New York, 30 November 1992
Objectives
The aim of the Convention is to exclude completely the possibility of the use of
chemical weapons, through the implementation of the provisions of this
Convention, and to promote free trade in chemicals as well as international
cooperation and exchange of scientific and technical information in the field of
chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under this Convention.
Key Provisions
Each State party to this Convention undertakes never under any circumstances to
develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons, or
transfer, directly or indirectly, chemical weapons to anyone; to use chemical
weapons; to engage in any military preparations to use chemical weapons; and to
assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity
prohibited to a State party under this Convention. Furthermore, to address
concerns regarding the possible use of herbicides as a method of warfare, the
States parties recognize "the prohibition, embodied in the pertinent agreements
and relevant principles of international law, of the use of herbicides as a
method of warfare".
Each State party also undertakes to destroy chemical weapons it owns or
possesses, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control,
in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.
Furthermore, each State party undertakes to destroy all chemical weapons it
abandoned on the territory of another State Party, in accordance with the
provisions of this Convention.
Each State party undertakes to destroy any chemical weapons production
facilities it owns or possesses, or that are located in any place under its
jurisdiction or control, in accordance with the provisions of this
Convention.
The Convention is verified through a combination of reporting requirements,
routine on-site inspections of declared sites and challenge inspections. The
Convention not only affects the military sector but also civilian chemical
industry worldwide through certain restrictions and obligations regarding the
production, processing and consumption of chemicals that are considered relevant
to the objectives of the Convention. Controlled chemicals are classified in
three lists or "schedules", which are subject to differing levels of
verification. Schedule 1 chemicals include those that have been or can be easily
used as chemical weapons and which have very limited, if any, uses for peaceful
purposes. Schedule 2 chemicals include those that are precursors to, or that, in
some cases, can themselves be used as, chemical weapons agents, but which have a
number of other commercial uses (such as ingredients in insecticides,
herbicides, lubricants and some pharmaceutical products). Schedule 3 chemicals
include those that can be used to produce, or that, in some cases, can
themselves be used as, chemical weapons, but which are widely used for peaceful
purposes (including in herbicides, insecticides, paints, coatings, textiles and
lubricants).