment.<ref name=iraqprofile>{{cite web |url=http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/iraq/chemical/ |title=Iraq Country Profile - Chemical |work=Nuclear Threat Initiative |date=April 2015 |accessdate=16 May 2015}}</ref> The UNSCOM inspectors left in 1998.

In 2009, before Iraq joined the CWC, the OPCW reported that the United States military had destroyed almost 5,000 old chemical weapons in open-air detonations since 2004.<ref name=openair>{{cite news |first=C.J. |last=Chivers |title=Thousands of Iraq Chemical Weapons Destroyed in Open Air, Watchdog Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/23/world/middleeast/thousands-of-iraq-chemical-weapons-destroyed-in-open-air-watchdog-says-.html |date=22 November 2014 |work=New York Times |accessdate=16 May 2015}}</ref> These weapons, produced before the 1991 [[Gulf War]], contained [[sarin]] and [[sulfur mustard|mustard agents]] but were so badly corroded that they could not have been used as originally intended.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Intel Report Reignites Iraq Arms Fight |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/22/AR2006062201475.html |first=Katherine |last=Shrader |date=22 June 2006 |work=Washington Post |accessdate=16 May 2015 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

When Iraq joined the CWC in 2009, it declared "two bunkers with filled and unfilled chemical weapons munitions, some precursors, as well as five former chemical weapons production facilities" according to OPCW Director General Rogelio Pfirter.<ref name="India" /> The bunker entrances were sealed with 1.5 meters of reinforced concrete in 1994 under UNSCOM supervision.<ref name=difficulties /> As of 2012, the plan to destroy the chemical weapons was still being developed, in the face of significant difficulties.<ref name=iraqplan>{{cite web |url=http://www.opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW/EC/68/en/ns/ec68nat09_e_.pdf |title=Progress report on the preparation of the destruction plan for the al Muthanna bunkers |work=OPCW |date=1 May 2012 |accessdate=16 May 2015}}</ref><ref name=difficulties>{{cite web |url=http://cns.miis.edu/stories/100304_iraq_cw_legacy.htm |title=Iraq Faces Major Challenges in Destroying Its Legacy Chemical Weapons |first=Jonathan B. |last=Tucker |publisher=James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies |date=17 March 2010 |accessdate=16 May 2015}}</ref> In 2014, [[ISIS]] took control of the site.<ref name=isis>{{cite news |title=Isis seizes former chemical weapons plant in Iraq |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/09/isis-seizes-chemical-weapons-plant-muthanna-iraq |work=Guardian |date=9 July 2014 |accessdate=16 May 2015 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

====Syrian destruction====
{{Main article|Destruction of Syria's chemical weapons}}
Following the August 2013 [[Ghouta chemical attack]],<ref name=julianandpatrick>{{cite web |first1=Julian |last1=Borger |first2=Patrick  |last2=Wintour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/09/russia-syria-hand-over-chemical-weapons |title=Russia calls on Syria to hand over chemical weapons |work=Guardian |date=9 September 2013 |deadurl=no |accessdate=9 May 2015 }}</ref> Syria, which had long been suspected of possessing chemical weapons, acknowledged them in September 2013 and agreed to put them under international supervision.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/11/world/middleeast/Syria-Chemical-Arms.html|title=In Shift, Syrian Official Admits Government Has Chemical Arms|date=10 September 2013|accessdate=13 September 2013|publisher=New York Times|last=Barnard|first=Anne}}</ref>  On 14 September Syria deposited its instrument of accession to the CWC with the United Nations as the [[depositary]] and agreed to its provisional application pending entry into force effective 14 October.<ref name = "Syria_Accession">{{cite web|title=Depositary Norification|url=http://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2013/CN.592.2013-Eng.pdf|publisher=United Nations|accessdate=15 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/sgsm15274.doc.htm|title=Secretary-General Receives Letter from Syrian Government Informing Him President Has Signed Legislative Decree for Accession to Chemical Weapons Convention|date=12 September 2013|work=United Nations}}</ref> An accelerated destruction schedule was devised by Russia and the United States on 14 September,<ref>{{cite news|last=Gordon|first=Michael R.|title=U.S. and Russia Reach Deal to Destroy Syria’s Chemical Arms|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/world/middleeast/syria-talks.html|accessdate=15 September 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=14 September 2013}}</ref> and was endorsed by [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2118]]<ref name="Michael Corder">{{cite news|author=Michael Corder |title=Syrian Chemical Arms Inspections Could Begin Soon |url=http://world.time.com/2013/09/27/syrian-chemical-arms-inspections-could-begin-soon/ |accessdate=9 October 2013 |newspaper=[[Associated Press|AP]] |date=27 September 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020181433/http://world.time.com/2013/09/27/syrian-chemical-arms-inspections-could-begin-soon/ |archivedate=20 October 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> and the OPCW Executive Council Decision EC-M-33/DEC.1.<ref name="opcw.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW/EC/M-33/ecm33dec01_e_.pdf|title=Decision: Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons|work=OPCW|accessdate=28 September 2013|date=27 September 2013}}</ref> Their deadline for destruction was the first half of 2014.<ref name="opcw.org"/>  Syria gave the OPCW an inventory of its chemical weapons arsenal<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24419468 BBC News, 6 October 2013. ''Syria chemical arms removal begins''.]</ref> and started its [[destruction of Syrian chemical weapons|destruction]] in October 2013, 2 weeks before its formal entry into force, while applying the convention provisionally.<ref name=nbc_kerry>{{cite news |title=Kerry 'very pleased' at Syria compliance over chemical weapons |url=http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/07/20843265-kerry-very-pleased-at-syria-compliance-over-chemical-weapons?lite |accessdate=9 October 2013 |newspaper=NBC News |date=7 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="reut6">{{cite news|author=Mariam Karouny|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/07/us-syria-crisis-experts-idUSBRE99508920131007|title=Destruction of Syrian chemical weapons begins: mission|publisher=Reuters |date=6 October 2013|deadurl=no |accessdate=8 October 2013}}</ref><ref name=syriaend />

====Financial support for destruction====
Financial support for the Albanian and Libyan stockpile destruction programmes was provided by the United States. Russia received support from a number of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Canada; with some $2 billion given by 2004. Costs for Albania's program were approximately US$48 million. The United States has spent $20 billion and expected to spend a further $40 billion.<ref name="Chall">"[http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL07441714 Russia, U.S. face challenge on chemical weapons]", Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters, 7 August 2007, accessed 7 August 2007</ref>

===Known production facilities (of chemical weapons)===
Fourteen States Parties have declared chemical weapons production facilities:<ref name=factsfigures>{{cite web |url=http://www.opcw.org/news-publications/publications/facts-and-figures/#c1920 |title=The Chemical Weapons Ban Facts and Figures |accessdate=15 May 2015 |publisher=[[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]]}}</ref>

:{|width=100% style="background:transparent"
|- valign=top
| style="width:25%;"|
*{{flagcountry|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
*{{flagcountry|China}}
*{{flagcountry|France}}
*{{flagcountry|India}}
| style="width:25%;"|
*{{flagcountry|Iran}}
*{{flagcountry|Iraq}}
*{{flagcountry|Japan}}
| style="width:25%;"|
*{{flagcountry|Libya}}
*{{flagcountry|Russia}}
*{{flagcountry|Serbia}}
| style="width:25%;"|
*{{flagcountry|Syria}}
*{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
*{{flagcountry|United States}}
|}
*1 non-disclosed state party (referred to as "A State Party" in OPCW-communications; said to be [[South Korea]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Confidentiality and verification: the IAEA and OPCW|url=http://www.vertic.org/media/assets/TV114.pdf|date=May–June 2004|accessdate=3 December 2012|publisher=[[VERTIC]]}}</ref>

As of May 2015, all 97 declared production facilities had been inactivated and 93% (90) have been certified as destroyed or converted to civilian use.<ref name=factsfigures />

==See also==

===Related international law===
*[[Australia Group]] of countries and the European Commission that helps member nations identify exports which need to be controlled so as not to contribute to the spread of chemical and biological weapons
*[[Agreement on Destruction and Non-production of Chemical Weapons and on Measures to Facilitate the Multilateral Convention on Banning Chemical Weapons|1990 US-Soviet Arms Control Agreement]]
*[[General-purpose criterion]], a concept in international law that broadly governs international agreements with respect to chemical weapons 
*[[Geneva Protocol]], a treaty prohibiting the first use of chemical and biological weapons

===Worldwide treaties for other types of arms===
*[[Biological Weapons Convention]]
*[[Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons]] (CCW)
*[[Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]] (NPT)

===Chemical weapons===
*[[Chemical warfare]]
*[[Weapons of mass destruction]]
*[[Tear gas]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Chemical Weapons Convention}}
* [http://www.cwc.gov/ Chemical Weapons Convention Website], United States
* [http://www.nacwc.gov.sg/ Chemical Weapons Convention Website], Singapore
* [http://www.opcw.org/chemical-weapons-convention/articles/ Chemical Weapons Convention: Full Text]
* [http://www.opcw.org/about-opcw/member-states/ Chemical Weapons Convention: Ratifying Countries]
* [http://www.opcw.org/html/db/cwc/eng/cwc_annex_on_chemicals.html Annex on Chemicals, describing the schedules and the substances on them], OPCW website
* [http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/cwcglance.asp The Chemical Weapons Convention at a Glance], Arms Control Association
* [http://www.chemlink.com.au/chemweap.htm Chemical Warfare Chemicals and Precursors], Chemlink Pty Ltd, Australia
* [http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/cpdpsucw/cpdpsucw.html Introductory note by Michael Bothe, procedural history note and audiovisual material] on the ''Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction'' in the [http://legal.un.org/avl/historicarchives.html Historic Archives of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law]
* [http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Onate-Laborde_AC.html Lecture] by [[Santiago Oñate Laborde]] entitled ''The Chemical Weapons Convention: an Overview'' in the [http://legal.un.org/avl/lectureseries.html Lecture Series of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law]

{{Portal bar|Weapons of mass destruction|United Nations}}

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