All States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) need to ensure that their obligations under Article I not to develop, produce, stockpile, otherwise acquire or retain any of the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment or means of delivery specified in Article I are transposed into their national legal order.

In addition, all States Parties need to ensure that their obligations under Article III not to transfer any of the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment or means of delivery specified in Article I are transposed into their national legal order.

Depending on the State's particular situation, the adoption and enforcement of penal measures (to criminalize prohibited activity and specify appropriate sanctions for violation) and national measures relating to transfer control (including control lists specifying those agents, toxins, weapons, equipment and means of delivery subject to transfer control by the appropriate national authorities and specifying appropriate penalties for violation) may be sufficient.

All States Parties need to consider their specific situation and adopt and enforce any other national measures that may be necessary with respect to Articles I and III of the Convention.

Such measures may involve regulation of permitted uses of biology and biotechnology, in order to prohibit and prevent the use of dual-use agents, toxins, equipment and means of delivery for purposes that are not permitted under the Convention.

Examples of such measures may include:

• licensing procedures;
• transport regulations;
• bio-safety measures; and
• bio-security measures.