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19.18 VIENNA CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF TREATIESThe Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) was adopted on May 23, 1969,by the U.N. Conference on the Law of Treaties.The United States signed the VCLT on April 24, 1970. President Nixon transmitted theVCLT to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification on November 22, 1971. 192The United States is not a Party to the VCLT but has viewed many of its provisions asreflecting customary international law.19.19 BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTIONAfter negotiations at the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament at Geneva and atthe United Nations, the Biological Weapons Convention was opened for signature on April 10,1972. 193 The United States deposited its instrument of ratification on March 26, 1975. 194The Biological Weapons Convention followed the 1925 Geneva Gas and BacteriologicalProtocol. 195In implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention, Congress enacted legislationprohibiting development, production, transfer, acquisition, or possession of a biological agent,toxin, or delivery system for use as a weapon. 196192 Richard Nixon, Letter of Transmittal, Nov. 22, 1971, MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT TRANSMITTING THE VCLTIII.193 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological)and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, 1015 UNTS 164.194 1015 UNTS 165.195 Refer to § 19.12 (1925 Geneva Gas and Bacteriological Protocol).196 18 U.S.C. § 175 (“Prohibitions with respect to biological weapons. (a) In general. -- Whoever knowinglydevelops, produces, stockpiles, transfers, acquires, retains, or possesses any biological agent, toxin, or deliverysystem for use as a weapon, or knowingly assists a foreign state or any organization to do so, or attempts, threatens,or conspires to do the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for life or any term of years, or both. Thereis extraterritorial Federal jurisdiction over an offense under this section committed by or against a national of theUnited States. (b) Additional offense. -- Whoever knowingly possesses any biological agent, toxin, or deliverysystem of a type or in a quantity that, under the circumstances, is not reasonably justified by a prophylactic,protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purpose, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10years, or both. In this subsection, the terms ‘biological agent’ and ‘toxin’ do not encompass any biological agent ortoxin that is in its naturally occurring environment, if the biological agent or toxin has not been cultivated, collected,or otherwise extracted from its natural source. (c) Definition. -- For purposes of this section, the term ‘for use as aweapon’ includes the development, production, transfer, acquisition, retention, or possession of any biological agent,toxin, or delivery system for other than prophylactic, protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purposes.”).1159

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