Practice Relating to Rule 73. Biological Weapons
Germany’s Soldiers’ Manual (1991) provides: “The use … of bacteriological means of warfare is prohibited.”
Germany’s Military Manual (1992) proscribes “the use of bacteriological weapons” and refers to the 1925 Geneva Gas Protocol. It further states:
The development, manufacture, acquisition and stockpiling of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons is prohibited [Biological Weapons Convention]. These prohibitions shall apply both to biotechnological and synthetic procedures serving other but peaceful purposes. They also include genetic engineering procedures and micro-organisms altered through genetic engineering.
Germany’s IHL Manual (1996) states: “International humanitarian law prohibits the use of a number of means of warfare which are of a nature to violate the principle of humanity and to cause unnecessary suffering, e.g. … bacteriological means of warfare, e.g. substances which cause disease”.
Germany’s Soldiers’ Manual (2006) states: “German service men or service women are prohibited from using in particular the following means of combat in armed conflicts: … bacteriological weapons”.
Germany’s Law Introducing the International Crimes Code (2002) punishes anyone who, in connection with an international or non-international armed conflict, “employs biological … weapons”.
In 1983, the German Government declared in Parliament that biological weapons were as such prohibited.