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

Text of the Treaty

The States Parties to this C onvention,


Determined to act with a view to achieving effective progress towards general and complete disarmament, including the prohibition and elimination of all
types of weapons of mass destruction, and convinced that the prohibition of 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 under strict
and effective international control,
Recognising the important significance of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of
Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925, and conscious also of the contribution which the said Protocol has already made
and continues to make, to mitigating the horrors of war,
Reaffirming their adherence to the principles and objectives of that Protocol and calling upon all States to comply strictly with them,
Recalling that the General Assembly of the United Nations has repeatedly condemned all actions contrary to the principles and objectives of the Geneva
Protocol of 17 June 1925,
Desiring to contribute to the strengthening of confidence between peoples and the general improvement of the international atmosphere,
Desiring also to contribute to the realisation of the purposes and principles of the C harter of the United Nations,
C onvinced of the importance and urgency of eliminating from the arsenals of States, through effective measures, such dangerous weapons of mass
destruction as those using chemical or bacteriological (biological) agents,
Recognising that an agreement on the prohibition of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons represents a first possible step towards the
achievement of agreement on effective measures also for the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of chemical weapons, and
determined to continue negotiations to that end,

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Determined, for the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibility of bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins being used as weapons,
C onvinced that such use would be repugnant to the conscience of mankind and that no effort should be spared to minimise this risk,
Have agreed as follows:

Article I
Each State Party to this C onvention undertakes never in any circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain:
(1)
microbial or other biological agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for
prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes;
(2)

weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.

Article II
Each State Party to this C onvention undertakes to destroy, or to divert to peaceful purposes, as soon as possible but not later than nine months after the
entry into force of the C onvention, all agents, toxins, weapons, equipment and means of delivery specified in Article I of the C onvention, which are in its
possession or under its jurisdiction or control. In implementing the provisions of this Article all necessary safety precautions shall be observed to protect
populations and the environment.

Article III
Each State Party to this C onvention undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever, directly or indirectly, and not in any way to assist,
encourage, or induce any State, group of States or international organisations to manufacture or otherwise acquire any of the agents, toxins, weapons,
equipment or means of delivery specified in Article I of the C onvention.

Article IV
Each State Party to this C onvention shall, in accordance with its constitutional processes, 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 C onvention, within the territory of such State, under its jurisdiction or under its control anywhere.

Article V
The States Parties to this C onvention undertake to consult one another and to co-operate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the
objective of, or in the application of the provisions of, the C onvention. C onsultation and co-operation pursuant to this Article may also be undertaken
through appropriate international procedures within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with its C harter.

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Article VI
(1)
Any State Party to this C onvention which finds that any other State Party is acting in breach of obligations deriving from the provisions of the
C onvention may lodge a complaint with the Security C ouncil of the United Nations. Such a complaint should include all possible evidence confirming its
validity, as well as a request for its consideration by the Security C ouncil.
(2)
Each State Party to this C onvention undertakes to co-operate in carrying out any investigation which the Security C ouncil may initiate, in
accordance with the provisions of the C harter of the United Nations, on the basis of the complaint received by the C ouncil. The Security C ouncil shall
inform the States Parties to the C onvention of the results of the investigation.

Article VII
Each State Party to this C onvention undertakes to provide or support assistance, in accordance with the United Nations C harter, to any Party to the
C onvention which so requests, if the Security C ouncil decides that such Party has been exposed to danger as a result of violation of the C onvention.

Article VIII
Nothing in this C onvention shall be interpreted as in any way limiting or detracting from the obligations assumed by any State under the Protocol for the
Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925.

Article IX
Each State Party to this C onvention affirms the recognised objective of effective prohibition of chemical weapons and, to this end, undertakes to continue
negotiations in good faith with a view to reaching early agreement on effective measures for the prohibition of their development, production and
stockpiling and for their destruction, and on appropriate measures concerning equipment and means of delivery specifically designed for the production
or use of chemical agents for weapons purposes.

Article X
(1)
The States Parties to this C onvention undertake to facilitate, and have the 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
C onvention in a position to do so shall also co-operate in contributing individually or together with other States or international organisations to the
further development and application of scientific discoveries in the field of bacteriology (biology) for the prevention of disease, or for other peaceful
purposes.
(2)
This C onvention shall be implemented in a manner designed to avoid hampering the economic or technological development of States Parties to
the C onvention or international co-operation in the field of peaceful bacteriological (biological) activities, including the international exchange of
bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins and equipment for the processing, use or production of bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins for
peaceful purposes in accordance with the provisions of the C onvention.

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Article XI
Any State Party may propose amendments to this C onvention. Amendments shall enter into force for each State Party accepting the amendments upon
their acceptance by a majority of the States Parties to the C onvention and thereafter for each remaining State Party on the date of acceptance by it.

Article XII
Five years after the entry into force of this C onvention, or earlier if it is requested by a majority of Parties to the C onvention by submitting a proposal to
this effect to the Depositary Governments, a conference of States Parties to the C onvention shall be held at Geneva, Switzerland, to review the
operation of the C onvention, with a view to assuring that the purposes of the preamble and the provisions of the C onvention, including the provisions
concerning negotiations on chemical weapons, are being realised. Such review shall take into account any new scientific and technological developments
relevant to the C onvention.

Article XIII
(1)

This C onvention shall be of unlimited duration.

(2)
Each State Party to this C onvention shall in exercising its national sovereignty have the right to withdraw from the C onvention if it decides that
extraordinary events, related to the subject matter of the C onvention, have jeopardised the supreme interests of its country. It shall give notice of such
withdrawal to all other States Parties to the C onvention and to the United Nations Security C ouncil three months in advance. Such notice shall include a
statement of the extraordinary events it regards as having jeopardised its supreme interests.

Article XIV
(1)
This C onvention shall be open to all States for signature. Any State which does not sign the C onvention before its entry into force in accordance
with paragraph 3 of this Article may accede to it at any time.
(2)
This C onvention shall be subject to ratification by signatory States. Instruments of ratification and instruments of accession shall be deposited with
the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America,
which are hereby designated the Depositary Governments.
(3)
This C onvention shall enter into force after the deposit of instruments of ratification by twenty-two Governments, including the Governments
designated as Depositaries of the C onvention.
(4)
For States whose instruments of ratification or accession are deposited subsequent to the entry into force of this C onvention, it shall enter into
force on the date of the deposit of their instruments of ratification or accession.
(5)
The Depositary Governments shall promptly inform all signatory and acceding States of the date of each signature, the date of deposit of each
instrument of ratification or of accession and the date of the entry into force of this C onvention, and of the receipt of other notices.
(6)

This C onvention shall be registered by the Depositary Governments pursuant to Article 102 of the C harter of the United Nations.
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(6)

This C onvention shall be registered by the Depositary Governments pursuant to Article 102 of the C harter of the United Nations.

Article XV
This C onvention, the English, Russian, French, Spanish and C hinese texts of which are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the
Depositary Governments. Duly certified copies of the C onvention shall be transmitted by the Depositary Governments to the Governments of the
signatory and acceding States.

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