Biological weapons
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is an international disarmament treaty banning the development, production and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons. It was adopted in 1972 and entered into force in 1975. The BWC is one of the instruments for combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and for international cooperation in the prevention of biological threats, including biological terrorism.
The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (BTWC, or BWC) - abbreviated as the Biological Weapons Convention - was negotiated at the Conference on Disarmament in 1972 and entered into force on 26 March 1975. The former Czechoslovakia signed the BWC on 10 April 1972 and ratified it on 30 April 1973. The Czech Republic acceded to the BWC on 24 March 1993.
The BWC is a key instrument in the field of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It is the first international treaty to ban an entire category of weapons. Meetings of the Parties to the BWC are held annually in Geneva to assess progress in its implementation and universalization. A BWC Review Conference is convened every five years.
Czechia has consistently fulfilled its BWC obligations and, in the interest of global security, has contributed to efforts to establish the as yet missing robust BWC verification mechanism.
More detailed information, including the full text of the Convention and the latest developments, is available on the website.
