Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and
Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and
on Their Destruction
Signed at London, Moscow and Washington on 10 April 1972.
Entered into force on 26 March 1975.
Depositaries: UK, US and Soviet governments.
The States Parties to this Convention,
Determined to act with a view to achieving effective progress towards general and complete
disarmament, including the prohibition and elimination of all types of weapons of mass
destruction, and convinced that the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of
chemical and bacteriological (biological) weapons and their elimination, through effective
measures, will facilitate the achievement of general and complete disarmament under strict and
effective international control,
Recognizing the important significance of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of
Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at
Geneva on June 17, 1925, and conscious also of the contribution which the said Protocol has
already made, and continues to make, to mitigating the horrors of war,
Reaffirming their adherence to the principles and objectives of that Protocol and calling upon all
States to comply strictly with them,
Recalling that the General Assembly of the United Nations has repeatedly condemned all actions
contrary to the principles and objectives of the Geneva Protocol of June 17, 1925,
Desiring to contribute to the strengthening of confidence between peoples and the general
improvement of the international atmosphere,
Desiring also to contribute to the realization of the purposes and principles of the United Nations,
Convinced of the importance and urgency of eliminating from the arsenals of States, through
effective measures, such dangerous weapons of mass destruction as those using chemical or
bacteriological (biological) agents,
Recognizing that an agreement on the prohibition of bacteriological (biological) and toxin
weapons re