Introduction to the Chemical Weapons Convention

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is the common name for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. The CWC is an international treaty that seeks to eliminate chemical weapons in a verifiable manner, and to prevent their re-emergence. The Convention requires that all existing stockpiles of chemical weapons be destroyed. It also requires that certain industrial and research activities are subject to verification measures to provide assurance to the international community that chemicals are not being diverted for chemical weapons purposes. The CWC primarily addresses national weapons programs, and indirectly, the threat of chemical terrorism.

A Guide for Industry Producing, Using or Trading Chemicals 2014 [PDF 2.20 MB] | [DOCX 4.92 MB]