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List of parties to the Biological Weapons Convention

{{Short description|none}}

[[Image:BWC Participation.svg|right|400px|thumb|

Participation in the Biological Weapons Convention

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

{{legend|#00aa00|Signed and ratified}}

{{legend|#008000|Acceded or succeeded}}

{{legend|#008080|Unrecognized state, abiding by treaty}}

{{Col-2}}

{{legend|#eeee00|Only signed}}

{{legend|#ff1111|Non-signatory}}

{{Col-end}}

]]

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 May 2025, 189 states have ratified or acceded to the treaty, most recently the Kiribati in May 2025. Additionally, the Republic of China (Taiwan), which is currently only recognized by {{numrec|ROC||UN member states}}, deposited an 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.

States Parties

According to the treaties database maintained by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, as of May 2025, 189 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.

class="wikitable sortable"

! State{{cite web |title=Disarmament Treaties Database: Biological Weapons Convention |url=https://treaties.unoda.org/t/bwc |access-date=2024-07-03 |publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/convention-on-the-prohibition-of-the-development-production-and-stockpiling-of-bacteriological-biological-and-toxin-weapons-and-on-their-destructio|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130104161243/http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/3706546/3892723/Trbio-weapons1972status|archive-date=2013-01-04|title=Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction|access-date=2015-02-10|publisher=Foreign and Commonwealth Office}}
{{cite web|url=https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/awweb/pdfopener?md=1&did=70996|title=Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction|access-date=2019-04-27|publisher=Foreign and Commonwealth Office}}{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/biological-weapons-convention-text/|title=Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction|date=2018-10-09|access-date=2019-06-30|publisher=United States Department of State}}{{cite web|url=https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/international_contracts/international_contracts/multilateral_contract/51162/|script-title=ru:Конвенция о запрещении разработки, производства и накопления запасов бактериологического (биологического) и токсинного оружия и об их уничтожении|language=Russian|access-date=2025-04-04|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia}}

! Signed

! Deposited

! Method

{{flag|Afghanistan|2013}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1975|Mar|26}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|Albania}}

|

| {{dts|1992|Jun|3}} (W)
{{dts|1992|Aug|11}} (L)
{{dts|1993|Mar|26}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|Algeria}}

|

| {{dts|2001|Sep|28}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Andorra}}

|

| {{dts|2015|Mar|2}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Angola}}

|

| {{dts|2016|Jul|26}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}

|

| {{dts|2003|Jan|29}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Argentina}}

| {{dts|1972|Aug|1}} (M)
{{dts|1972|Aug|3}} (L)
{{dts|1972|Aug|7}} (W)

| {{dts|1979|Nov|27}} (W)
{{dts|1979|Dec|5}} (L)
{{dts|1979|Dec|27}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Armenia}}

|

| {{dts|1994|Jun|7}} (M, W)

| Accession

{{flag|Australia}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1977|Oct|5}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Austria}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1973|Aug|10}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Azerbaijan}}

|

| {{dts|2004|Feb|26}} (M, W)

| Accession

{{flag|Bahamas}}

|

| {{dts|1986|Nov|26}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Bahrain}}

|

| {{dts|1988|Oct|28}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Bangladesh}}

|

| {{dts|1985|Mar|11}} (M)
{{dts|1985|Mar|12}} (W)
{{dts|1985|Mar|13}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Barbados}}

| {{dts|1973|Feb|16}} (W)

| {{dts|1973|Feb|16}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Belarus}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (M)

| {{dts|1975|Mar|26}} (M)

| Ratification as {{flag|Byelorussian SSR}}

{{flag|Belgium}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1979|Mar|15}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Belize}}

|

| {{dts|1986|Oct|20}} (L)
{{dts|1986|Nov|25}} (W)
{{dts|1987|Jan|13}} (M)

| Succession from {{flag|United Kingdom}}

{{flag|Benin}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1975|Apr|25}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Bhutan}}

|

| {{dts|1978|Jun|8}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Bolivia}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1975|Oct|30}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}

|

| {{dts|1994|Aug|15}} (W)

| Succession from {{flag|SFR Yugoslavia}}

{{flag|Botswana}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1992|Feb|5}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Brazil}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1973|Feb|27}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Brunei}}

|

| {{dts|1991|Jan|31}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Bulgaria}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1972|Aug|2}} (L)
{{dts|1972|Sep|13}} (W)
{{dts|1972|Sep|19}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Burkina Faso}}

|

| {{dts|1991|Apr|17}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Burundi}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (M, W)

| {{dts|2011|Oct|18}} (L){{efn|The Chairman of the Meeting of the States Parties to the BWC reported that Burundi submitted an incomplete instrument of ratification in 2000 that the depositaries deemed to be legally insufficient to become a party to the treaty.}}

| Ratification

{{flag|Cabo Verde}}

|

| {{dts|1977|Oct|20}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|Cambodia}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1983|Mar|9}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Cameroon}}

|

| {{dts|2013|Jan|18}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Canada}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1972|Sep|18}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Central African Republic}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|2018|Sep|25}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Chile}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1980|Apr|22}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|China}}

|

| {{dts|1984|Nov|15}} (L, M, W)

| Accession

{{flag|Colombia}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1983|Dec|19}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Comoros}}

|

| {{dts|2025|Feb|14}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Republic of the Congo}}

|

| {{dts|1978|Oct|23}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Cook Islands}}

|

| {{dts|2008|Dec|04}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Costa Rica}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1973|Dec|17}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Côte d'Ivoire}}

| {{dts|1972|May|23}} (W)

| {{dts|2016|Mar|23}} (M)
{{dts|2016|Apr|26}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|Croatia}}

|

| {{dts|1993|Apr|28}} (W)

| Succession from {{flag|SFR Yugoslavia}}{{efn|name="croatia"|Croatia's effective date of succession was 8 October 1991.{{cite web|url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/a/bwc/croatia/suc/washington|title=Croatia: Succession to Biological Weapons Convention|access-date=2013-03-03|publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs}}}}

{{flag|Cuba}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|12}} (M)

| {{dts|1976|Apr|21}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Cyprus}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, W)
{{dts|1972|Apr|14}} (M)

| {{dts|1973|Nov|6}} (L)
{{dts|1973|Nov|13}} (W)
{{dts|1973|Nov|21}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Czech Republic}}

|

| {{dts|1993|Apr|5}} (L)
{{dts|1993|Apr|9}} (M)
{{dts|1993|Sep|29}} (W)

| Succession from {{flag|Czechoslovakia}}
Signed 10 April 1972
Deposited 30 April 1973

{{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (M, W)

| {{dts|1975|Sep|16}} (L)
{{dts|1977|Jan|28}} (W)

| Ratification as {{flag|Zaire}}

{{flag|Denmark}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1973|Mar|1}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Dominica}}

|

| {{dts|2016|Aug|1}} (L)

| Succession{{efn|Dominica's effective date of succession was 3 November 1978.}}

{{flag|Dominican Republic}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1973|Feb|23}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Ecuador}}

| {{dts|1972|Jun|14}} (W)

| {{dts|1975|Mar|12}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|El Salvador}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1991|Dec|31}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Equatorial Guinea}}

|

| {{dts|1989|Jan|16}} (M)
{{dts|1992|Jul|29}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Estonia}}

|

| {{dts|1993|Jun|21}} (W)
{{dts|1993|Jul|1}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|Ethiopia}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1975|May|26}} (L, M)
{{dts|1975|Jun|26}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Fiji}}

| {{dts|1973|Feb|22}} (L)

| {{dts|1973|Sep|4}} (W)
{{dts|1973|Oct|1}} (L)
{{dts|1973|Oct|5}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Finland}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1974|Feb|4}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|France}}

|

| {{dts|1984|Sep|27}} (L, M, W)

| Accession

{{flag|Gabon}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L)

| {{dts|2007|Aug|16}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Gambia}}

| {{dts|1972|Jun|2}} (M)
{{dts|1972|Aug|8}} (L)
{{dts|1972|Nov|9}} (W)

| {{dts|1997|May|7}} (L)
{{dts|1997|Jun|10}} (M)
{{dts|1997|Aug|1}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Georgia}}

|

| {{dts|1996|May|22}} (L, M)

| Accession

{{flag|Germany}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1983|Apr|7}} (L, W)

| Ratification as {{flag|West Germany}}
Also ratified by {{flag|East Germany}} on 28 November 1972 prior to German reunification

{{flag|Ghana}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (M, W)

| {{dts|1975|Jun|6}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|Greece}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L)
{{dts|1972|Apr|12}} (W)
{{dts|1972|Apr|14}} (M)

| {{dts|1975|Dec|10}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Grenada}}

|

| {{dts|1986|Oct|22}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Guatemala}}

| {{dts|1972|May|9}} (W)

| {{dts|1973|Sep|19}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Guinea}}

|

| {{dts|2016|Nov|9}} (L){{efn|The Chairman of the Meeting of the States Parties to the BWC reported that Guinea submitted an instrument of accession in 2011 that the depositaries deemed to be legally insufficient to become a party to the treaty.{{cite web|url=https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g11/640/66/pdf/g1164066.pdf?OpenElement|title= Status of universalization of the Convention |publisher=Seventh Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction|date=2011-10-10|access-date=2014-10-12}}}}

| Accession

{{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}

|

| {{dts|1976|Aug|20}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|Guyana}}

| {{dts|1973|Jan|3}} (W)

| {{dts|2013|Mar|26}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Holy See}}

|

| {{dts|2002|Jan|7}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Honduras}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1979|Mar|14}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Hungary}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1972|Dec|27}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Iceland}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1973|Feb|15}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|India}}

| {{dts|1973|Jan|15}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1974|Jul|15}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Indonesia}}

| {{dts|1972|Jun|20}} (M, W)
{{dts|1972|Jun|21}} (L)

| {{dts|1992|Feb|4}} (M)
{{dts|1992|Feb|19}} (L)
{{dts|1992|Apr|1}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Iran}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (M, W)
{{dts|1972|Nov|16}} (L)

| {{dts|1973|Aug|22}} (L, W)
{{dts|1973|Aug|27}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Iraq}}

| {{dts|1972|May|11}} (M)

| {{dts|1991|Jun|19}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Ireland}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, W)

| {{dts|1972|Oct|27}} (L, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Italy}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1975|May|30}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Jamaica}}

|

| {{dts|1975|Aug|13}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Japan}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1982|Jun|8}} (W)
{{dts|1982|Jun|18}} (L, M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Jordan}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)
{{dts|1972|Apr|17}} (L)
{{dts|1972|Apr|24}} (M)

| {{dts|1975|May|30}} (M)
{{dts|1975|Jun|2}} (W)
{{dts|1975|Jun|27}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|Kazakhstan}}

|

| {{dts|2007|Jun|15}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|Kenya}}

|

| {{dts|1976|Jan|7}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Kiribati}}

|

| {{dts|2025|May|20}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Kuwait}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|14}} (M, W)
{{dts|1972|Apr|27}} (L)

| {{dts|1972|Jul|18}} (W)
{{dts|1972|Jul|26}} (L)
{{dts|1972|Aug|1}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}

|

| {{dts|2004|Oct|15}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|Laos}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1973|Mar|20}} (M)
{{dts|1973|Mar|22}} (W)
{{dts|1973|Apr|25}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|Latvia}}

|

| {{dts|1997|Feb|6}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Lebanon}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, W)
{{dts|1972|Apr|21}} (M)

| {{dts|1975|Mar|26}} (L)
{{dts|1975|Apr|2}} (M)
{{dts|1975|Jun|13}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Lesotho}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1977|Sep|6}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|Liberia}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)
{{dts|1972|Apr|14}} (L)

| {{dts|2016|Nov|4}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Libya}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (M)

| {{dts|1982|Jan|19}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Liechtenstein}}

|

| {{dts|1991|May|30}} (W)
{{dts|1991|May|31}} (M)
{{dts|1991|Jun|6}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Lithuania}}

|

| {{dts|1998|Feb|10}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Luxembourg}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M)
{{dts|1972|Apr|12}} (W)

| {{dts|1976|Mar|23}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Madagascar}}

| {{dts|1972|Oct|13}} (L)

| {{dts|2008|Mar|7}} (M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Malawi}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|2013|Apr|2}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Malaysia}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1991|Sep|6}} (L, M)
{{dts|1991|Sep|26}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Maldives}}

|

| {{dts|1993|Aug|2}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|Mali}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|2002|Nov|25}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Malta}}

| {{dts|1972|Sep|11}} (L)

| {{dts|1975|Apr|7}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|Marshall Islands}}

|

| {{dts|2012|Nov|15}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Mauritania}}

|

| {{dts|2015|Jan|28}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Mauritius}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1972|Aug|7}} (W)
{{dts|1973|Jan|11}} (L)
{{dts|1973|Jan|15}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Mexico}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1974|Apr|8}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Micronesia}}

|

| {{dts|2024|Jul|12}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Moldova}}

|

| {{dts|2005|Jan|28}} (M, W)

| Accession

{{flag|Monaco}}

|

| {{dts|1999|Apr|30}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Mongolia}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1972|Sep|5}} (W)
{{dts|1972|Sep|14}} (L)
{{dts|1972|Oct|20}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Montenegro}}

|

| {{dts|2006|Jun|3}} (M)
{{dts|2006|Dec|12}} (L)

| Succession from {{flag|Serbia and Montenegro}}{{efn|Montenegro's effective date of succession was 3 June 2006.{{cite web|url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/a/bwc/montenegro/suc/london|title=Montenegro: Succession to Biological Weapons Convention|access-date=2016-08-10|publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs}}}}

{{flag|Morocco}}

| {{dts|1972|May|2}} (L)
{{dts|1972|May|3}} (W)
{{dts|1972|Jun|5}} (M)

| {{dts|2002|Mar|21}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|Mozambique}}

|

| {{dts|2011|Mar|29}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Myanmar}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|2014|Dec|1}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Namibia}}

|

| {{dts|2022|Feb|25}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Nauru}}

|

| {{dts|2013|Mar|05}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Nepal}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|2016|Nov|4}} (L, W)
{{dts|2016|Nov|11}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Kingdom of the Netherlands}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1981|Jun|22}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification, for the whole Kingdom

{{flag|New Zealand}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1972|Dec|13}} (W)
{{dts|1972|Dec|18}} (L)
{{dts|1973|Jan|10}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Nicaragua}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, W)

| {{dts|1975|Aug|7}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Niger}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|21}} (W)

| {{dts|1972|Jun|23}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Nigeria}}

| {{dts|1972|Jul|3}} (M)
{{dts|1972|Jul|10}} (L)
{{dts|1972|Dec|6}} (W)

| {{dts|1973|Jul|3}} (W)
{{dts|1973|Jul|9}} (L)
{{dts|1973|Jul|20}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Niue}}

|

| {{dts|2018|Jun|14}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|North Korea}}

|

| {{dts|1987|Mar|13}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|North Macedonia}}

|

| {{dts|1996|Dec|26}} (M)
{{dts|1997|Mar|14}} (L)
{{dts|1997|Apr|23}} (W)

| Succession from {{flag|SFR Yugoslavia}}{{efn|name="macedonia"|Macedonia's effective date of succession was 17 November 1991.{{cite web|url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/a/bwc/theformeryugoslavrepublicofmacedonia/suc/moscow|title=North Macedonia: Succession to Biological Weapons Convention|access-date=2019-03-12|publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs}}}}

{{flag|Norway}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1973|Aug|1}} (L, W)
{{dts|1973|Aug|23}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Oman}}

|

| {{dts|1992|Mar|31}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Pakistan}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1974|Sep|25}} (M)
{{dts|1974|Oct|3}} (L, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Palau}}

|

| {{dts|2003|Feb|20}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Palestine}}

|

| {{dts|2018|Jan|9}} (L, M)

| Accession

{{flag|Panama}}

| {{dts|1972|May|2}} (W)

| {{dts|1974|Mar|20}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Papua New Guinea}}

|

| {{dts|1980|Oct|27}} (L)
{{dts|1980|Nov|13}} (M)
{{dts|1981|Mar|16}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Paraguay}}

|

| {{dts|1976|Jun|9}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Peru}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1985|Jun|5}} (L, M)
{{dts|1985|Jun|11}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Philippines}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, W)
{{dts|1972|Jun|21}} (M)

| {{dts|1973|May|21}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Poland}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1973|Jan|25}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Portugal}}

| {{dts|1972|Jun|29}} (W)

| {{dts|1975|May|15}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Qatar}}

| {{dts|1972|Nov|14}} (L)

| {{dts|1975|Apr|17}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|Romania}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1979|Jul|25}} (W)
{{dts|1979|Jul|26}} (L)
{{dts|1979|Jul|27}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Russia}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1975|Mar|26}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification as {{flag|Soviet Union}}

{{flag|Rwanda}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (M, W)

| {{dts|1975|May|20}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}

|

| {{dts|1991|Apr|2}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Saint Lucia}}

|

| {{dts|1986|Nov|26}} (L)

| Succession from {{flag|United Kingdom}}

{{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}

|

| {{dts|1999|May|13}} (L)

| Succession from {{flag|United Kingdom}}

{{flag|Samoa}}

|

| {{dts|2017|Sep|21}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|San Marino}}

| {{dts|1972|Sep|12}} (W)
{{dts|1973|Jan|30}} (M)
{{dts|1973|Mar|21}} (L)

| {{dts|1975|Mar|11}} (L)
{{dts|1975|Mar|17}} (W)
{{dts|1975|Mar|27}} (M)

| Ratification

{{flag|Sao Tome and Principe}}

|

| {{dts|1979|Aug|24}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|12}} (W)

| {{dts|1972|May|24}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Senegal}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1975|Mar|26}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Serbia}}

|

| {{dts|1992|Apr|27}} (M)
{{dts|2001|Jun|5}} (W)
{{dts|2001|Jun|13}} (L)

| Succession from {{flag|SFR Yugoslavia}}
Signed 10 April 1972
Deposited 25 October 1973{{cite web|url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/a/bwc/serbia/suc/washington|title=Serbia: Succession to Biological Weapons Convention|access-date=2013-03-03|publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs}}
Succession from {{flag|Serbia and Montenegro}}{{efn|name="serbia"|The FR Yugoslavia's (later Serbia and Montenegro) effective date of succession from the SFR Yugoslavia was 27 April 1992, while Serbia's effective date of succession from Serbia and Montenegro was 3 June 2006.{{cite web|url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/a/bwc/serbia/suc/london|title=Serbia: Succession to Biological Weapons Convention|access-date=2013-03-03|publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs}}}}

{{flag|Seychelles}}

|

| {{dts|1979|Oct|11}} (L)
{{dts|1979|Oct|16}} (W)
{{dts|1979|Oct|24}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|Sierra Leone}}

| {{dts|1972|Nov|7}} (W)
{{dts|1972|Nov|24}} (L)

| {{dts|1976|Jun|29}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Singapore}}

| {{dts|1972|Jun|19}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1975|Dec|2}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Slovakia}}

|

| {{dts|1993|Jan|1}} (M)
{{dts|1993|May|17}} (L)
{{dts|1993|Jun|10}} (W)

| Succession from {{flag|Czechoslovakia}}
Signed 10 April 1972
Deposited 30 April 1973

{{flag|Slovenia}}

|

| {{dts|1992|Apr|7}} (L, M)
{{dts|1992|Aug|20}} (W)

| Succession from {{flag|SFR Yugoslavia}}

{{flag|Solomon Islands}}

|

| {{dts|1981|Jun|17}} (L)

| Succession from {{flag|United Kingdom}}

{{flag|South Africa}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1975|Nov|3}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|South Korea}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, W)

| {{dts|1987|Jun|25}} (L, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|South Sudan}}

|

| {{dts|2023|Feb|15}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Spain}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, W)

| {{dts|1979|Jun|20}} (L, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Sri Lanka}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1986|Nov|18}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification
Signed as Ceylon

{{flag|Sudan}}

|

| {{dts|2003|Oct|17}} (L)
{{dts|2003|Oct|20}} (M)
{{dts|2003|Nov|7}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Suriname}}

|

| {{dts|1993|Jan|6}} (L, M)
{{dts|1993|Apr|9}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Swaziland}}

|

| {{dts|1991|Jun|18}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Sweden}}

| {{dts|1974|Feb|27}} (M)
{{dts|1975|Feb|27}} (L, W)

| {{dts|1976|Feb|5}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Switzerland}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1976|May|4}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Tajikistan}}

|

| {{dts|2005|Jun|27}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|Tanzania}}

| {{dts|1972|Aug|16}} (L)

| {{dts|2019|Aug|14}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|Thailand}}

| {{dts|1973|Jan|17}} (W)

| {{dts|1975|May|28}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Timor-Leste}}

|

| {{dts|2003|May|5}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Togo}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1976|Nov|10}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Tonga}}

|

| {{dts|1976|Sep|28}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}

|

| {{dts|2007|Jul|19}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Tunisia}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1973|May|18}} (W)
{{dts|1973|May|30}} (M)
{{dts|1973|Jun|6}} (L)

| Ratification

{{flag|Turkey}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1974|Oct|25}} (M)
{{dts|1974|Nov|4}} (L)
{{dts|1974|Nov|5}} (W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Turkmenistan}}

|

| {{dts|1996|Jan|11}} (M)
{{dts|1996|Mar|8}} (W)

| Accession

{{Flag|Tuvalu}}

|

| {{dts|2024|Jun|28}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Uganda}}

|

| {{dts|1992|May|12}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Ukraine}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (M)

| {{dts|1975|Mar|26}} (M)

| Ratification as {{flag|Ukrainian SSR}}

{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}

| {{dts|1972|Sep|28}} (L)

| {{dts|2008|Jun|19}} (L) {{cite web|url=http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/disarmament.nsf/(httpPages)/F1FAF68390F1A54BC125747800467832?OpenDocument |title=UAE ratifies BWC |work=United Nations Office at Geneva |access-date=2008-07-29}}

| Ratification

{{flag|United Kingdom}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1975|Mar|26}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|United States}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M, W)

| {{dts|1975|Mar|26}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Uruguay}}

|

| {{dts|1981|Apr|6}} (W)

| Accession

{{flag|Uzbekistan}}

|

| {{dts|1996|Jan|26}} (M)

| Accession

{{flag|Vanuatu}}

|

| {{dts|2016|Sep|6}} (L)

| Succession{{efn|Vanuatu's effective date of succession was 30 July 1980.}}

{{flag|Venezuela}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| {{dts|1978|Oct|18}} (L, M, W)

| Ratification

{{flag|Vietnam}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (M)

| {{dts|1980|Jun|20}} (M)

| Ratification as the {{flag|Vietnam|name=Socialist Republic of Vietnam}}
Signed by the {{flag|North Vietnam|name=Democratic Republic of Vietnam}} and {{flag|South Vietnam|name=Republic of Vietnam}} on 10 April 1972 prior to Vietnamese reunification{{cite web|url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/a/bwc/vietnam/sig/moscow|title=Viet Nam: Signature of Biological Weapons Convention|access-date=2013-03-03|publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs}}

{{flag|Yemen}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|26}} (M)
{{dts|1972|May|10}} (L)

| {{dts|1979|Jun|1}} (M)

| Ratification as {{flag|South Yemen}}
Also signed by {{flag|North Yemen}} on 10 April 1972 prior to Yemeni unification

{{flag|Zambia}}

|

| {{dts|2008|Jan|15}} (L)

| Accession

{{flag|Zimbabwe}}

|

| {{dts|1990|Nov|5}} (L)

| Accession

;Notes

{{notelist|close}}

State with limited recognition, abiding by treaty

The Republic of China (Taiwan), which is currently only recognized by {{numrec|ROC||UN member states}}, 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".{{cite web|url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/a/bwc/china/acc/washington|title=China: Accession to Biological Weapons Convention|access-date=2013-03-03|publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs}}

class="wikitable"

! State

! Signed

! Deposited

! Method

{{flag|Republic of China}}

| Apr 10, 1972

| Feb 9, 1973

| Ratification

Signatory states

The following four states have signed, but not ratified the BWC.

class="wikitable sortable"

! State

! Signed

! Ratification status{{efn|As per the 2024 Report of the Chairman on Universalization Activities to the Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.}}

{{flag|Egypt}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (L, M)

| No action expected in near future

{{flag|Haiti}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|10}} (W)

| Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities{{efn|As of September 2017, a ratification bill had been approved by Haiti's Cabinet of Ministers and submitted to parliament.{{cite web|url=https://rezonodwes.com/maigre-bilan-du-parlement-pres-dune-vingtaine-dinstruments-internationaux-en-souffrance/|title=Maigre bilan du Parlement : Près d'une vingtaine d'instruments internationaux en souffrance|date=2018-11-19|access-date=2018-11-26|archive-date=2018-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127110320/https://rezonodwes.com/maigre-bilan-du-parlement-pres-dune-vingtaine-dinstruments-internationaux-en-souffrance/|url-status=dead}}}}

{{flag|Somalia}}

| {{dts|1972|Jul|3}} (M)

| Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities

{{flag|Syria}}

| {{dts|1972|Apr|14}} (M)

| No action expected in near future

;Notes

{{notelist|close}}

Non-signatory states

The following four UN member states have neither signed nor ratified the BWC.

class="wikitable sortable"

! State

! Ratification status{{efn|As per the 2024 Report of the Chairman on Universalization Activities to the Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.}}{{cite web|url=https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g24/206/04/pdf/g2420604.pdf|title=Report on universalization activities|publisher=Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction|access-date=2024-11-08|date=2024-12-14}}

{{flag|Chad}}Process started{{efn|In June 2017, Parliamentarians for Global Action reported that Chad's National Assembly had recommended that the government ratify the agreement.{{cite web|url=http://www.pgaction.org/news/issues-in-the-media/biological-weapons/bwd-2017-june.html|title=Biological Weapons Disarmament Updates (June 2017)|date=2017-06-28|access-date=2017-07-04|publisher=Parliamentarians for Global Action|archive-date=2017-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819191541/http://www.pgaction.org/news/issues-in-the-media/biological-weapons/bwd-2017-june.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g17/280/08/pdf/g1728008.pdf|title=Report on universalization activities|publisher=Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction|date=2017-09-25|access-date=2019-11-01}}}}
{{flag|Djibouti}}Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities{{cite web|url=https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g21/260/76/pdf/g2126076.pdf?OpenElement|title=Report on universalization activities1|publisher=Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction|date=2021-09-23|access-date=2023-11-09}}
{{flag|Eritrea}}Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities
{{flag|Israel}}No action expected in near future

;Notes

{{notelist|close}}

Succession of UK dependent territories

When the United Kingdom ratified the BWC in 1975, it made a territorial declaration stating in part that the treaty would be applied:{{cite web|url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/a/bwc/unitedkingdomofgreatbritainandnorthernireland/rat/washington|title=United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Ratification of Biological Weapons Convention|access-date=2013-07-26|publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs}}

{{quote|"... in respect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Dominica and Territories under the territorial sovereignty of the United Kingdom, as well as the State of Brunei, the British Solomon Islands Protectorate and, within the limits of the United Kingdom jurisdiction therein, the Condominium of New Hebrides [subsequently renamed Vanuatu]."}}

This declaration bound its dependent territories of Dominica, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Vanuatu to the terms of the convention.

Following their subsequent independence, their status with regards to the convention was initially unclear. According to the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in respect of Treaties, "newly independent states" (a euphemism for former colonies) receive a "clean slate", such that they do not automatically inherit the treaty obligations of their former colonial power, but may in most circumstances succeed to multilateral treaties to which their former colonizers were a party to without the consent of the other parties. All four states eventually formally submitted instruments of accession or succession to the convention.

=Dominica=

After Dominica's independence in 1978, the Prime Minister of Dominica sent a note to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) stating that:{{cite web|url=http://www.bwpp.org/documents/BWPP%20Universalization%20Book.pdf|title=Building a Global Ban: Why States Have Not Joined the BWC|date=April 2009|access-date=2013-07-26|publisher=BioWeapons Prevention Project}}

{{quote|“The Government of Dominica declares that, with regard to multilateral treaties applied or extended to the former British Associated State of Dominica, it will continue to apply such terms of each treaty provisionally and on the basis of reciprocity until such time as it notifies the depositary authority of its decision in respect thereof.”}}

The Government of Dominica later stated that it did not consider itself bound by the Convention. However, Dominica was listed as a state party to the BWC in documents from the Meetings of the States Parties to the BWC.{{cite web|url=https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g15/251/07/pdf/g1525107.pdf|title=Report on universalization activities|publisher=Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction|date=2015-11-05|access-date=2017-10-31|archive-date=2017-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510103607/http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B8954/(httpAssets)/7B8267D90C03C9D9C1257F11004CAE72/$file/BWC_MSP_2015_4_English.pdf|url-status=dead}} The UK Treaty Office (as depositary) did not receive an instrument of succession from Dominica until 2016.

=Kiribati=

Following Kiribati's independence in 1979, the President of Kiribati sent a note to the UNSG stating that:

{{quote|... the Government of the Republic of Kiribati declares that, with regard to multilateral treaties applied or extended to the former Gilbert Islands, it will continue to apply the terms of each such treaty provisionally and on the basis of reciprocity until such time as it notifies the depositary authority of its decision with respect thereto.”}}

The Government of Kiribati later made statements suggesting that it did not consider itself a party to the treaty, before acceding as an independent state in 2025.

=Tuvalu=

Following Tuvalu's independence in 1978, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu sent a note to the UNSC stating that:

{{quote|"The Government of Tuvalu desires that it should be presumed that each treaty purporting or deemed to bind Tuvalu before Independence has been legally succeeded to by Tuvalu and that action should be based on such presumption unless and until the Government of Tuvalu decides that any particular treaty should be treated as having lapsed."}}

The Government of Tuvalu later made statements suggesting that it did not consider itself a party to the BWC, before acceding as an independent state in 2024.

=Vanuatu=

Following Vanuatu's independence in 1980, it 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, and the UK depositary did not receive an instrument of succession from Vanuatu until 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B8954/(httpAssets)/864524E8BFA2C88BC125817C00534C46/$file/Fiji+seminar+-+Summary+Report.pdf|title=Council Decision CFSP/2016/51 of 18 January 2016 in support of the Biological Weapons Convention - Report -Regional workshop to promote the universalisation of the BWC in the Pacific|date=2017-07-28}}

See also

References

{{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Biological Weapons Convention}}

Category:Arms control treaties

Category:Biological warfare

Category:Lists of parties to treaties