Toxins are covered by the CWC because they are chemicals that can have chemical weapons applications, and fall under the definitions listed above for chemical weapons and toxic chemicals. Like the CWC, the BWC also requires States parties that possess toxin weapons to destroy them. The development, production and stockpiling of toxins for purposes of warfare are prohibited under both the CWC and Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). These are considered as both chemical and biological weapons when used in violation of the Convention. Toxins are toxic chemicals produced by living organisms.
