The list of parties to the Biological Weapons Convention encompasses the states who have signed and ratified or acceded to the international agreement outlawing biological weapons.
On 10 April 1972, the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), also known as the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) was opened for signature. The Netherlands became the first state to deposit the treaty that same day. The treaty came into force and closed for signature on 26 March 1975 with the deposit of ratification by 22 states. Since then, states that did not sign the treaty can now only accede to it.
A total of 195 states may become members of the Chemical Weapons Convention, including all 192 United Nations member states as of 2010, the Cook Islands, Holy See and Niue. As of July 2008, 163 states have ratified or acceded to the treaty, most recently the Cook Islands on 4 December 2008. The Republic of China (Taiwan) has also ratified the treaty, but is now unrecognized by the United Nations and is a party to the treaty only unofficially.
Contents |
| State | Signed | Deposited | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | March 6, 1975 (L) | Ratification |
| Albania | June 3, 1992 (W) August 11, 1992 (L) March 26, 1993 (M) |
Accession | |
| Algeria | ?[1] | July 22, 2001 September 28, 2001 (W) |
Accession |
| Antigua and Barbuda | January 29, 2003 (L) | Accession?[2] | |
| Argentina | August 1, 1972 (M) August 3, 1972 (L) August 7, 1972 (W) |
November 27, 1979 (W) December 5, 1979 (L) December 27, 1979 (M) |
Ratification |
| Armenia | June 7, 1994 (M, W) | Accession | |
| Australia | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | October 5, 1977 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Austria | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | August 10, 1973 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Azerbaijan | February 26, 2004 (W, M) | Accession | |
| Bahamas | November 26, 1986 (L) | Accession | |
| Bahrain | October 28, 1988 (L) | Accession | |
| Bangladesh | March 11, 1985 (M) March 12, 1985 (W) March 13, 1985 (L) |
Accession | |
| Barbados | February 16, 1973 (W) | February 16, 1973 (W) | Ratification |
| Belarus | April 10, 1972 (M) | March 26, 1975 (M) | Ratification as Byelorussian SSR |
| Belgium | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | March 15, 1979 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Belize | October 20, 1986 (L) November 15, 1986 (W) January 13, 1987 (M) |
Succession from United Kingdom (L) Accession (M, W) |
|
| Benin | April 10, 1972 (W) | April 25, 1975 (L, W) | Ratification |
| Bhutan | June 8, 1978 (L, W) | Accession | |
| Bolivia | April 10, 1972 (W) | October 30, 1975 (L, W) | Ratification |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | August 15, 1994 (W) | Succession from Yugoslavia | |
| Botswana | April 10, 1972 (W) | February 5, 1992 (W) | Ratification |
| Brazil | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | February 27, 1973 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Brunei | January 31, 1991 (L) | Accession | |
| Bulgaria | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | August 2, 1972 (L) September 13, 1972 (W) September 19, 1972 (M) |
Ratification |
| Burkina Faso | April 17, 1991 (W) | Accession | |
| Cambodia | April 10, 1972 (W) | March 9, 1983 (W) | Ratification |
| Canada | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | September 18, 1972 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Cape Verde | October 20, 1977 (M) | Accession | |
| Chile | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | April 22, 1980 (L) | Ratification |
| People's Republic of China | November 15, 1984 (L, M, W) | Accession | |
| Colombia | April 10, 1972 (W) | December 19, 1983 (W) | Ratification |
| Cook Islands | December 4, 2008 | Accession | |
| Congo | October 23, 1978 (W) | Accession | |
| Costa Rica | April 10, 1972 (W) | December 17, 1973 (W) | Ratification |
| Croatia | April 28, 1993[3] (W) | Succession from Yugoslavia | |
| Cuba | April 12, 1972 (M) | April 21, 1976 (M) | Ratification |
| Cyprus | April 14, 1972 (M) April 10, 1972 (L, W) |
November 6, 1973 (L) November 13, 1973 (W) November 21, 1973 (M) |
Ratification |
| Czech Republic | April 5, 1993 (L) April 9, 1973 (M) September 29, 1993[4] (W) |
Succession from Czechoslovakia Signed 10 April 1972 Deposited 30 April 1973 |
|
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | April 10, 1972 (M) April 10, 1972 (W) |
September 16, 1975 (L) January 28, 1977 (W) |
Ratification as Zaire |
| Denmark | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | March 1, 1973 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Dominica | November 8, 1978 (L) | Accession | |
| Dominican Republic | April 10, 1972 (W) | February 23, 1973 (W) | Ratification |
| Ecuador | June 14, 1972 (W) | March 12, 1975 (W) | Ratification |
| El Salvador | April 10, 1972 (W) | December 31, 1991(W) | Ratification |
| Equatorial Guinea | January 16, 1989 (M) July 29, 1992 (W) |
Accession | |
| Estonia | July 1, 1993 (M) June 21, 1993 (W) |
Accession | |
| Ethiopia | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | May 26, 1975 (L, M) June 26, 1975 (W) |
Ratification |
| Fiji | February 22, 1973 (L) | September 4, 1973 (W) October 1, 1973 (L) October 5, 1973 (M) |
Ratification |
| Finland | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | February 4, 1974 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| France | September 27, 1984 (L, M, W) | Accession | |
| Gabon | April 10, 1972 (L) | August 16, 2007 | Ratification |
| Gambia | June 2, 1972 (M) August 8, 1972 (L) November 9, 1972 (W) |
November 21, 1991(L) August 1, 1997 (W) |
Ratification |
| Georgia | May 22, 1996 (L) | Accession | |
| Germany | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | April 7, 1983 (L, W) | Ratification as West Germany Also East Germany Ratified 28 November 1972 |
| Ghana | April 10, 1972 (M, W) | June 6, 1975 (L) | Ratification |
| Greece | April 10, 1972 (L) April 12, 1972 (W) April 14, 1972 (M) |
December 10, 1975 (W) | Ratification |
| Grenada | October 22, 1986 (L) | Accession | |
| Guatemala | May 9, 1972 (W) | September 19, 1973 (W) | Ratification |
| Guinea-Bissau | August 20, 1976 (M) | Accession | |
| Holy See | January 4, 2002 (W) | Accession | |
| Honduras | April 10, 1972 (W) | March 14, 1979 (W) | Ratification |
| Hungary | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | December 27, 1972 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Iceland | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | February 15, 1973 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| India | January 15, 1973 (L, M, W) | July 15, 1974 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Indonesia | June 20, 1972 (M, W) June 21, 1972 (L) June 20, 1972 |
February 4, 1992 (M) February 19, 1992 (L) 1April 1992 (W) |
Ratification |
| Iran | April 10, 1972 (M, W) November 16, 1972 (L) |
August 22, 1973 (L, W) August 27, 1973 (M) |
Ratification |
| Iraq | May 11, 1972 (M) | June 19, 1991 (M) | Ratification |
| Ireland | April 10, 1972 (L, W) | October 27, 1972 (L, W) | Ratification |
| Italy | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | May 30, 1975 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Jamaica | August 13, 1975 (L) | Accession | |
| Japan | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | June 8, 1982 (W) June 18, 1982 (L, M) |
Ratification |
| Jordan | April 10, 1972 (W) April 17, 1972 (L) April 24, 1972 (M) |
May 30, 1975 (M) June 2, 1975 (W) June 27, 1975 (L) |
Ratification |
| Kazakhstan | June 15, 2007 (M) | Accession?[2] | |
| Kenya | January 7, 1976 (L) | Accession | |
| Kuwait | April 14, 1972 (M, W) April 27, 1972 (L) |
July 18, 1972 (W) July 26, 1972 (L) August 1, 1972 (M) |
Ratification |
| Kyrgyzstan | October 12, 2004 (M) | Accession | |
| Laos | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | March 20, 1973 (M) March 22, 1973 (W) April 25, 1973 (L) |
Ratification |
| Latvia | February 6, 1997 (L) | Accession | |
| Lebanon | April 10, 1972 (L, W) April 21, 1972 (M) |
March 26, 1975 (L) April 2, 1975 (M) June 13, 1975 (W) |
Ratification |
| Lesotho | April 10, 1972 (W) | September 6, 1977 (L) | Ratification |
| Libya | January 19, 1982 (M) | Accession | |
| Liechtenstein | May 30, 1991 (W) May 31, 1991 (M) June 6, 1991 (L) |
Accession | |
| Lithuania | February 10, 1998 (L) | Accession | |
| Luxembourg | April 10, 1972 (L, M) April 12, 1972 (W) |
March 23, 1976 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Madagascar | October 13, 1972 (L) | March 7, 2008 | Ratification?[5] |
| Malaysia | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | September 6, 1991 (L, M) September 26, 1991 (W) |
Ratification |
| Maldives | August 2, 1993 (M) | Accession | |
| Mali | April 10, 1972 (W) | November 25, 2002 | Ratification |
| Malta | September 11, 1972 (L) | April 7, 1975 (L) | Ratification |
| Mauritius | April 10, 1972 (W) | August 7, 1972 (W) January 11, 1973 (L) January 15, 1973 (M) |
Ratification |
| Mexico | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | April 8, 1974 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Moldova | January 28, 2005 (W, M) | Accession | |
| Monaco | April 30, 1999 | Accession?[6] | |
| Mongolia | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | September 5, 1972 (W) September 14, 1972 (L) October 20, 1972 (M) |
Ratification |
| Montenegro | June 3, 2006 (M) | Succession from Serbia and Montenegro | |
| Morocco | May 2, 1972 (L) May 3, 1972 (W) June 5, 1972 (M) |
March 21, 2002 (L) | Ratification |
| Netherlands | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | April 10, 1972 (L, W) June 22, 1981(M) |
Ratification |
| New Zealand | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | December 13, 1972 (W) December 18, 1972 (L) January 10, 1973 (M) |
Ratification |
| Nicaragua | April 10, 1972 (L, W) | August 7, 1975 (W) | Ratification |
| Niger | April 21, 1972 (W) | June 23, 1972 (W) | Ratification |
| Nigeria | July 3, 1972 (M) July 10, 1972 (L) December 6, 1972 (W) |
July 3, 1973 (W) July 9, 1973 (L) July 20, 1973 (M) |
Ratification |
| North Korea | March 13, 1987 (M) | Accession | |
| Norway | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | August 1, 1973 (L, W) August 23, 1973 (M) |
Ratification |
| Oman | March 31, 1992 (W) | Accession | |
| Pakistan | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | September 25, 1974 (M) October 3, 1974 (L, W) |
Ratification |
| Palau | February 20, 2003 | Accession | |
| Panama | May 2, 1972 (W) | March 20, 1974 (W) | Ratification |
| Papua New Guinea | October 27, 1980 (L) November 13, 1980 (M) March 16, 1981 (W) |
Accession | |
| Paraguay | June 9, 1976 (W) | Accession | |
| Peru | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) April 10, 1972 |
June 5, 1985 (L, M) June 11, 1985 (W) |
Ratification |
| Philippines | June 21, 1972 (M) April 10, 1972 (L, W) |
May 21, 1973 (W) | Ratification |
| Poland | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | January 25, 1973 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Portugal | June 29, 1972 (W) | May 15, 1972 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Qatar | November 14, 1972 (L) | April 17, 1975 (L) | Ratification |
| Macedonia | December 24, 1996[7] (M) March 14, 1997 (L) April 23, 1997 (W) |
Succession from Yugoslavia | |
| Romania | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | July 25, 1979 (W) July 26, 1979 (L) July 27, 1979 (M) |
Ratification |
| Russia | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | March 26, 1975 (L, M, W) | Ratification as Soviet Union |
| Rwanda | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | May 20, 1975 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | April 2, 1991 (L) | Accession | |
| Saint Lucia | November 26, 1986 (L) | Succession from United Kingdom | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | May 13, 1999 (L) | Succession from United Kingdom | |
| San Marino | September 12, 1972 (W) January 30, 1973 (M) March 21, 1973 (L) |
March 11, 1975 (L) March 17, 1975 (W) March 27, 1975 (M) |
Ratification |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | August 24, 1979 (M) | Accession | |
| Saudi Arabia | April 12, 1972 (W) | May 24, 1972 (W) | Ratification |
| Senegal | April 10, 1972 (W) | March 26, 1975 (W) | Ratification |
| Serbia | April 27, 1992[8] (M) June 5, 2001 (W) |
Succession from Yugoslavia Signed 10 April 1972 Deposited 25 October 1973 |
|
| Seychelles | October 11, 1979 (L) October 16, 1979 (W) October 24, 1979 (M) |
Accession | |
| Sierra Leone | November 7, 1972 (W) November 24, 1972 (L) |
June 29, 1976 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Singapore | June 19, 1972 (L, M, W) | December 2, 1975 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Slovakia | January 1, 1993 (M, W) May 17, 1993 (L) |
Succession from Czechoslovakia Signed 10 April 1972 Deposited 30 April 1973 |
|
| Slovenia | June 25, 1991 (M) April 7, 1992 (L) August 20, 1992 (W) |
Succession from Yugoslavia[9] | |
| Solomon Islands | June 17, 1981 (L) | Succession from United Kingdom | |
| South Africa | April 10, 1972 (W) | November 3, 1975 (W) | Ratification |
| South Korea | April 10, 1972 (L, W) | June 25, 1987 (L, W) | Ratification |
| Spain | April 10, 1972 (L, W) | June 20, 1979 (L, W) | Ratification |
| Sri Lanka | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | November 18, 1986 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Sudan | October 17, 2003 (L) | Accession | |
| Suriname | January 6, 1993 (L) April 9, 1993 (W) |
Accession | |
| Swaziland | June 18, 1991 (L) | Accession | |
| Sweden | February 27, 1975 (L, M, W) | February 5, 1976 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Switzerland | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | May 4, 1976 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Tajikistan | June 27, 2005 (M) | Accession?[2] | |
| Thailand | January 17, 1973 (W) | May 28, 1975 (W) | Ratification |
| Timor-Leste | May 5, 2003 (W) | Accession | |
| Togo | April 10, 1972 (W) | November 10, 1976 (W) | Ratification |
| Tonga | September 28, 1976 (L) | Accession | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | July 19, 2007 | Accession | |
| Tunisia | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | May 18, 1973 (W) May 30, 1973 (M) June 6, 1973 (L) |
Ratification |
| Turkey | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | October 25, 1974 (M) November 4, 1974 (L) November 5, 1974 (W) |
Ratification |
| Turkmenistan | January 11, 1996 (L, M) March 8, 1996 (W) |
Accession | |
| Uganda | May 12, 1992 (W) | Accession | |
| Ukraine | April 10, 1972 (M) | March 26, 1975 (M) | Ratification as Ukrainian SSR |
| United Arab Emirates | September 28, 1972 (L) | June 19, 2008[10] | Ratification |
| United Kingdom | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | March 26, 1975 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| United States | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) | March 26, 1975 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Uruguay | April 6, 1981 (W) | Accession | |
| Uzbekistan | January 12, 1996 (L) January 26, 1996 (M) |
Accession | |
| Vanuatu | October 12, 1990 (L) | Accession | |
| Venezuela | April 10, 1972 (W) | October 18, 1978 (L, M, W) | Ratification |
| Vietnam | June 20, 1980 (M) | Accession | |
| Yemen | April 26, 1972 (M) May 10, 1972 (L, W) |
June 1, 1979 (L, M, W) | Ratification as North Yemen (L, W) and South Yemen (M) |
| Zambia | January 15, 2008 | Accession | |
| Zimbabwe | November 5, 1990 (L) | Accession |
| State | Signed | Deposited | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of China | 10 April 1972 | 9 February 1973 | Ratification |
| State | Signed |
|---|---|
| Burma | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) |
| Burundi | April 10, 1972 |
| Central African Republic | April 10, 1972 (W) |
| Côte d'Ivoire | May 23, 1972 (W) |
| Egypt | April 10, 1972 (L, M) |
| Guyana | January 3, 1973 (W) |
| Haiti | April 10, 1972 (W) |
| Liberia | April 10, 1972 (W) April 14, 1972 (L) |
| Malawi | April 10, 1972 (W) |
| Nepal | April 10, 1972 (L, M, W) |
| Somalia | July 3, 1972 (M) |
| Syria | April 14, 1972 (M) |
| Tanzania | August 16, 1972 (L) |
| # | State |
|---|---|
| 1 | Andorra |
| 2 | Angola |
| 3 | Cameroon |
| 4 | Chad |
| 5 | Comoros |
| 7 | Djibouti |
| 8 | Eritrea |
| 9 | Federated States of Micronesia |
| 10 | Guinea |
| 11 | Israel |
| 12 | Kiribati |
| 13 | Marshall Islands |
| 14 | Mauritania |
| 15 | Mozambique |
| 16 | Namibia |
| 17 | Nauru |
| 18 | Niue |
| 19 | Samoa |
| 20 | Tuvalu |