Chemical Weapons Convention

Man with chemicals Source: © iStock/luchschen

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a multilateral disarmament and arms control treaty. Its main objective is the worldwide prohibition of chemical weapons and the complete destruction of all existing stockpiles of chemical weapons. 

In addition to trade restrictions and prohibitions, the CWC also makes arrangements for the control of certain industry sectors that handle CWC chemicals in order to enhance transparency and build confidence. The Federal Foreign Office is the national authority for the CWC in Germany. BAFA is responsible for implementing the CWC in industry under the technical supervision of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. 

Declarations

Twice a year companies have to submit to BAFA declarations regarding their handling of chemicals listed in schedules 1, 2, or 3 and of discrete organic chemicals (DOC).

BAFA checks the accuracy of these declarations and sends the data to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague.

OPCW routine inspections

Based on the declaration data received, OPCW inspectors globally conduct regular inspections in the companies making declarations under the CWC.

During routine inspections, the OPCW inspection teams verify the accuracy of declarations, the non-diversion of declared chemicals and the absence of chemicals that could be misused as warfare agents.

BAFA escorts the OPCW inspectors during their on-site inspections in Germany. The main objectives of BAFA‘s activities in this regard are: first, to ensure that the inspection teams can exercise their rights to fulfil their inspection mandate under the CWC; second, to ensure that the companies can safeguard their rights, in particular to protect their confidential internal expertise.

Information on this Subject

Contact

  • Chemical Weapons ConventionFederal Office for Economic Affairs and Export ControlDevision 324 – CWC Frankfurter Straße 29 – 35 65760 Eschborn, Hesse Germany Phone: +49 (0)6196 908-2698ReachabilityMonday to Thursday: 08:30 a. m. – 04:00 p. m.
    Friday: 08:30 a. m. – 03:00 p. m.
    To Contact Form

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