Chemical Weapons Convention domestication

It is evident65 that the US military is still attempting to discover new forms of chemical incapaci-tant. Moreover, some might argue that the peaceful purpose exemption of Article II.(9)(d) of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which allows for Law enforcement including domestic riot control purposes , would allow quite new law enforcement chemicals with complex physiological effects on humans to be developed - particularly as no definition is offered for what chemicals are permitted for law enforcement other than that Schedule 1 chemicals may not be used. 

The Chemical Weapons Convention in no way limits use of tear gas or other temporarily disabling chemicals by police forces for purposes of domestic riot control. But the language used to exempt other law enforcement purposes has created ambiguity in the heart of the Convention.. . (emphasis added). 

One of the more important U.S. Army programs is the destruction of chemical weapons. It is not only necessary from the standpoint of domestic concerns, but will be required under the bilateral agreements with Russia, and with the Chemical Weapons Convention when ratified by 65 countries. 

After World War I, interest in chloropicrin shifted from its toxic effects to its harassing effects, causing it to see use in training by the United States, the Soviet Union, and others. The United States used chloropicrin with chloroacetophenone and chloroform in a military formulation designated CNS. This mixture was declared obsolete in 1957. From 1955 to 1960, the USSR loaded chloropicrin into 250-kilogram bombs, which were stockpiled. These bombs were not declared by Russia following the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), suggesting that either the stockpile had been destroyed or the bombs were retained for noncombat uses permitted by the CWC, such as domestic law enforcement purposes. 

Permitted purposes - those not prohibited by the Convention are industrial, agricultural, research, medical or other peaceful purposes, domestic law enforcement - that is, riot control - military purposes not connected with the use of chemical weapons and protective purposes. Thus the production of small quantities of CW agent for use in developing and testing protective kit would be permitted. 

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