Editing Chemical Weapons Convention (section)

==World stockpile of chemical weapons==
{{Weapons of mass destruction}}
A total of 72,304 metric tonnes of chemical agent, and 97 production facilities have been declared to OPCW.<ref name="OPCW by the Numbers"/>

===Treaty deadlines===
The treaty set up several steps with deadlines toward complete destruction of chemical weapons, with a procedure for requesting deadline extensions. No country reached total elimination by the original treaty date although several have finished under allowed extensions.<ref>
"Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia is destroying its last supplies of chemical weapons": [http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/859500/Russia-destroys-last-chemical-weapons-USA-next SOPHIE WILLAIMS, ''Russia destroys ALL chemical weapons and calls on AMERICA to do the same'', Express], 27-9-2017.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+ Reduction Phases
! '''Phase''' || '''% Reduction''' || '''Deadline''' || '''Notes'''
|-
| I ||1% ||April 2000 ||&nbsp;
|-
| II || 20% || April 2002 ||Complete destruction of empty munitions, precursor chemicals,<br /> filling equipment and weapons systems
|-
|III ||45% ||April 2004 ||&nbsp;
|-
|IV || 100% || April 2007 ||No extensions permitted past April 2012
|}

===Progress of destruction===
At the end of 2019, 70,545 of 72,304 (97.51%) metric tonnes of chemical agent have been verifiably destroyed. More than 57% (4.97 million) of chemical munitions and containers have been destroyed.<ref name=factsfigures />

Seven state parties have completed the destruction of their declared stockpiles: Albania, India, Iraq, Libya, Syria, the United States, and an unspecified state party (believed to be South Korea). Russia also completed the destruction of its declared stockpile. According to the US [[Arms Control Association]], the [[poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal]] in 2018 and the [[poisoning of Alexei Navalny]] in 2020 indicated that Russia maintained an illicit chemical weapons program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Syria, Russia, and the Global Chemical Weapons Crisis |publisher=Arms Control Association |url=https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2021-09/features/syria-russia-global-chemical-weapons-crisis |access-date=2022-03-01}}</ref> 

Japan and China in October 2010 began the destruction of [[World War II]] era chemical weapons abandoned by Japan in China by means of mobile destruction units and reported destruction of 35,203 chemical weapons (75% of the Nanjing stockpile).<ref name=CSP16>{{cite web|url=https://www.opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW/CSP/C-22/en/c22dg20_e_.pdf|title=Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Sixteenth Session|date=28 November 2011|access-date=1 May 2012|publisher=[[OPCW]]}}</ref><ref>[https://www.opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW/EC/61/en/ec61dec01e.pdf Executive Council 61, Decision 1]. OPCW. 2010</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: normal; table-layout: fixed;"
|-
! Country and link to detail article
! Date of accession/<br />entry into force
! Declared stockpile <br />(Schedule 1) (tonnes)
! % OPCW-verified destroyed <br />(date of full destruction)
! Destruction <br />deadline
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Albania}} [[Albania and weapons of mass destruction|Albania]]
| 29 April 1997  || 17<ref name=albaniadestroy>{{cite web |url=https://www.opcw.org/news/article/albania-the-first-country-to-destroy-all-its-chemical-weapons/ |title=Albania the First Country to Destroy All Its Chemical Weapons |work=OPCW |date=12 July 2007 |access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref>|| 100% (July 2007)<ref name=albaniadestroy />||
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[South Korea and weapons of mass destruction|South Korea]]
| 29 April 1997 || 3,000–3,500<ref name=southkoreadestroy /> ||100% (July 2008)<ref name=southkoreadestroy>{{cite news |title=South Korea Completes Chemical Weapons Disposal |url=http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/south-korea-completes-chemical-weapons-disposal/ |first=Chris |last=Schneidmiller |date=17 October 2008 |access-date=15 May 2015 |work=Nuclear Threat Initiative}}</ref>|| 
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|India}} [[India and weapons of mass destruction|India]]
|  29 April 1997 ||1,044<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/india/chemical/ |title=India Country Profile – Chemical |work=Nuclear Threat Initiative |date=February 2015 |access-date=15 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404163919/http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/india/chemical/ |archive-date=4 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ||100% (March 2009)<ref name="India">{{cite web |url=http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/india-completes-chemical-weapons-disposal-iraq-declares-stockpile |title=India Completes Chemical Weapons Disposal; Iraq Declares Stockpile |first=Chris |last=Schneidmiller |work=Nuclear Threat Initiative |date=27 April 2009 |access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref>||
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Libya}} [[Libya and weapons of mass destruction|Libya]]
| 5 February 2004 ||25<ref name=libyaend />||100% (January 2014)<ref name=libyaend>{{cite web |title=Libya Completes Destruction of Its Category 1 Chemical Weapons |url=http://www.opcw.org/news/article/libya-completes-destruction-of-its-category-1-chemical-weapons/ |work=OPCW |date=4 February 2014}}</ref>||
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Syria}} [[Syria and weapons of mass destruction|Syria]] (government held)
|  14 October 2013<ref>Syria applied the convention provisionally from 14 September 2013</ref> ||1,040<ref name=syriaend>{{cite web |title=OPCW: All Category 1 Chemicals Declared by Syria Now Destroyed |url=http://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-all-category-1-chemicals-declared-by-syria-now-destroyed |work=OPCW |date=28 August 2014 |access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref>||100% (August 2014)<ref name=syriaend /> || 
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Russia and weapons of mass destruction|Russia]]
|  5 December 1997 ||40,000<ref name=russiadestroy>{{cite web |url=http://www.international.gc.ca/gpp-ppm/chemical_weapons-armes_chimiques.aspx?lang=eng |title=Chemical Weapons Destruction |work=Government of Canada – Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada |date=16 October 2012 |access-date=15 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518092056/http://www.international.gc.ca/gpp-ppm/chemical_weapons-armes_chimiques.aspx?lang=eng |archive-date=18 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ||100% (September 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-director-general-commends-major-milestone-as-russia-completes-destruction-of-chemical-weapons-stockpile-under-opcw-verification/|title=OPCW Director-General Commends Major Milestone as Russia Completes Destruction of Chemical Weapons Stockpile under OPCW Verification|publisher=OPCW|date=2017-09-27 |access-date=2017-09-28}}</ref>||
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States and weapons of mass destruction|United States]]
|  29 April 1997||33,600<ref name=us2015>{{cite news |title=U.S. to begin destroying its stockpile of chemical weapons in Pueblo, Colorado |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/17/us/chemical-weapons-pueblo-debot/ |first=Evelio |last=Contreras |work=CNN |date=17 March 2015 |access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref> ||100% (July 2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=OPCW confirms: All declared chemical weapons stockpiles verified as irreversibly destroyed |url=https://www.opcw.org/media-centre/news/2023/07/opcw-confirms-all-declared-chemical-weapons-stockpiles-verified |publisher=OPCW |access-date=11 July 2023}}</ref>
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|Iraq]]
| 12 February 2009 ||remnant munitions<ref name=iraqplan />||100% (March 2018)<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-director-general-congratulates-iraq-on-complete-destruction-of-chemical-weapons-remnants/|title = OPCW Director-General Congratulates Iraq on Complete Destruction of Chemical Weapons Remnants}}</ref>||
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan and weapons of mass destruction|Japan]] (in China)
| 29 April 1997 ||- ||66.97% (as of September 2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=OPCW Executive Council and Director-General Review Progress on Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons in China |url=https://www.opcw.org/media-centre/news/2022/09/opcw-executive-council-and-director-general-review-progress-destruction |publisher=OPCW |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref> ||2027<ref>{{cite web |title=Position Paper on the Chemical Weapons Abandoned by Japan in China |url=https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjb_663304/zzjg_663340/jks_665232/kjfywj_665252/202303/t20230324_11048529.html |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China |access-date=12 July 2023 |date=2023-03-24}}</ref>
|}

====Iraqi stockpile====
{{See also|Iraqi chemical weapons program}}

The U.N. Security Council ordered the dismantling of Iraq's chemical weapon stockpile in 1991. By 1998, [[UNSCOM]] inspectors had accounted for the destruction of 88,000 filled and unfilled chemical munitions, over 690 metric tons of weaponized and bulk chemical agents, approximately 4,000 tonnes of precursor chemicals, and 980 pieces of key production equipment.<ref name=iraqprofile>{{cite web |url=http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/iraq/chemical/ |title=Iraq Country Profile – Chemical |work=Nuclear Threat Initiative |date=April 2015 |access-date=16 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207121236/http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/iraq/chemical/ |archive-date=7 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The UNSCOM inspectors left in 1998.

In 2009, before Iraq joined the CWC, the OPCW reported that the United States military had destroyed almost 5,000 old chemical weapons in open-air detonations since 2004.<ref name=openair>{{cite news |first=C.J. |last=Chivers |title=Thousands of Iraq Chemical Weapons Destroyed in Open Air, Watchdog Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/23/world/middleeast/thousands-of-iraq-chemical-weapons-destroyed-in-open-air-watchdog-says-.html |date=22 November 2014 |work=The New York Times|access-date=16 May 2015}}</ref> These weapons, produced before the 1991 [[Gulf War]], contained [[sarin]] and [[sulfur mustard|mustard agents]] but were so badly corroded that they could not have been used as originally intended.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Intel Report Reignites Iraq Arms Fight |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/22/AR2006062201475.html |first=Katherine |last=Shrader |date=22 June 2006 |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=16 May 2015 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

When Iraq joined the CWC in 2009, it declared "two bunkers with filled and unfilled chemical weapons munitions, some precursors, as well as five former chemical weapons production facilities" according to OPCW Director General Rogelio Pfirter.<ref name="India" /> The bunker entrances were sealed with 1.5 meters of reinforced concrete in 1994 under UNSCOM supervision.<ref name=difficulties /> As of 2012, the plan to destroy the chemical weapons was still being developed, in the face of significant difficulties.<ref name=iraqplan>{{cite web |url=http://www.opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW/EC/68/en/ns/ec68nat09_e_.pdf |title=Progress report on the preparation of the destruction plan for the al Muthanna bunkers |work=OPCW |date=1 May 2012 |access-date=16 May 2015}}</ref><ref name=difficulties>{{cite web |url=http://cns.miis.edu/stories/100304_iraq_cw_legacy.htm |title=Iraq Faces Major Challenges in Destroying Its Legacy Chemical Weapons |first=Jonathan B. |last=Tucker |publisher=James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies |date=17 March 2010 |access-date=16 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329221555/http://cns.miis.edu/stories/100304_iraq_cw_legacy.htm |archive-date=29 March 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2014, [[ISIS]] took control of the site.<ref name=isis>{{cite news |title=Isis seizes former chemical weapons plant in Iraq |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/09/isis-seizes-chemical-weapons-plant-muthanna-iraq |work=The Guardian|date=9 July 2014 |access-date=16 May 2015 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

On 13 March 2018, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, congratulated the Government of Iraq on the completion of the destruction of the country's chemical weapons remnants.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

====Syrian destruction====
{{Main|Destruction of Syria's chemical weapons}}
Following the August 2013 [[Ghouta chemical attack]],<ref name=julianandpatrick>{{cite web |first1=Julian |last1=Borger |first2=Patrick  |last2=Wintour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/09/russia-syria-hand-over-chemical-weapons |title=Russia calls on Syria to hand over chemical weapons |work=The Guardian|date=9 September 2013 |access-date=9 May 2015 }}</ref> Syria, which had long been suspected of possessing chemical weapons, acknowledged them in September 2013 and agreed to put them under international supervision.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/11/world/middleeast/Syria-Chemical-Arms.html|title=In Shift, Syrian Official Admits Government Has Chemical Arms|date=10 September 2013|access-date=13 September 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|last=Barnard|first=Anne}}</ref> On 14 September Syria deposited its instrument of accession to the CWC with the United Nations as the [[depositary]] and agreed to its provisional application pending entry into force effective 14 October.<ref name = "Syria_Accession">{{cite web|title=Depositary Norification|url=http://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2013/CN.592.2013-Eng.pdf|publisher=United Nations|access-date=15 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/sgsm15274.doc.htm|title=Secretary-General Receives Letter from Syrian Government Informing Him President Has Signed Legislative Decree for Accession to Chemical Weapons Convention|date=12 September 2013|work=United Nations}}</ref> An accelerated destruction schedule was devised by Russia and the United States on 14 September,<ref>{{cite news|last=Gordon|first=Michael R.|title=U.S. and Russia Reach Deal to Destroy Syria's Chemical Arms|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/world/middleeast/syria-talks.html|access-date=15 September 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=14 September 2013}}</ref> and was endorsed by [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2118]]<ref name="Michael Corder">{{cite news|author=Michael Corder |title=Syrian Chemical Arms Inspections Could Begin Soon |url=http://world.time.com/2013/09/27/syrian-chemical-arms-inspections-could-begin-soon/ |access-date=9 October 2013 |newspaper=[[Associated Press]]|date=27 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020181433/http://world.time.com/2013/09/27/syrian-chemical-arms-inspections-could-begin-soon/ |archive-date=20 October 2013}}</ref> and the OPCW Executive Council Decision EC-M-33/DEC.1.<ref name="opcw.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW/EC/M-33/ecm33dec01_e_.pdf|title=Decision: Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons|work=OPCW|access-date=28 September 2013|date=27 September 2013}}</ref> Their deadline for destruction was the first half of 2014.<ref name="opcw.org"/> Syria gave the OPCW an inventory of its chemical weapons arsenal<ref>{{Cite news|date=2013-10-06|title=Syria chemical arms removal begins|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-24419468|access-date=2021-08-11}}</ref> and [[destruction of Syrian chemical weapons|began its destruction]] in October 2013, 2 weeks before its formal entry into force, while applying the convention provisionally.<ref name=nbc_kerry>{{cite news |title=Kerry 'very pleased' at Syria compliance over chemical weapons |url=http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/07/20843265-kerry-very-pleased-at-syria-compliance-over-chemical-weapons?lite |access-date=9 October 2013 |newspaper=NBC News |date=7 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="reut6">{{cite news|author=Mariam Karouny|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-experts-idUSBRE99508920131007|title=Destruction of Syrian chemical weapons begins: mission|work=Reuters|date=6 October 2013|access-date=8 October 2013|archive-date=7 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007035957/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/07/us-syria-crisis-experts-idUSBRE99508920131007|url-status=live}}</ref> All declared Category 1 materials were destroyed by August 2014.<ref name=syriaend /> However, the [[Khan Shaykhun chemical attack]] in April 2017 indicated that undeclared stockpiles probably remained in the country. A [[Douma chemical attack|chemical attack on Douma]] occurred on 7 April 2018 that killed at least 49 civilians with scores injured, and which has been blamed on the Assad government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/09/politics/haley-un-russia-syria-attack/index.html|title=Haley says Russia's hands are 'covered in the blood of Syrian children'|author=Nicole Gaouette|website=CNN|date=9 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="bbc">{{cite news|title=Suspected Syria chemical attack kills 70|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43686157|access-date=8 April 2018|work=BBC News|date=8 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/opcw-confirms-chemical-weapons-use-in-douma-syria/a-47747999|title=OPCW confirms chemical weapons use in Douma, Syria|work=DW|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]/[[Associated Press]]|date=1 March 2019|access-date=6 June 2019}}</ref>

Controversy arose in November 2019 over the OPCW's finding on the Douma chemical weapons attack when Wikileaks published emails by an OPCW staff member saying a report on this incident "misrepresents the facts" and contains "unintended bias". The OPCW staff member questioned the report's finding that OPCW's inspectors had "sufficient evidence at this time to determine that chlorine, or another reactive chlorine-containing chemical, was likely released from cylinders".<ref name="opcw2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/syria-watchdog-accused-of-misleading-report|title=Syria watchdog accused of making misleading edits in report on chemical weapons attack|access-date=2019-12-24|publisher=Foxnews.com|year=2019|author=Greg Norman}}</ref> The staff member alleged this finding was "highly misleading and not supported by the facts" and said he would attach his own differing observations if this version of the report was released. On 25 November 2019, OPCW Director General Fernando Arias, in a speech to the OPCW's annual conference in The Hague, defended the Organization's report on the Douma incident, stating "While some of these diverse views continue to circulate in some public discussion forums, I would like to reiterate that I stand by the independent, professional conclusion" of the probe.<ref name="opcw1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/opcw-chemical-weapons-watchdog-douma-chlorine-gas-wikileaks-russia-syria-claim-bias-today-2019-11-25/|title=Chemical weapons watchdog OPCW defends Syria report as whistleblower claims bias|access-date=2019-12-24|publisher=cbsnews.com|year=2019|author=CBS/AFP}}</ref>

====Financial support for destruction====
Financial support for the Albanian and Libyan stockpile destruction programmes was provided by the United States. Russia received support from a number of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Canada; with some $2 billion given by 2004. Costs for Albania's program were approximately US$48 million. The United States has spent $20 billion and expected to spend a further $40 billion.<ref name="Chall">"[https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL07441714 Russia, U.S. face challenge on chemical weapons]", Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters, 7 August 2007, accessed 7 August 2007</ref>

===Known chemical weapons production facilities===
Fourteen states parties declared chemical weapons production facilities (CWPFs):<ref name="factsfigures">{{cite web|url=http://tass.com/world/977688|title=OPCW chief announces destruction of over 96% of chemical weapons in the world|website=Tass|publisher=[[Tass]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/Fact_Sheets/English/Fact_Sheet_6_-_destruction.pdf|title=Eliminating Chemical Weapons and Chemical Weapons Production Facilities|date=November 2017|access-date=2019-02-21|publisher=[[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]]|archive-date=12 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012121306/https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/Fact_Sheets/English/Fact_Sheet_6_-_destruction.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

:{|width=100% style="background:transparent"
|- valign=top
| style="width:25%;"|
*{{flagcountry|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
*{{flagcountry|China}}
*{{flagcountry|France}}
*{{flagcountry|India}}
| style="width:25%;"|
*{{flagcountry|Iran}}
*{{flagcountry|Iraq}}
*{{flagcountry|Japan}}
| style="width:25%;"|
*{{flagcountry|Libya}}
*{{flagcountry|Russia}}
*{{flagcountry|Serbia}}
| style="width:25%;"|
*{{flagcountry|Syria}}
*{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
*{{flagcountry|United States}}
|}
*1 non-disclosed state party (referred to as "A State Party" in OPCW-communications; said to be [[South Korea]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Confidentiality and verification: the IAEA and OPCW|url=http://www.vertic.org/media/assets/TV114.pdf|date=May–June 2004|access-date=3 December 2012|publisher=[[VERTIC]]}}</ref>

Currently all 97 declared production facilities have been deactivated and certified as either destroyed (74) or converted (23) to civilian use.<ref name=factsfigures />