Chemical warfare is warfare (and associated military operations) using the toxic properties of chemical substances/compounds to kill, seriously injure or incapacitate an enemy. Several countries began eliminating their chemical weapons stockpiles in the 1990s, but the threat of their use still exists. Chemical warfare agents can be grouped into two general types: those that affect the body surfaces they come in contact with, and those that damage the general nervous system.

The surface agents include phosgene gas, chlorine gas, hydrogen cyanide, and mustard gas. The principal action of phosgene, chlorine, and hydrogen cyanide occurs through inhalation. Phosgene is a choking agent that causes the lungs to fill with water, while chlorine destroys the cells that line the respiratory tract while hydrogen cyanide blocks oxygen from reaching the blood. Mustard gas is a blistering agent that damages any surface it contacts, including the skin, eyes, and lungs and may cause death by respiratory failure.

The nerve agents act by blocking the transmission of nerve messages throughout the body. These agents include sarin, tabun, and VX. All act by disrupting the normal action of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Whether inhaled or absorbed through the skin, a single drop of a nerve agent can shut down the body's nervous system causing death within minutes after exposure.

The Chemical Weapons Convention is a universal non-discriminatory multilateral disarmament treaty and bans the development, production, acquisition, transfer, use and stockpile of all chemical weapons. The Treaty puts all the States Parties on equal footing. Those countries that have chemical weapons have to declare them and destroy them in a specified time period and those who produce and use the chemicals that can be conveniently converted into chemical weapons have to be open and transparent about the use they put these chemicals to. India is one of the 130 original signatories to the Convention which was signed in Paris in January 1993. The Government decided in September, 1995 to ratify the Treaty and also to enact the legislation to fulfil its various obligations.

India deposited its instrument of ratification in September 1996 and was among the first 65 countries on whose ratification the Convention entered into force on 29 April 1997. India is a member of the Executive Council which is the implementing organ of the Organisation for prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and was unanimously elected as the first Chairman of the Executive Council.

The Convention also provides for incentives to the chemical industry by way of exchange of scientific and technological information and free trade with States Parties. Besides this, the States Parties shall not maintain among themselves any restrictions which would restrict or impede trade and development and promotion of scientific and technological knowledge in the field of chemistry for industrial agricultural, research, medical, pharmaceutical and other peaceful purposes.

The Government of India introduced the Chemical Weapons Convention Bill 2000 in Parliament and had it passed in the ensuing Budget Session. The Bill was introduced for fulfilling the obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Bill seeks to give statutory status to the National Authority for effective liaison with the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and other States Parties and would be responsible for the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention in India.

The Bill provides for the powers and functions of the National Authority. Amongst other functions National Authority will be responsible for collection of data, fulfilment of declaration obligations, coordination of inspections, ensuring protection of confidential information and so on. The Bill prohibits the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical weapons, use of riot control agents as method of warfare and activities prohibited to a States Party under the Convention.

For ensuring proper implementation of the Convention, the Bill provides for registration of entities engaged in activities relevant for the purposes of the Convention, declaration by the entities engaged in the production, processing, consumption, export, import or use of chemicals listed in schedule 1, 2 and 3 of the convention as well as production of Discrete Organic Chemicals including the chemicals containing the elements of phosphorus, sulphur and fluorine. The Bill also provides for inspections by the International Organisation and the National Authority as well as provisions relating to search, seizure and forfeiture.

Chemical warfare and the use of chemical agents for killing innocent human beings at large show the level of depravity to which humanity has fallen. Such chemical substances are an antithesis of humanity itself. The whole world should stand as one against the use of such horrendous substances which are a threat to the whole of humanity and should fight with all its might to stop those who indulge in using them and thus demean humanity. Only then can we boast of a civilization free from such barbarous acts and a society free from the blood stains of innocent human beings.