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Biological Weapons Convention

Official Name

Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction

Signatories

There are 162 countries that have signed the Convention.

Dates

The Convention was first signed on 10 April 1972 and came into force on 26 March 1975.

Languages

The Convention was written in English, French, Russian, Spanish and Chinese.

Key Points

All members of the Convention are not to stockpile any biological or micro-organisms which are intended not to be used for peaceful measures. If members do have biological weapons then they have up to nine months after they sign the Convention to either destroy or divert the weapons to other purposes, such as medicine research. All breaches of these rules are to be reported to the Security Council of the United Nations.

Resources Used:

"Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction." The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Website. 02 Apr. 2009 <http://www.opbw.org/convention/documents/btwctext.pdf>.

The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Website. 01 Mar. 2009 <http://www.opbw.org/>.

"English / Text / Treaty." Home - International Campaign to Ban Landmines. 18 Feb. 2009 <http://www.icbl.org/treaty/text/english>.