Canadian National Authority to the Chemical Weapons Convention
Canada implements the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) through the Canadian National Authority. The Canadian National Authority serves as the liaison with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and other states parties.
On this page
- Canada’s obligations
- Canada’s actions
- No chemical weapon production in Canada
- Declarations
- Inspections
- Your obligations
- Contact us
Canada’s obligations
The CWC prohibits the development production, acquisition, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical weapons (Article I).
It requires each state party that has declared possession of chemical weapons and/or chemical weapon production facilities under its jurisdiction and control to destroy them.
Canada’s actions
The Canadian National Authority has many responsibilities, including:
- to advise domestic stakeholders on declaration and licensing regulations, and on inspection terms
- collect declaration data from Canadian entities subject to the CWC, prepares and forwards declarations to the OPCW
- provide advance notification of transfers of Schedule 1 chemicals
- license the use, storage and production of Schedule 1 chemicals
- facilitate the conduct of inspections
- undertake domestic and international outreach to ensure awareness of the Convention’s objectives and obligations
- support Canada’s Permanent Representation to the OPCW
We fulfill our CWC obligations through the following acts and regulations:
- Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act
- Declaration Regulations (Chemical Weapons Convention)
- Schedule 1 Chemicals Regulations (Chemical Weapons Convention)
No chemical weapon production in Canada
Canada has no chemical weapons or chemical weapon production facilities.
In line with provisions of the CWC, we continue to produce and retain chemicals for domestic riot control purposes. We also maintain facilities and material for use in protective research, such as the development and testing of the following:
- protective clothing
- protective equipment
- medical counter-measures
Declarations
Canada made an initial declaration to the OPCW, following the entry into force of the CWC. We also submit to the OPCW:
- annual declarations of anticipated and past activities pursuant to Article VI (industrial facilities)
- declarations of national protective programs pursuant to Article X, paragraph 4
- destruction Reports of discovered Chemical Weapons (CW)/Old Chemical Weapons pursuant to Article IV, paragraph 9
Chemicals listed on the CWC’s schedules of Discrete Organic Chemicals (DOCs) and related facilities, are subject to data monitoring and on-site inspections. Companies or organisations whose business involves these chemicals must make appropriate declarations to the Canadian National Authority. The National Authority is responsible for making national declarations to the OPCW. Declarations also include information on the export and import of scheduled chemicals.
Inspections
The declarations provided by Canada to the OPCW form the basis for on-site inspections. If verification thresholds are exceeded, Canada and other states parties are also obligated to receive international inspectors from the OPCW to verify declarations submitted under Article VI.
OPCW inspectors may also come to Canada to verify the destruction of chemical weapons found and reported under Article IV. The CWC also provides for challenge inspections to investigate suspected violations of its obligations.
Your obligations
For further information on the Chemical Weapons Convention and its implementation in Canada, including your obligations as a Canadian entity who works with scheduled chemicals or DOCs, please consult the following links:
Information
Obligations
Contact us
Canadian National Authority to the Chemical Weapons Convention (IGN)
Global Affairs Canada
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ont.
K1A 0G2
E-mail: cna-anc@international.gc.ca
Phone: (343) 203-3180
Report a problem on this page
- Date modified:
