‘The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC)
bans the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition and retention of
microbial or other biological agents or toxins, in types and in quantities that
have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes.
The Convention also bans weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to
use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict. 

The actual use of biological
weapons is prohibited by the 1925 Geneva Protocol
and Article VIII of the BTWC recognizes that nothing contained in the
Convention shall be construed as a derogation from the obligations contained in
the Geneva Protocol. 

The investment in bio-weapons
that is likely to spur a bio-weapons arms race is occurring at a time when the
Bush administration is blocking the strengthening of international controls of
such weapons. In 2001, the U.S. rejected an effort to conclude an inspections
protocol for the BTWC. 

The United States was the only
country to favour terminating efforts to create a legally binding inspection
and verification mechanism. Further, on October 23, 2002, when the UN
Disarmament Committee adopted a resolution reaffirming the 1925 Geneva Protocol
"prohibiting the use of poisonous gases and bacteriological methods of
warfare," the resolution passed unanimously, with two abstentions: the
U.S. and Israel. The U.S. abstention amounts to a veto: banning the resolution
from being reported.’ 

A New Bio-Warfare Arms
Race Begins In Maryland