Chemical Weapons Convention Overview
Learn about the Chemical Weapons Convention and stay updated on obligations, verification requirements, and key compliance deadlines.
Last updated 24 February 2026
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What is the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)?
The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is an international treaty that prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, transfer, and use of chemical weapons and stipulates their timely destruction.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) oversees the implementation of the CWC. This includes monitoring the implementation status of Member States’ conducting on-site verification measures, and providing a forum for consultation and cooperation amongst Member States.
Singapore ratified the CWC in May 1997. Singapore Customs is the designated National Authority (NA) for the CWC (NA(CWC)), acting as the national focal point for all CWC-related matters. The NA (CWC) liaises with the OPCW and other Member States, and administers the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act and its subsidiary legislation to ensure Singapore fully meets its obligations under the Convention.
General Obligations
Under the CWC, each Member State is required to undertake the following general obligations:
Never developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling or transferring chemical weapons, directly or indirectly.
Never use chemical weapons under any circumstances.
Never engaging in military preparations to use chemical weapons.
Never assisting, encouraging or inducing, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a Member State under this Convention.
Destroying all chemical weapons and related production facilities owned, possessed or located under its jurisdiction and control.
Destroying any chemical weapons abandoned on the territory of another Member State.
Not using riot control agents as a method of warfare.
Verification Regime
Member States must declare any chemical weapons-related activities, and industrial activities involving scheduled chemicals and facilities producing unscheduled discrete organic chemicals.
These declarations are the basis for data monitoring and on-site inspections conducted by the OPCW.
These inspections verify that the activities at the declared facilities are in line with both the CWC’s requirements and the submitted declarations. The verification regime plays a crucial role in building trust among Member States and deterring any potential non-compliance to the CWC.
Member States
Refer to explore the complete list of CWC Member States.
Announcements
Stay updated with the latest Chemical Weapons Convention requirements and deadlines for declarations, licence renewals, and regulatory controls.
2 December 2025 – Annual Declaration of Past Activities (ADPA) Exercise 2025
The ADPA Exercise for Year 2025 runs from 2 December 2025 to 31 January 2026. If your company carried out any controlled activities involving Schedule 1, 2, 3 chemicals, or Unscheduled Discrete Organic Chemicals (DOCs), you are required to submit your ADPA by 31 January 2026.
What has changed?
The annual declaration window for 2025 is now open.
What must you do?
Download the Declaration Cover for Reporting Template and the relevant ADPA declaration forms from the Chemical Weapons Convention Forms section.
Complete and submit your ADPA before 31 January 2026.
1 November 2025 – CWC Licence Renewal Exercise for Year 2026
The CWC Licence Renewal Exercise for 2026 is open from 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025. Companies conducting CWC-controlled activities must renew their licence by 31 December 2025.
What has changed?
The licence renewal period for 2026 has begun.
What must you do?
Access the CWC licence application forms via the Chemical Weapons Convention Forms section.
Submit your renewal application no later than 31 December 2025 to avoid disruptions to your controlled activities.
18 October 2023 – Joint Regulatory Control of Scheduled CWC Chemicals
From 21 August 2023, Singapore Customs, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) jointly regulate 47 scheduled CWC chemicals.
What has changed?
Companies handling these chemicals now fall under shared regulatory oversight of NEA, SCDF and Singapore Customs.
Threshold quantities and purities determine when licences/permits are required.
What must you do?
If you conduct controlled activities involving scheduled chemicals above exemption thresholds, you must apply for the relevant NEA/SCDF licence or permit.
Refer to the Joint Regulatory Control and the contact point(s) for both NEA/SCDF for more information.