§ Lord Jenkins of Putneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many countries have ratified the chemical and biological weapons conventions and whether they consider the conventions are being observed.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe Chemical Weapons Convention has not yet entered into force. It will do so after the 65th ratification, at which time states parties will be bound by all its provisions. To date 58 countries have ratified. After entry into force the Conference of States Parties may consider any matter within the scope of the convention, including whether its provisions are being observed.
One hundred and thirty-nine countries have ratified the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. The Fourth Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention will take place in November/December this year. States parties will consider any information submitted to the conference concerning compliance with the provisions of the convention.
States parties are currently considering measures to strengthen the convention in an ad hoc group set up in 1994. The ad hoc group will report on its work so far to the review conference later this year.