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Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpilingof Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.
Signed at London, Moscow and Washington on 10 April 1972.
Entered into force on 26 March 1975
Depositaries: U.K., U.S. and Soviet governments.
The States Parties to this Convention,
Determined to act with a view to achieving effective progress towards generaland complete disarmament, including the prohibition and elimination of alltypes of weapons of mass destruction, and convinced that the prohibitionof the development, production and stockpiling of chemical and bacteriological(biological) weapons and their elimination, through effective measures,will facilitate the achievement of general and complete disarmament understrict and effective international control,
Recognizing the important significance of the Protocol for the Prohibitionof the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of BacteriologicalMethods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on June 17, 1925, and conscious alsoof the contribution which the said Protocol has already made, and continuesto make, to mitigating the horrors of war,
Reaffirming their adherence to the principles and objectives of that Protocoland calling upon all States to comply strictly with them,
Recalling that the General Assembly of the United Nations has repeatedlycondemned all actions contrary to the principles and objectives of the GenevaProtocol of June 17, 1925,
Desiring to contribute to the strengthening of confidence between peoplesand the general improvement of the international atmosphere,
Desiring also to contribute to the realization of the purposes and principlesof the United Nations,
Convinced of the importance and urgency of eliminating from the arsenalsof States, through effective measures, such dangerous weapons of mass destructionas those using chemical or bacteriological (biological) agents,
Recognizing that an agreement on the prohibition of bacteriological (biological)and toxin weapons represents a first possible step towards the achievementof agreement on effective measures also for the prohibition of the development,production and stockpiling of chemical weapons, and determined to continuenegotiations to that end,
Determined for the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibilityof bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins being used as weapons,
Convinced that such use would be repugnant to the conscience of mankindand that no effort should be spared to minimize this risk,
Have agreed as follows:
Article I
Each State Party to this Convention undertakes never in any circumstancesto develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain:
(1) Microbial or other biological agents, or toxins whatever their originor method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justificationfor prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes;
(2) Weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agentsor toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.
Article II
Each State Party to this Convention undertakes to destroy, or to divertto peaceful purposes, as soon as possible but not later than nine monthsafter entry into force of the Convention, all agents, toxins, weapons, equipmentand means of delivery specified in article I of the Convention, which arein its possession or under its jurisdiction or control. In implementingthe provisions of this article all necessary safety precautions shall beobserved to protect populations and the environment.
Article III
Each State Party to this Convention undertakes not to transfer to any recipientwhatsoever, directly or indirectly, and not in any way to assist, encourage,or induce any State, group of States or international organizations to manufactureor otherwise acquire any of the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment or meansof delivery specified in article I of this Convention.
Article IV
Each State Party to this Convention shall, in accordance with its constitutionalprocesses, take any necessary measures to prohibit and prevent the development,production, stockpiling, acquisition, or retention of the agents, toxins,weapons, equipment and means of delivery specified in article I of the Convention,within the territory of such State, under its jurisdiction or under itscontrol anywhere.
Article V
The States Parties to this Convention undertake to consult one another andto cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to theobjective of, or in the application of the provisions of, the Convention.Consultation and Cooperation pursuant to this article may also be undertakenthrough appropriate international procedures within the framework of theUnited Nations and in accordance with its Charter.
Article VI
(1) Any State Party to this convention which finds that any other StateParty is acting in breach of obligations deriving from the provisions ofthe Convention may lodge a complaint with the Security Council of the UnitedNations. Such a complaint should include all possible evidence confirmingits validity, as well as a request for its consideration by the SecurityCouncil.
(2) Each State Party to this Convention undertakes to cooperate in carryingout any investigation which the Security Council may initiate, in accordancewith the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, on the basis ofthe complaint received by the Council. The Security Council shall informthe States Parties to the Convention of the results of the investigation.
Article VII
Each State Party to this Convention undertakes to provide or support assistance,in accordance with the United Nations Charter, to any Party to the Conventionwhich so requests, if the Security Council decides that such Party has beenexposed to danger as a result of violation of the Convention.
Article VIII
Nothing in this Convention shall be interpreted as in any way limiting ordetracting from the obligations assumed by any State under the Protocolfor the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or OtherGases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on June17, 1925.
Article IX
Each State Party to this Convention affirms the recognized objective ofeffective prohibition of chemical weapons and, to this end, undertakes tocontinue negotiations in good faith with a view to reaching early agreementon effective measures for the prohibition of their development, productionand stockpiling and for their destruction, and on appropriate measures concerningequipment and means of delivery specifically designed for the productionor use of chemical agents for weapons purposes.
Article X
(1) The States Parties to this Convention undertake to facilitate, and havethe right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment,materials and scientific and technological information for the use of bacteriological(biological) agents and toxins for peaceful purposes. Parties to the Conventionin a position to do so shall also cooperate in contributing individuallyor together with other States or international organizations to the furtherdevelopment and application of scientific discoveries in the field of bacteriology(biology) for prevention of disease, or for other peaceful purposes.
(2) This Convention shall be implemented in a manner designed to avoid hamperingthe economic or technological development of States Parties to the Conventionor international cooperation in the field of peaceful bacteriological (biological)activities, including the international exchange of bacteriological (biological)and toxins and equipment for the processing, use or production of bacteriological(biological) agents and toxins for peaceful purposes in accordance withthe provisions of the Convention.
Article XI
Any State Party may propose amendments to this Convention. Amendments shallenter into force for each State Party accepting the amendments upon theiracceptance by a majority of the States Parties to the Convention and thereafterfor each remaining State Party on the date of acceptance by it.
Article XII
Five years after the entry into force of this Convention, or earlier ifit is requested by a majority of Parties to the Convention by submittinga proposal to this effect to the Depositary Governments, a conference ofStates Parties to the Convention shall be held at Geneva, Switzerland, toreview the operation of the Convention, with a view to assuring that thepurposes of the preamble and the provisions of the Convention, includingthe provisions concerning negotiations on chemical weapons, are being realized.Such review shall take into account any new scientific and technologicaldevelopments relevant to the Convention.
Article XIII
(1) This Convention shall be of unlimited duration.
(2) Each State Party to this Convention shall in exercising its nationalsovereignty have the right to withdraw from the Convention if it decidesthat extraordinary events, related to the subject matter of the Convention,have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country. It shall give noticeof such withdrawal to all other States Parties to the Convention and tothe United Nations Security Council three months in advance. Such noticeshall include a statement of the extraordinary events it regards as havingjeopardized its supreme interests.
Article XIV
(1) This Convention shall be open to all States for signature. Any Statewhich does not sign the Convention before its entry into force in accordancewith paragraph (3) of this Article may accede to it at any time.
(2) This Convention shall be subject to ratification by signatory States.Instruments of ratification and instruments of accession shall be depositedwith the Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdomof Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Union of Soviet SocialistRepublics, which are hereby designated the Depositary Governments.
(3) This Convention shall enter into force after the deposit of instrumentsof ratification by twenty-two Governments, including the Governments designatedas Depositaries of the Convention.
(4) For States whose instruments of ratification or accession are depositedsubsequent to the entry into force of this Convention, it shall enter intoforce on the date of the deposit of their instruments of ratification oraccession.
(5) The Depositary Governments shall promptly inform all signatory and accedingStates of the date of each signature, the date of deposit or each instrumentof ratification or of accession and the date of entry into force of thisConvention, and of the receipt of other notices.
(6) This Convention shall be registered by the Depositary Governments pursuantto Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.
Article XV
This Convention, the English, Russian, French, Spanish and Chinese textsof which are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of theDepositary Governments. Duly certified copies of the Convention shall betransmitted by the Depositary Governments to the Governments of the signatoryand acceding states.