What are the CWCs “Schedules”?
The negotiators of the CWC devised a system for characterizing chemicals based on their risk to the purpose and objectives of the CWC. This system places chemicals on three lists or “Schedules,” according to their toxicity and military and commercial utility. (See table 2 for detailed information on the Schedules.) Schedule 1 contains military agents and super toxic chemicals with very limited commercial use. Schedule 2 chemicals have low to moderate utility in the commercial sector, but are considered high risk chemicals because they can be used as chemical weapons or precursors to chemical weapons. Examples of everyday products made with Schedule 2 chemicals include: agricultural chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides made with dimethyl methylphosphonate; ceramics made with arsenic trichloride; and the solvent in the ink for ballpoint pens made with thiodiglycol. Schedule 3 chemicals are used in large quantities by commercial industry, but also pose a risk in that they have been
