No independent verification and a Review Conference every five years: the Biological Weapons Convention

Background

The Biological Weapons Convention, or BWC, is the treaty that bans biological weapons. Its full title names bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons, and covers the prohibition of their development, production and stockpiling as well as their destruction. It was signed in 1972 and entered into force in 1975, and it is of unlimited duration. The Convention bans the development, production, stockpiling and transfer of biological weapons and of biological agents and toxins, and also of equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents for hostile purposes or in armed conflict. States parties must destroy the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment and means of delivery they hold. Unlike the Chemical Weapons Convention, the BWC lists no particular agents; it speaks generally of microbial and other biological agents, and of toxins, of any origin or manner of making, in types and amounts that no prophylactic or peaceful purpose can justify. Only defensive work such as vaccines and protective equipment is allowed, and stocks are permitted only in amounts that protective or peaceful purposes can justify. The treaty carries no independent verification or enforcement machinery; states parties set up an Implementation Support Unit to help monitor and encourage compliance, and they hold a Review Conference every five years with annual meetings in between.