Ultimo aggiornamento 16 June 2026

Chemistry is everywhere. In the products we formulate, the solvents we use, and the intermediates we purchase.
Yet some of these substances—which are perfectly legal in industrial settings—can, when used improperly, become tools for causing harm, posing security threats, or facilitating illegal activities.

That is why there are strict regulations governing:

• chemical weapons and their precursors
• drug precursors
• explosive precursors

Three different areas, but a single goal: to prevent industrial chemicals from becoming a threat to international security.

In this article, we examine the regulations governing substances controlled under the Paris Convention (CWC, 1993) and the obligations for manufacturers, formulators, distributors, and importers.
If you work in the chemical industry, this is a topic you cannot afford to ignore.

What are chemical weapons according to the Paris Convention?

The Chemical Weapons Convention defines a chemical weapon as any substance that, through its effects on vital functions, can cause death, serious injury, or incapacitation.

The following fall under this definition:

• toxic substances (liquids, solids, gases, aerosols)
• precursors that can be used in their synthesis
• mixtures exceeding specified concentrations
• launch and reloading systems.

It is therefore not necessary for a substance to have been developed “for military use”: many dual-use industrial substances can play a role in the synthesis of toxic agents.

The main classes of chemical agents

• Nerve agents: They inhibit acetylcholinesterase → respiratory paralysis.
• Blistering agents: They cause deep chemical burns.
• Asphyxiants: They cause pulmonary edema and asphyxia.
• Systemic: Blockage of cellular respiration.
• Psychogenic / incapacitating: Cognitive and perceptual impairment .
• Irritants

From history to legislation: why the Paris Convention was established

The regulation of chemical weapons stems from the widespread and devastating use of toxic agents throughout history:

• 1675 — First agreement between France and Germany against poisoned bullets
• 1915 — First large-scale attack at Ypres
• 1925 — Geneva Protocol (prohibiting use, but not production)
• World War II — Use of chemical and biological weapons by the Japanese military
• Cold War — The U.S. and the USSR stockpiled tens of thousands of tons of toxic agents

The 1993 CWC finally filled in the gaps:

• a total ban on development, production, stockpiling, and transfer
• international control system based on declarations and inspections
• the establishment of theOPCW, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013

The three schedules of the CWC

The CWC classifies substances into three lists:

Table 1 (Schedule 1)

• very high risk
• production subject to strict limits

Table 2 (Schedule 2)

• light to medium industrial use
• potentially high risk
• Production, use, and transfer subject to reporting

Table 3 (Schedule 3)

• significant industrial use
• lower risk, but controlled
• focus on facilities that exceed certain annual thresholds

DOC and PSF

• DOC = Discrete Organic Compounds
• PSF = DOC containing phosphorus, sulfur, or fluorine
  These are monitored even though they are not included in the main tables.

What does this mean for a company? Obligations, audits, and responsibilities

Italian implementing legislation (Law 496/1995, as amended) clearly stipulates that anyone who produces, processes, consumes, sells, purchases, possesses, or transfers substances listed in the CWC schedules is subject to specific obligations.

In fact, every year, companies are required to file two types of returns:

• A preliminary statement outlining the activities to be carried out in the coming year.
• A final report summarizing what was actually accomplished.

This is not merely a formality.
This information feeds into the OPCW’s international monitoring system and enables the Italian government to ensure consistency between its industrial activities and the commitments it has made at the diplomatic level.

And that’s not all.
Precisely because international security also depends on these inspections, the Convention provides that:

• routine inspections, scheduled but with minimal notice
• “challenge” inspections, requested by another state in cases of suspicion
• cross-checks on imports/exports and declared quantities

This is why companies need not only to file accurate tax returns but also to establish reliable internal processes, maintain consistent documentation, train staff, and verify suppliers and customers.

The authorities involved: MAECI and MIMIT

At the national level, the system is overseen by two ministries:

• MAECI, which serves as the National Authority and maintains relations with the OPCW
• MIMIT receives reports from industries, supports companies, coordinates inspections, and handles any discrepancies

In fact, it is through MIMIT that a company comes into direct contact with the system when it needs to file its returns.

Many businesses only learn of this requirement when they are contacted by the government.

This isn’t a topic for “military experts”; it concerns anyone who works with chemicals

Many substances listed in the CWC schedules are commonly found in:

• organic synthesis facilities
• production of intermediates
• R&D laboratories
• pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Fine chemicals and specialty chemicals
• biotechnology
• industrial supply chain

That is why professionals in the field need to know how to:

• identify critical substances
• identify the relevant thresholds
• properly manage the documentation
• monitor suppliers and customers
• establish internal procedures for monitoring
• prepare for a possible OPCW inspection

How can we help you?

👉 Join the masterclass “Regulations for the Control of Certain Chemical Substances”
If you’d like to explore this topic further and understand its scope, the “C’è chimica tra noi” community offers a masterclass dedicated to chemical weapons and their precursors, drug precursors, and explosive precursors.

Or, if your company uses or may use substances listed in the CWC schedules:

👉 Request a personalized consultation
to verify your compliance and set up your internal processes correctly.