International relations

The Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1994 provides for inspection of facilities either by officers from ASNO or from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the international implementing agency for the CWC. The OPCW is based in The Netherlands.

ASNO introduced in January 2002 new permit conditions for producers, processors, consumers and importers of CWC-Scheduled chemicals to strengthen measures that restrict access to CWC-Scheduled chemicals.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong will tonight travel to Cambodia to attend this week’s ASEAN-Australia Foreign Ministers’ meeting, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Schedule 1,2,3 and Additional (Australia Group) Chemicals

• Schedule 1 Chemicals
• Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 chemicals

Australia's CWC obligations are implemented through the:

• The Chemicals Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1994
• The Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Regulations 1997
• The Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 (5J)(discussed under Trade)
• The Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958 (13E) (discussed under Trade)

Australia consistently and strongly condemns the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, under any circumstances. Australia's commitment to the eradication of chemical weapons is founded in the memory of the many casualties of chemical weapons used on the battlefields of Europe in the First World War.