The list of parties to the Biological Weapons Convention encompasses the states which have signed and ratified or acceded to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), a multilateral treaty outlawing biological weapons.
On 10 April 1972, the BWC was opened for signature. The Netherlands became the first state to deposit their signature of the treaty that same day. The treaty closed for signature upon coming into force on 26 March 1975 with the deposit of ratification by 22 states. Since then, states that did not sign the BWC can only accede to it.
A total of 197 states may become members of the BWC, including all 193 United Nations member states, the Cook Islands, the Holy See, the State of Palestine and Niue. As of July 2024, 187 states have ratified or acceded to the treaty, most recently the Federated States of Micronesia in July 2024. As well, the Republic of China (Taiwan), which is currently only recognized by, deposited their instruments of ratification of the BWC with the United States government prior to the US's decision to switch their recognition of the sole legitimate government of China from the Republic of China (ROC) to the People's Republic of China (PRC). A further four states have signed but not ratified the treaty.
Several countries made reservations when ratifying the agreement declaring that it did not imply their complete satisfaction that the BWC allows the stockpiling of biological agents and toxins for "prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes", nor should it imply recognition of other countries they do not recognise.
According to the treaties database maintained by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, as of July 2024, 187 states have ratified or acceded to the BWC.
Multiple dates indicate the different days in which states submitted their signature or deposition, varied by location. This location is noted by: (L) for London, (M) for Moscow, and (W) for Washington D.C.
State[1] [2] [3] [4] | Signed | Deposited | Method | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | (L, M, W) | (L) | Ratification | |
Albania | (W) (L) (M) | Accession | ||
Algeria | (W) | Accession | ||
Andorra | (W) | Accession | ||
Angola | (W) | Accession | ||
Antigua and Barbuda | (L) | Accession | ||
Argentina | (M) (L) (W) | (W) (L) (M) | Ratification | |
Armenia | (M, W) | Accession | ||
Australia | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Austria | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Azerbaijan | (M, W) | Accession | ||
Bahamas | (L) | Accession | ||
Bahrain | (L) | Accession | ||
Bangladesh | (M) (W) (L) | Accession | ||
Barbados | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Belarus | (M) | (M) | Ratification as | |
Belgium | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Belize | (L) (W) (M) | Succession from United Kingdom | ||
Benin | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Bhutan | (W) | Accession | ||
(W) | (W) | Ratification | ||
Bosnia and Herzegovina | (W) | Succession from | ||
Botswana | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Brazil | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
(L) | Accession | |||
Bulgaria | (L, M, W) | (L) (W) (M) | Ratification | |
Burkina Faso | (W) | Accession | ||
Burundi | (M, W) | (L) | Ratification | |
(M) | Accession | |||
Cambodia | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Cameroon | (W) | Accession | ||
Canada | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Central African Republic | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Chile | (L, M, W) | (L) | Ratification | |
China | (L, M, W) | Accession | ||
Colombia | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
(W) | Accession | |||
Cook Islands | (L) | Accession | ||
Costa Rica | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Cote d'Ivoire | (W) | (M) (L) | Ratification | |
Croatia | (W) | Succession from | ||
Cuba | (M) | (M) | Ratification | |
Cyprus | (L, W) (M) | (L) (W) (M) | Ratification | |
Czech Republic | (L) (M) (W) | Succession from Signed 10 April 1972 Deposited 30 April 1973 | ||
(M, W) | (L) (W) | Ratification as | ||
Denmark | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Dominica | (L) | Succession | ||
Dominican Republic | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Ecuador | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
El Salvador | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Equatorial Guinea | (M) (W) | Accession | ||
Estonia | (W) (M) | Accession | ||
Ethiopia | (L, M, W) | (L, M) (W) | Ratification | |
Fiji | (L) | (W) (L) (M) | Ratification | |
Finland | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
France | (L, M, W) | Accession | ||
Gabon | (L) | (W) | Ratification | |
Gambia | (M) (L) (W) | (L) (M) (W) | Ratification | |
Georgia | (L, M) | Accession | ||
Germany | (L, M, W) | (L, W) | Ratification as Also ratified by on 28 November 1972 prior to German reunification | |
Ghana | (M, W) | (L) | Ratification | |
Greece | (L) (W) (M) | (W) | Ratification | |
Grenada | (L) | Accession | ||
Guatemala | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Guinea | (L) | Accession | ||
Guinea-Bissau | (M) | Accession | ||
Guyana | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
(W) | Accession | |||
Honduras | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Hungary | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Iceland | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
India | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Indonesia | (M, W) (L) | (M) (L) (W) | Ratification | |
(M, W) (L) | (L, W) (M) | Ratification | ||
Iraq | (M) | (M) | Ratification | |
Ireland | (L, W) | (L, W) | Ratification | |
Italy | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Jamaica | (L) | Accession | ||
Japan | (L, M, W) | (W) (L, M) | Ratification | |
Jordan | (W) (L) (M) | (M) (W) (L) | Ratification | |
Kazakhstan | (M) | Accession | ||
Kenya | (L) | Accession | ||
Kuwait | (M, W) (L) | (W) (L) (M) | Ratification | |
Kyrgyzstan | (M) | Accession | ||
(L, M, W) | (M) (W) (L) | Ratification | ||
Latvia | (L) | Accession | ||
Lebanon | (L, W) (M) | (L) (M) (W) | Ratification | |
Lesotho | (W) | (L) | Ratification | |
Liberia | (W) (L) | (W) | Ratification | |
Libya | (M) | (M) | Ratification | |
Liechtenstein | (W) (M) (L) | Accession | ||
Lithuania | (L) | Accession | ||
Luxembourg | (L, M) (W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Madagascar | (L) | (M, W) | Ratification | |
Malawi | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Malaysia | (L, M, W) | (L, M) (W) | Ratification | |
Maldives | (M) | Accession | ||
Mali | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Malta | (L) | (L) | Ratification | |
Marshall Islands | (W) | Accession | ||
Mauritania | (L) | Accession | ||
Mauritius | (W) | (W) (L) (M) | Ratification | |
Mexico | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
(W) | Accession | |||
(M, W) | Accession | |||
Monaco | (L) | Accession | ||
Mongolia | (L, M, W) | (W) (L) (M) | Ratification | |
Montenegro | (M) (L) | Succession from | ||
Morocco | (L) (W) (M) | (L) | Ratification | |
Mozambique | (L) | Accession | ||
Myanmar | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Namibia | (L) | Accession | ||
Nauru | (W) | Accession | ||
Nepal | (L, M, W) | (L, W) (M) | Ratification | |
(L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification, for the whole Kingdom | ||
New Zealand | (L, M, W) | (W) (L) (M) | Ratification | |
Nicaragua | (L, W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Niger | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Nigeria | (M) (L) (W) | (W) (L) (M) | Ratification | |
Niue | (W) | Accession | ||
(M) | Accession | |||
(M) (L) (W) | Succession from | |||
Norway | (L, M, W) | (L, W) (M) | Ratification | |
Oman | (W) | Accession | ||
Pakistan | (L, M, W) | (M) (L, W) | Ratification | |
Palau | (W) | Accession | ||
(L, M) | Accession | |||
Panama | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Papua New Guinea | (L) (M) (W) | Accession | ||
Paraguay | (W) | Accession | ||
Peru | (L, M, W) | (L, M) (W) | Ratification | |
Philippines | (L, W) (M) | (W) | Ratification | |
Poland | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Portugal | (W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Qatar | (L) | (L) | Ratification | |
Romania | (L, M, W) | (W) (L) (M) | Ratification | |
(L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification as | ||
Rwanda | (M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | (L) | Accession | ||
Saint Lucia | (L) | Succession from United Kingdom | ||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | (L) | Succession from United Kingdom | ||
Samoa | (W) | Accession | ||
San Marino | (W) (M) (L) | (L) (W) (M) | Ratification | |
Sao Tome and Principe | (M) | Accession | ||
Saudi Arabia | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Senegal | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Serbia | (M) (W) (L) | Succession from Signed 10 April 1972 Deposited 25 October 1973[5] Succession from | ||
Seychelles | (L) (W) (M) | Accession | ||
Sierra Leone | (W) (L) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Singapore | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Slovakia | (M) (L) (W) | Succession from Signed 10 April 1972 Deposited 30 April 1973 | ||
Slovenia | (L, M) (W) | Succession from | ||
Solomon Islands | (L) | Succession from United Kingdom | ||
South Africa | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
(L, W) | (L, W) | Ratification | ||
(W) | Accession | |||
Spain | (L, W) | (L, W) | Ratification | |
Sri Lanka | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification Signed as Ceylon | |
Sudan | (L) (M) (W) | Accession | ||
Suriname | (L, M) (W) | Accession | ||
Swaziland | (L) | Accession | ||
Sweden | (M) (L, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Switzerland | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Tajikistan | (M) | Accession | ||
(L) | (L) | Ratification | ||
Thailand | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Timor-Leste | (W) | Accession | ||
Togo | (W) | (W) | Ratification | |
Tonga | (L) | Accession | ||
Trinidad and Tobago | (L) | Accession | ||
Tunisia | (L, M, W) | (W) (M) (L) | Ratification | |
Turkey | (L, M, W) | (M) (L) (W) | Ratification | |
Turkmenistan | (M) (W) | Accession | ||
(W) | Accession | |||
Uganda | (W) | Accession | ||
Ukraine | (M) | (M) | Ratification as | |
United Arab Emirates | (L) | (L) [6] | Ratification | |
United Kingdom | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
United States | (L, M, W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | |
Uruguay | (W) | Accession | ||
Uzbekistan | (M) | Accession | ||
Vanuatu | (L) | Succession | ||
(W) | (L, M, W) | Ratification | ||
(M) | (M) | Ratification as the Signed by the and on 10 April 1972 prior to Vietnamese reunification[7] | ||
Yemen | (M) (L) | (M) | Ratification as Also signed by on 10 April 1972 prior to Yemeni unification | |
Zambia | (L) | Accession | ||
Zimbabwe | (L) | Accession |
The Republic of China (Taiwan), which is currently only recognized by, deposited their instruments of ratification of the BWC with the United States government prior to the US's decision to switch their recognition of the sole legitimate government of China from the Republic of China (ROC) to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1971. When the PRC subsequently ratified the treaty, they described the ROC's ratification as "illegal". The ROC has committed itself to continue to adhere to the requirements of the treaty, and the United States has declared that they still consider them to be "bound by its obligations".[8]
The following four states have signed, but not ratified the BWC.
State | Signed | Ratification status | |
---|---|---|---|
Egypt | (L, M) | No action expected in near future | |
Haiti | (W) | Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities | |
Somalia | (M) | Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities | |
(M) | No action expected in near future |
The following six UN member states have neither signed nor ratified the BWC.
State | Ratification status[9] | |
---|---|---|
Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities | ||
Process well advanced | ||
Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities[10] | ||
Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities | ||
No action expected in near future | ||
Process started |
The status of several former dependent territories of a state party to the BWC, whose administrating power ratified the Convention on their behalf, with regards to the Convention following their independence is currently unclear. According to the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in respect of Treaties (to which 22 states are party), "newly independent states" (a euphemism for former colonies) receive a "clean slate", such that the new state does not inherit the treaty obligations of the colonial power, but that they may join multilateral treaties to which their former colonizers were a party without the consent of the other parties in most circumstances. Conversely, in "cases of separation of parts of a state" (a euphemism for all other new states), the new state remains bound by the treaty obligations of the state from which they separated. To date, this Convention has only been ratified by 22 states.
The United Kingdom attached a territorial declaration to their instrument of ratification of the BWC in 1975 stating in part that it applied to:[11]
This declaration bound the territory of Kiribati to the terms of the Convention. Following their independence, none of these states have made unambiguous declarations of succession to the BWC. Dominica, Tuvalu and Vanuatu's statuses were likewise ambiguous from their independence until they formally submitted instruments of accession or succession to the treaty.
In 1979, Kiribati gained their independence and subsequently, the President of Kiribati sent a note to the UNSG stating that:
Since then, none of the depositaries for the BWC has received an instrument of accession or succession to the Convention from Kiribati.[1] However, the Government of Kiribati has made statements suggesting that it does not consider itself a party to the treaty.
After becoming independent in 1978, the Prime Minister of Dominica sent a note to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) stating that:[12]
The Government of Dominica later stated that it did not consider itself bound by the Convention.[12] However, Dominica was listed as a state party to the BWC in documents from the Meetings of the States Parties to the BWC. The UK Treaty Office (as depositary) did not receive an instrument of succession from Dominica until 2016.[2]
Following independence in 1978, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu sent a note to the UNSC stating that:[12]
Tuvalu acceded to the treaty as an independent state in 2024.
In 1980, the territory gained their independence. Vanuatu was listed as a state party to the BWC in documents from the Meetings of the States Parties to the BWC, however the Government of Vanuatu made statements suggesting that it did not consider itself a party to the treaty[12] and the UK depositary had no record of receiving an instrument of succession to the BWC from Vanuatu until 2016.[12] [13]