How soon must states possessing chemical weapons destroy their stockpiles?
The treaty stipulates that states possessing chemical weapons must totally destroy their stocks over a ten-year period. Destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles is to take place according to a “leveling out” principle, with all possessor states destroying their stockpiles at approximately the same rate. Testing of a state’s first destruction facility is to be completed within two years after entry into force. No less than one year later, chemical weapon states are to have destroyed 1 percent of their stockpile. After five years, 20 percent is to be destroyed. After seven years, the stockpile destruction is to be 45 percent complete. States can proceed at a faster rate, as long as they destroy their stockpiles in a way that is safe and environmentally sound. (See table 5.) By June 2001, the United States had destroyed around 23 percent of its stockpile and India had launched a destruction facility for unfilled chemical munitions. In addition, one Russian destruction facility is expect
