Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare (2008) - The Black Vault

History of the Chemical Threatratification by nations such as Iran that border nonsignatoriesmay prove difficult in the short term.The CWC is a complicated document because itwas designed to effect the demilitarization of chemicalsthat may be in widespread commercial use whileminimally impacting the world’s extensive chemicalindustries. 100,101 Its basic tenets are listed in Article I:Article I General Obligations:1. Each State Party to this Convention undertakesnever under any circumstances:(a) To develop, produce, otherwise acquire,stockpile or retain chemical weapons, ortransfer, directly or indirectly, chemicalweapons to anyone;(b) To use chemical weapons;(c) To engage in any military preparationsto use chemical weapons;(d) To assist, encourage or induce, in anyway, anyone to engage in any activityprohibited to a State Party under thisConvention.2. Each State Party undertakes to destroy chemicalweapons it owns or possesses, or that arelocated in any place under its jurisdiction orcontrol, in accordance with the provisions ofthis Convention.3. Each State Party undertakes to destroy allchemical weapons it abandoned on the territoryof another State Party, in accordancewith the provisions of this Convention.4. Each State Party undertakes to destroy anychemical weapons production facilities itowns or possesses, or that are located in anyplace under its jurisdiction or control, in accordancewith the provisions of this Convention.5. Each State Party undertakes not to use riotcontrol agents as a method of warfare. 101The authors of the CWC sought to implement manyof the concepts discussed in the development of theGeneva Protocol and incorporate the concerns andcaveats of its signatories. The CWC bans the use ofchemical weapons proliferation and requires the timelydestruction of all chemical weapons manufacturing facilities,weaponized and unweaponized agent, and anydevices or structures specifically intended for chemicalwarfare. Negotiations leading to the development ofthe CWC involved industry representatives early inthe process, creating multiple lines of communicationand accommodating both industrial and armscontrol interests. Some of these representatives cameforward to support the document’s ratification in theUS Senate. 100The CWC defines chemical capability in terms ofchemical weapons and chemical weapon productionfacilities (Table 4-4). The term “chemical weapon”denotes everything that is specifically manufacturedfor conducting chemical warfare, ranging from smallmachined parts to bulk-stored agent and agent weaponizedmines, spray tanks, and projectiles. The order ofpriority for chemical weapons destruction depends onthe type or presence of agent. The CWC also includesriot control agents and biological toxins.Declarations, Scheduling and Order of DestructionWithin 30 days of acceding to the CWC, a nation or“state party” must declare all of its chemical weaponsand facilities that have made chemical weapons atany time since 1946, any old or abandoned chemicalweapons (including those abandoned on the territoryof another state party), and plans for the destructionof chemical weapons and facilities.The CWC requires the elimination of all chemicalweapons and chemical weapons facilities over a 10-year schedule (Table 4-5). Destruction of schedule-1and non-schedule-1 manufacturing facilities mustTable 4-4Chemcial warfare conventionSchedule and Category of chemicalsand chemical weaponsSchedule 1 chemicals Chemicals that have no or littlepurpose other than to be usedin chemical warfare. Examples:nerve agents, sulfur mustard.Schedule 2 chemicals Chemicals that have limited commercialuse or precursors, such asthiodiglycol, a precursor to sulfurmustard.Schedule 3 chemicals Chemicals, such as phosgene, thatcan either be used as weaponsor in the manufacture of chemicalweapons and have legitimatelarge-scale industrial uses.Category 1 CWs CWs containing schedule 1 chemicals.Category 2 CWs All weaponized schedule 2 and 3chemicals.Category 3 CWs Unfilled munitions and CW-specificdevices and equipment.Data source: Carpenter WD. How industry came to support theCWC. OPCW Synthesis. November 2000.139