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eventREF E-0012173Revised

Event record

South Africa signs a multilateral treaty prohibiting the development of biological weapons

Date
10 Apr 1972
Updated
30 Sep 2019
South Africa signs a multilateral treaty prohibiting the development of biological weapons

On 10 April 1972, The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxic Weapons and their Destruction was signed in Moscow, London and Washington. South Africa formed part of this convention, and signed this multilateral treaty, which prohibited the development and stockpiling of any weapons which would enable a country to embark on biological warfare. This prohibition was a supplement to the 1925 Geneva Protocol. This treaty was opened for signature on 10 April 1972 and put into effect on 26 March 1975. This treaty is regarded as the first international treaty to ban an entire class of weapons, and by June 2000, the treaty had been signed by 144 states parties, which includes the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.  

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How we know this

  1. 01References: Burger, D. (ed) (2002). South Africa Yearbook 2001/02, Pretoria: GCIS, p. 222 South African History Online,General South African Timeline,From SAHO,[online] Available at: sahistory.org.za [Accessed 1 April 2009] HSP,The 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) [online] Available at: fas.harvard.edu [Accessed 1 April 2009]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). South Africa signs a multilateral treaty prohibiting the development of biological weapons . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012173

South African History Online (2011) 'South Africa signs a multilateral treaty prohibiting the development of biological weapons ', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012173 (Accessed: 9 August 2026).

South African History Online, South Africa signs a multilateral treaty prohibiting the development of biological weapons [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012173, (accessed 9 August 2026).

"South Africa signs a multilateral treaty prohibiting the development of biological weapons ." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012173. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "South Africa signs a multilateral treaty prohibiting the development of biological weapons ." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012173.

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