Mission

A world free of chemical weapons

The OPCW’s mission is to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention to achieve our vision of a world free of chemical weapons and the threat of their use, and in which chemistry is used for peace, progress, and prosperity.

Policies and Programmes

The Technical Secretariat proposes policies for the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention to the Member States of the OPCW, and develops and delivers programmes with and for them.

Programme Aims

Credible and Transparent Regime

To ensure a credible and transparent regime for verifying the destruction of chemical weapons and to prevent their re-emergence, while protecting legitimate national security and proprietary interests.

Protection and Assistance

To provide protection and assistance against chemical weapons.

International Cooperation

To encourage international cooperation in peaceful uses of chemistry.

Universal Membership

To bring about universal membership of the OPCW by facilitating international cooperation and national capacity building.

The OPCW's Aim

The ultimate aim of the OPCW is to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons and to contribute to international security and stability, general and complete disarmament, and global economic development.

Articles

Preamble
General Obligations
Definitions and Criteria
Declarations
Chemical Weapons
Chemical Weapons Production Facilities
Activities Not Prohibited Under this Convention
National Implementation Measures
The Organization
Consultations, Cooperation and Fact‑Finding
Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons
Economic and Technological Development
Measures to Redress a Situation and to Ensure Compliance, including Sanctions
Relation to Other International Agreements
Settlement of Disputes
Amendments
Duration and Withdrawal
Status of the Annexes
Signature
Ratification
Accession
Entry Into Force
Reservations
Depositary
Authentic Texts

Annexes

Annex on Chemicals

Annex on Chemicals

Table 1
Table 2
Table 3

Confidentiality Annex

Verification Annex

Definitions
General Rules of Verification
General Provisions for Verification Measures Pursuant to Articles IV, V and VI, Paragraph 3
Destruction of Chemical Weapons and Its Verification Pursuant to Article IV
Old Chemical Weapons and Abandoned Chemical Weapons
Destruction of Chemical Weapons Production Facilities and Its Verification Pursuant to Article V
Activities Not Prohibited under this Convention in Accordance with Article VI
Challenge Inspections Pursuant to Article IX
Investigations In Cases Of Alleged Use Of Chemical Weapons

Articles

Preamble
General Obligations
Definitions and Criteria
Declarations
Chemical Weapons
Chemical Weapons Production Facilities
Activities Not Prohibited Under this Convention
National Implementation Measures
The Organization
Consultations, Cooperation and Fact‑Finding
Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons
Economic and Technological Development
Measures to Redress a Situation and to Ensure Compliance, including Sanctions
Relation to Other International Agreements
Settlement of Disputes
Amendments
Duration and Withdrawal
Status of the Annexes
Signature
Ratification
Accession
Entry Into Force
Reservations
Depositary
Authentic Texts

Annexes

Annex on Chemicals

Annexe sur les Produits Chimiques

Table 1
Table 2
Table 3

Annexe sur la Confidentialité

Verification Annex

Definitions
General Rules of Verification
General Provisions for Verification Measures Pursuant to Articles IV, V and VI, Paragraph 3
Destruction of Chemical Weapons and Its Verification Pursuant to Article IV
Old Chemical Weapons and Abandoned Chemical Weapons
Destruction of Chemical Weapons Production Facilities and Its Verification Pursuant to Article V
Activities Not Prohibited under this Convention in Accordance with Article VI
Challenge Inspections Pursuant to Article IX
Investigations In Cases Of Alleged Use Of Chemical Weapons