§229F Definitions

Summary

Defines important words used in the chapter. A “chemical weapon” is three things: a toxic chemical and its precursors (unless they are used for allowed peaceful or other non‑prohibited purposes in the right type and amount), a munition or device made to cause harm by releasing those chemicals, and equipment made to be used with those munitions. The “Chemical Weapons Convention” is the treaty opened for signature on January 13, 1993. A “key component” in a binary or multicomponent system is the precursor that mostly decides the final product’s toxicity and reacts quickly. “National of the United States” is defined as in 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22). “Person” covers people and many kinds of organizations, including governments, states, companies, trusts, institutions, and other entities in the United States. A “precursor” is any chemical used at any stage to make a toxic chemical and includes key components; some precursors are listed in the Convention’s Annex schedules under Article VI. “Purposes not prohibited by this chapter” include peaceful uses (like industrial, agricultural, research, medical, or pharmaceutical), protection against toxic chemicals and chemical weapons, U.S. military uses that do not rely on chemical toxic effects, and law enforcement (including domestic riot control and capital punishment). A “toxic chemical” is any chemical that can cause death, temporary harm, or lasting harm to people or animals by its chemical action; some are listed in the Convention’s Annex schedules under Article VI. “United States” means the states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and possessions, and all places under U.S. control, including the places in 49 U.S.C. 40102(41), U.S. civil or public aircraft (49 U.S.C. 40102(17) and (37)), and U.S. vessels (46 U.S.C. 70502(b)).