Arms Control: US and International efforts to ban biological weapons
The Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons Convention, the treaty that bans the development, production, and stockpiling and acquisition of biological weapons was opened for signature in 1972 and came into force in 1975 after being ratified by 22 governments, including the depository nations of the USA, the United Kingdom, and the former Soviet Union. In support of the Convention, the USA later established export controls on items used to make biological weapons. Further, in accordance with the 1990 President`s Enhanced Proliferation Control Initiative, actions were taken to redefine and expand US export controls, as well as to encourage multilateral controls through the Australia Group. Thus far, the Convention has not been effective in stopping the development of biological weapons. The principal findings as to the reasons of the failures of the Convention are found to be: the Convention lacks universality, compliance measures are effective, advantage of verification may outweigh disadvantages. Recommendations for mitigating these failures are outlined in this report.
- Research Organization:
- General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 10186471
- Report Number(s):
- GAO/NSIAD--93-113; ON: TI93040553
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ARMS CONTROL
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AGENTS
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL
FAILURES
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
POLICY, NEGOTIATIONS, AND LEGISLATION
PROLIFERATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
TREATIES
USA
VERIFICATION