List of Schedule 1 substances (CWC)

Schedule 1 substances, in the sense of the Chemical Weapons Convention, are chemicals which can either be used as chemical weapons themselves or used in the manufacture of chemical weapons and which have no, or very limited, uses outside of chemical warfare.

These may be produced or used for research, medical, pharmaceutical or chemical weapon defence testing (called "protective testing" in the treaty) purposes but production above 100 grams per year must be declared to the OPCW in accordance Part VI of the "Verification Annex". A country is limited to possessing a maximum of 1 tonne of these materials.

They are sub-divided into Part A substances, which are chemicals that can be used directly as weapons, and Part B which are precursors useful in the manufacture of chemical weapons. Examples are mustard and nerve agents, and substances which are solely used as precursor chemicals in their manufacture. A few of these chemicals have very small scale non-military applications, for example minute quantities of nitrogen mustard are used to treat certain cancers.

Chemicals which can be used as weapons, or used in their manufacture, but which have legitimate applications as well are listed in Schedule 2 (small-scale applications) and Schedule 3 (large scale applications).

Additional recommended knowledge

Daily Sensitivity Test

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Correct Test Weight Handling Guide: 12 Practical Tips

Guidelines for Schedule 1

The following criteria shall be taken into account in considering whether a toxic chemical or precursor should be included in Schedule 1:

• It has been developed, produced, stockpiled or used as a chemical weapon as defined in Article II;
• It poses otherwise a high risk to the object and purpose of this Convention by virtue of its high potential for use in activities prohibited under this Convention because one or more of the following conditions are met:
  • It possesses a chemical structure closely related to that of other toxic chemicals listed in Schedule 1, and has, or can be expected to have, comparable properties;
  • It possesses such lethal or incapacitating toxicity as well as other properties that would enable it to be used as a chemical weapon;
  • It may be used as a precursor in the final single technological stage of production of a toxic chemical listed in Schedule 1, regardless of whether this stage takes place in facilities, in munitions or elsewhere;
• It has little or no use for purposes not prohibited under this Convention.

Toxic chemicals

• O-Alkyl (10, incl. cycloalkyl) alkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr)-phosphonofluoridates, e.g.

Sarin: O-Isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate

Soman: O-Pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate

• O-Alkyl (10, incl. cycloalkyl) N,N-dialkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr) phosphoramidocyanidates, e.g.

Tabun: O-Ethyl N,N-dimethylphosphoramidocyanidate

• O-Alkyl (H or 10, incl. cycloalkyl) S-2-dialkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr)-aminoethyl alkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr) phosphonothiolates and corresponding alkylated or protonated salts, e.g.

VX: O-Ethyl S-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothiolate

• Sulfur mustards:

2-Chloroethylchloromethylsulfide

Mustard gas: Bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide

Bis(2-chloroethylthio)methane

Sesquimustard: 1,2-Bis(2-chloroethylthio)ethane

1,3-Bis(2-chloroethylthio)-n-propane

1,4-Bis(2-chloroethylthio)-n-butane

1,5-Bis(2-chloroethylthio)-n-pentane

Bis(2-chloroethylthiomethyl)ether

O-Mustard: Bis(2-chloroethylthioethyl)ether

• Lewisites:

Lewisite 1: 2-Chlorovinyldichloroarsine

Lewisite 2: Bis(2-chlorovinyl)chloroarsine

Lewisite 3: Tris(2-chlorovinyl)arsine

• Nitrogen mustards:

HN1: Bis(2-chloroethyl)ethylamine

HN2: Bis(2-chloroethyl)methylamine

HN3: Tris(2-chloroethyl)amine

• Saxitoxin

• Ricin

Precursors

• Alkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr) phosphonyldifluorides, e.g.

DF: Methylphosphonyl difluoride

• O-Alkyl (H or 10, incl. cycloalkyl) O-2-dialkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr)-aminoethyl alkyl (Me, Et, n-Pr or i-Pr) phosphonites and corresponding alkylated or protonated salts, e.g.

QL: O-Ethyl O-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonite

• Chlorosarin: O-Isopropyl methylphosphonochloridate

• Chlorosoman: O-Pinacolyl methylphosphonochloridate

See also

• Schedule 2
• Schedule 3