§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
How is the development and manufacture of chemical weapons for "domestic riot control purposes", which are included as "Purposes Not Prohibited Under this Convention" in Article (9) of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to be distinguished from the development and manufacture of chemical weapons for purposes prohibited under the convention, and who is to be responsible for 24WA making these distinctions, and whether international peacekeeping operations are included among the "Purposes Not Prohibited Under this Convention".
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the development and manufacture of any chemical weapons. The term "chemical weapons" includes toxic chemicals except those intended for purposes not prohibited by the convention, including "domestic riot control purposes". Provided that the types and quantities of chemicals used are consistent with the intended permitted purpose they are not prohibited under the convention. Each State Party is obliged to declare details of chemicals held for riot control purposes (commonly known as riot control agents). The convention establishes a verification mechanism to monitor States Parties' compliance with their obligations. The provisions include inspections of declared sites and investigations into allegations that riot control agents have been used in warfare. Inspections and investigations will be carried out by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
The CWC prohibits the use of toxic chemicals as a method of warfare in international peacekeeping operations.