The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is an international treaty that poses a complete ban on chemical weapons.

To support the verification regime and declaration requirements imposed by the convention, the CWC contains an Annex on Chemicals composed of three schedules: Schedule 1, Schedule 2, and Schedule 3.

Each Schedule is divided into a part A, which lists chemical warfare agents, and a part B, which lists chemical precursors.

Schedule 1 comprises chemicals that are regarded exclusively or almost exclusively as chemical warfare agents or precursors for their synthesis. Conversely, Schedules 2 and 3 comprise dual-use chemicals that have also legitimate, non-military commercial applications, on a smaller scale for Schedule 2, and on a larger scale for Schedule 3.

While some of the entries in the CWC Schedules identify individual chemicals, other identify families of related chemicals, defined as a central chemical scaffold bearing a number of attached variable chemical groups.

The Table below shows lists all of the entries of the three CWC Schedules, annotated with chemical structures and with a reference to the corresponding entry in the Australia Group (AG) “Chemical Weapons Precursors” list and the Wassenaar Arrangement’s Munitions List 7 (ML7) . For entries that identify individual chemicals, the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry number is given as well.

Note 1. A document in which the CWC Schedules are annotated with chemical structures and three-dimensional models has been produced by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): “The Science for Diplomats” Annex on Chemicals – A user friendly and scientifically annotated version of the Chemical Weapons Convention Annex on Chemicals

Note 2. It is worth emphasizing that the purpose of these lists is to support efforts to control CW proliferation. None of these lists should be construed as an exhaustive compilation of chemical warfare agents and precursors. Indeed, the CWC includes in its definition of chemical weapons  “any chemical (emphasis added) which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals.” Hence, any weapon designed to bring about death, temporary incapacitation, or permanent harm through the toxic properties of chemicals is to be considered a chemical weapon, and any toxic chemical at the basis of such weapons is to be considered a chemical warfare agent.

This site is under construction! The table will be updated soon to include structures for each entry, SMILE identifiers, as well as downloadable 2D structures in SDF and MRV format.

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