Provisions of the Biological Weapons Convention (summary):

forbid the development, production, stockpiling, or acquisition of biological agents or toxins that have no justification for peaceful or defensive purposes;

forbid the development, production, stockpiling, or acquisition of equipment to deliver biological agents or toxins for hostile purposes;

obligate States Parties to destroy or divert to peaceful purposes their existing stocks of prohibited items;

forbid the transferal of prohibited items to anyone or otherwise helping in the manufacture or acquisition of biological weapons;

protect the rights of States Parties to exchange equipment, materials, and scientific and technological information for peaceful purposes in order to avoid hampering their economic and technological development;

commit States Parties to cooperate in solving any problems through consultation and in carrying out any investigation initiated by the UN Security Council; and

commit State Parties to provide assistance to others that have been attacked using biological weapons