The Chemical Weapons Convention sets out in detail the different types of on-site inspections to be carried out at the State Parties, the mode and procedures for such inspections, as well as the criteria for determining when such inspections are to take place. The purposes of the on-site inspections are mainly to ensure that State Parties comply with the obligations and requirements under the Convention and to verify the information contained in the reports submitted by the State Parties. Investigations may also be carried out whenever there is doubt.
According to the Convention, on-site inspections may be carried out by inspection teams set up under the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons(OPCW) which is established to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention and to ensure the implementation of its provisions. These inspection teams may visit production facilities on the territory of any State Party if such facilities are involved in activities related to Scheduled Chemicals or Unscheduled Discrete Organic Chemicals (UDOCs) at such levels which trigger the verification requirements. The verification thresholds are different for different chemicals. In general, inspections may be carried out at facilities engaged in the following activities at the following thresholds:
| Schedule 1 - (pdf format) |
where annual production exceeds 100g of Schedule 1 chemicals |
| Schedule 2 - (pdf format) |
where production, processing and consumption exceeds 10 kg of a chemical listed in Part A of Schedule 2 and designated with an "*" ; 1 tonne of a chemical listed in Part A of Schedule 2 but is not designated with an "*" ; or 10 tonnes of a chemical listed in Part B of Schedule 2. |
| Schedule 3 - (pdf format) |
where production exceeds 200 tonnes aggregate of a Schedule 3 chemical |
| UDOCs - | where production exceeds 200 tonnes of Unscheduled Discrete Organic Chemicals including those containing PSF-chemical. |