Member States Are Experiencing Delays in Complying with Key CWC Requirements

Although the CWC has helped to reduce the risks from chemical weapons,  member states are experiencing delays in destroying their chemical  weapons and implementing key requirements of the treaty. For example,  Russia and the United States are unlikely to destroy their declared  chemical weapons by the extended deadline of 2012, and many member  states have not adopted national laws that fully implement the CWC. Complete Destruction of Largest Possessor States’ Chemical Weapons Stockpiles Will Extend beyond Deadline

We estimate that the United States and Russia are unlikely to meet the 2012  extended CWC deadline for destroying their chemical weapons. However, a large quantity of Russia’s chemical weapons will remain  vulnerable to theft or diversion until they are destroyed. Many Member States Have Yet to Adopt National Laws Implementing the CWC

According to the OPCW, less than 40 percent of CWC member states have  adopted national laws to criminalize CWC-prohibited activities. State views Russia’s  declaration of its chemical weapons production, development facilities,  and chemical agent and weapons stockpiles as incomplete. Since April 1997, more than half of OPCW inspections have taken place at  military facilities even though some commercial facilities may pose a  greater proliferation threat. Since April 1997, most OPCW commercial inspections have  taken place at facilities that produce chemicals listed on the CWC’s three  schedules. The OPCW projects that the number of chemical weapons destruction  facilities that will require monitoring will increase from seven to nine by  2007. As of  September 2003, Russia had destroyed 1.1 percent of its 40,000 metric tons  of chemical weapons at its only operational destruction facility. Russian  destruction efforts have also relied almost entirely on international  assistance. As of December 2003, international donors have shipped about  $585 million and committed more than $1.7 billion to Russian destruction  efforts. Nearly 7 years after entry into force, the CWC’s  nonproliferation goals have proven more difficult to achieve than originally  anticipated. CWC member states and the OPCW face difficult choices in  addressing the delays in Russia’s destruction program, the limited number  of inspections at dual-use commercial sites, and the slow progress in  passing laws criminalizing CWC-prohibited activities. Thirdly, the report  clearly articulates that the OPCW has established a credible inspection  regime and has conducted nearly 1,600 inspections in 58 member states. Scope and Methodology

To determine what efforts member states have made in meeting key  Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) requirements, we compared these  requirements with documents obtained from the Organization for the  Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Department of State  (State), including annual reports that assess member states’ compliance  with the treaty, surveys assessing the status of member states’ compliance  with key requirements, and member states’ official statements to the 2003  CWC Review Conference. We also toured the  U.S. chemical weapons destruction facility in Aberdeen, Maryland. Russia has spent about $95  million. 2. 3.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) bans chemical weapons and requires their destruction by 2007, with possible extensions to 2012. The CWC also seeks to reduce the proliferation of these weapons by requiring member states to adopt comprehensive national laws to criminalize CWC-prohibited activities. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) monitors the destruction of chemical weapons and inspects declared commercial facilities in member states. GAO was asked to review (1) member states' efforts to meet key convention requirements, (2) OPCW's efforts in conducting inspections to ensure compliance with the convention, and (3) Russia's efforts to destroy its chemical weapons stockpile.

What GAO Found

The CWC has helped reduce the risks from chemical weapons, but CWC member states are experiencing delays in meeting key convention requirements as the CWC's goals have proven more difficult to achieve than anticipated. For example, we estimate that Russia and the United States will not complete destruction of their chemical weapons stockpiles until after the convention's deadline of 2012, if extended. Less than 40 percent of member states have adopted national laws to prosecute individuals that pursue CWC-prohibited activities. The Department of State also believes that China, Iran, Russia, and Sudan have not fully declared the extent of their chemical weapons programs. The OPCW faces resource challenges in addressing the proliferation threat posed by commercial facilities and inspecting an increased number of military facilities that destroy possessor states' chemical weapons. Although the OPCW has conducted nearly 1,600 inspections in 58 member states since April 1997, more than half have been conducted at military facilities. About 36 percent of OPCW commercial inspections have taken place at facilities producing the most dangerous chemicals identified by the CWC. The OPCW recognizes that it must increase the number of inspections conducted at facilities that produce dual-use chemicals. Some of these facilities may pose a proliferation threat. The lack of a credible Russian chemical weapons destruction plan has hindered and may further delay destruction efforts, leaving Russia's vast chemical weapons arsenal vulnerable to theft or diversion. As of September 2003, Russia had one operational destruction facility and had destroyed 1.1 percent of its 40,000 metric tons of chemical weapons. Russia's destruction efforts rely heavily on international assistance. Since 1993 international donors, including the United States, have obligated about $585 million for Russian destruction efforts while Russia has spent about $95 million.