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The use of biological weapons was banned in international law by the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and this prohibition was extended by the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) which was opened for signature in 1972 and entered into force in 1975. The BTWC bans the development, production and stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons. The United Kingdom is a Co-Depository Government of the Convention, along with the Russian Federation and the United States. As of March 2006 there were 155 States Party to the Convention.
Unlike the Chemical Weapons Convention, the BTWC has no provisions, such as an inspection regime, to verify compliance. BERR was closely involved in UK efforts to negotiate a verification protocol. International negotiations on the protocol ended in failure in July 2001. At the resumed Fifth Review Conference of the BTWC in November 2002, States Party agreed on three-year work programmes that lead to the Sixth Review Conference in 2006. This comprised of annual meetings of technical experts and representatives of the States Party to consider various measures which could strengthen the Convention. The United Kingdom chaired the 2005 meetings. These discussed and promoted common understanding and effective action on the content, promulgation and adoption of codes of conduct for scientists.
BERR has continued to participate in the three-year work programme to ensure that the impact on UK industry, regarding the implementation of UK policy to strengthen the BTWC, is minimised.
A text of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention 1972 and a List of Signatories to the BTWC, and any reservations made, can be found in the related Documents Section to the right of this page.
The related links sections also located to the right of this page contains a link within the BERR website to a page explaining The Export Control Organisation. The External links section provides links to a number of Government Departments and organisations that have a stated interest in the Biological and Toxic Weapons convention.
A page explaining the Biological Weapons Act 1974 may be accessed as a Sub-Menu item to this page located to the left of this text.
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