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Trade in scheduled chemicals

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02.06.2010

The Convention stipulates that trade in scheduled chemicals is to be controlled at national level.

Many companies all over the world are involved in the chemical industry. Chemicals are used in the production of a great number of every day products, but some of the chemicals can be used for both civil and military purposes, the so-called dual-use products, which are therefore monitored by the OPCW.

The Convention comprises three schedules on sensitive chemicals.

Schedule 1
Schedule 1 chemicals are either chemical weapons themselves or are very closely related to chemical weapons. Examples include sarin (which was used in the terrorist attacks in Japanin the 1990s) and mustard gas.

Schedule 1 chemicals may be transferred only to CWC States Parties and only for research, medical, pharmaceutical, or protective purposes. The transferred chemicals shall not be re-transferred to a third State.

Not less than 30 days before any transfer to another State Party both States Parties shall notify the OPCW of the transfer. This means that companies which plan to import or export Schedule 1 chemicals shall notify the Authority for Enterpriseand Housing 40 days before the transfer takes place.

For saxitoxin (CAS no 35523-89-8) the following exemption applies:
For transfers of less than 5 mg, notification may be submitted to the Authority so that transfers can be made within a period of 280 days on subsequent notification to the Authority after the transfer has taken place.

Schedule 2
Schedule 2 chemicals can be used to make chemical weapons, but can also be used for peaceful purposes in industry, although they are not produced in large quantities.

Schedule 2 chemicals shall only be transferred to or received from States Parties. This obligation took effect from 29 April 2001, four years after the entry into force of the Convention.
 
Schedule 3
Schedule 3 chemicals are toxic chemicals that can be use to make chemical weapons, but are also produced on a large scale to make many common products, such as cement, cloth and paper.

Schedule 3 chemicals may be transferred to all states. When transferring Schedule 3 chemicals to States not Party to the Convention, each State Party shall adopt the necessary measures to ensure that the transferred chemicals shall only be used for purposes not prohibited under the Convention.

Inter alia, the State Party shall require from the recipient State a certificate stating;

  • that they will only be used for purposes not prohibited under the Convention;

  • that they will not be re-transferred; 

  • their types and quantities;

  • their end-use(s);

  • the name(s) and address(es) of the end-user(s).

DOCs
In addition, plant sites that produce a wide range of chemicals not listed in the Schedules, which the Convention defines as discrete organic chemicals or DOCs, are also subject to declaration and verification. These plant sites could be capable of producing chemical weapons, and must therefore be monitored.