Chemical weapons watchdog adds Novichok to list

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS — Member states of the global chemical weapons watchdog agreed Wednesday to update their list of banned substances for the first time by adding the nerve agent used in the attempted assassination last year of a former Russian double agent.

The decision to add Novichok nerve agents to the Chemical Weapons Convention was reached by consensus at the annual meeting of the 193 member states of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Novichok joins agents including sarin, ricin and sulfur mustard on the convention’s socalled Schedule 1 of banned substances. The change was proposed by the United States, Canada and the Netherlands.

Russia initially objected to the proposed changes but later relented after it also proposed adding chemicals to the banned list. Moscow’s proposal also was adopted by consensus.

Officials at the Russian Embassy didn’t return a call seeking details of their proposal and the OPCW didn’t elaborate on it.

The convention, which outlaws the production and use of chemical weapons, came into force in 1997.

Novichok was developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It rose to infamy when it was used in the attempted assassination in March 2018 of Russian spy turned double agent Sergei Skripal. Britain accused Russia of the March 2018 attack on Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Moscow denied involvement.

OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias welcomed the decision after the chair of the annual meeting banged his gavel to indicate that the proposal had been approved without a vote.