Science, Technology and the BW Prohibition Regime

The biological weapons (BW) prohibition regime is built around the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC), the 1925 Geneva Protocol, and the Australia Group, which expanded its activities from CW-related dual-use goods and technologies into the BW realm in 1990. 

Technical characteristics and the dual-use problem of BW agents and related technology 

Developments in biology and biological warfare during the 20th century 

The use of biological agents in warfare goes back at least several hundred years.1 ffowever, only with the advances in the scientific understanding of life and its underlying processes towards the end of the 19th century has a systematic utilization of pathogens and naturally produced toxic substances for warfare purposes become possible. 

While the often observable focus on pathogens that would be employed against humans is understandable, one must not lose sight of a number of animal and plant diseases, whose causative agents could be utilized for BW attacks against crops or livestock.4 

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Our central concern then is with scientific and technological advances in the life sciences that can be expected to undermine the adequacy of the CW and BW prohibition regimes, if these advances are left unattended. In order to address this concern we raise four questions ... 

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