The decision to add Novichok nerve agents to the Chemical Weapons Convention was reached by consensus at the annual meeting of the 193 member states of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Novichok joins agents including sarin, ricin and sulfur mustard on the convention’s so-called Schedule 1 of banned substances. In months of discussions leading up to this week’s meeting, Russia initially objected to the proposed changes but later relented after it also proposed adding chemicals to the banned list. The convention, which outlaws the production and use of chemical weapons, came into force in 1997. “This is the first time in its history that the Chemical Weapons Convention’s Annex on Chemicals has been updated,” Arias said.

Source: thestar November 27, 2019 15:32 UTC