Controlled Chemicals
Learn about controlled chemicals under the Chemical Weapons Convention including the schedules, unscheduled discrete organic chemicals and how to determine if your product requires licensing.
Last updated 24 February 2026
The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) classifies toxic chemicals and their precursors into three schedules, along with an additional category called Unscheduled Discrete Organic Chemicals (DOCs).
Chemicals are scheduled based on the risk they pose, with Schedule 1 posing the highest risk. DOCs are not directly related to making chemical agents, but the facilities built for their production (with quantities exceeding threshold limits) can potentially be converted to chemical weapons production facilities.
You can use this table to quickly understand what are some of the chemicals which are controlled, examples, and typical product uses.
Scheduled Chemicals
Overview of Chemical Weapons Convention Schedules, Examples, and Commercial Applications
Schedule/Type | Description | Examples | Possible product categories |
|---|---|---|---|
Schedule 1 | Highly toxic chemicals that could be used as chemical weapons (Schedule 1A), and their final-stage precursors (Schedule 1B). |
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Schedule 2 | Chemicals that could be used as chemical warfare agents (Schedule 2A and 2A*) or as precursors for chemical weapons (Schedule 2B). |
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Schedule 3 | Covers chemicals which had previously |
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Unscheduled Discrete Organic Chemicals (DOCs) | Chemicals that belong to the class of chemical compounds consisting of all compounds of carbon, except for its oxides, sulfides and metal carbonates.
| Varies by product |
See the full list of scheduled chemicals.
Determining if Your Product is Controlled
Check if your product is controlled by:
Referring to the list of scheduled chemicals, or
Using the search engine with your product description, HS code, or Competent Authority (CA) product code.
If your product is controlled, the CA and the specific chemical(s) will be listed.
Contact the CA directly for licensing requirements.
Need Assistance?
If you are unsure whether your product is controlled, submit a Product Enquiry Form under “Chemical Weapons Convention Forms” on the Customs Forms and Service Links page.
Include the following supporting documents:
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
Required Information:
Applicant details
Activities involved
Product’s HS codes
SDS/CoA
Intended use
Submission Instructions:
If you have multiple files, zip them into a single file.
If your file exceeds 7MB, submit via email customs_nacwc@customs.gov.sg.