The list of parties to the Biological Weapons Convention encompasses the states who have signed and ratified or acceded to the international agreement outlawing biological weapons.
On 10 April 1972, the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), also known as the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) was opened for signature. The Netherlands became the first state to deposit the treaty that same day. The treaty came into force and closed for signature on 26 March 1975 with the deposit of ratification by 22 states. Since then, states that did not sign the treaty can now only accede to it.
A total of 196 states may become members of the Chemical Weapons Convention, including all 193 United Nations member states, the Cook Islands, Holy See and Niue. To date, 170 states have ratified or acceded to the treaty, most recently Malawi on 2 April 2013. As well, the Republic of China (Taiwan), which is currently only recognized by 22 UN member states, deposited their instruments of ratification of the BWC with the United States government prior to the US's decision to switch their recognition of the sole legitimate government of China from the Republic of China (ROC) to the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Read more about List Of Parties To The Biological Weapons Convention: Summary, Ratified or Acceded States
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