Strengthening chemical security: How OPCW’s new guidelines will help prevent misuse of hazardous chemicals

From 18–21 February 2025, experts and industry stakeholders gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for a workshop entitled Know Your Customer (KYC) guidelines in the chemical sector. Organized as part of the Chemical Safety and Security Tools Development Programme initiated by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the event focused on developing new guidelines that will help prevent the illicit use of hazardous chemicals, particularly their misuse for terrorism or other unlawful activities. 

The concept of KYC, widely used in banking and finance, is now being applied to the chemical sector to help manufacturers and distributors verify the legitimacy of their buyers. This is especially critical for dual-use chemicals which can be legally traded but also exploited for illicit activities, including terrorist attacks.  

Once finalised, these KYC guidelines will help chemical manufacturers, distributors, and regulators — especially in resource-limited countries — prevent unauthorized sales of hazardous chemicals and reduce risks. By sharing best practices in due diligence of chemical sales, they enhance global security, combat chemical terrorism, and support non-proliferation efforts. 

The workshop attracted a diverse group of participants, many attending their first OPCW event. Bubu Shanu, National Coordinator at RESCON in Nigeria, shared his enthusiasm: “This is my first OPCW event, and as a chemist and chemical industry stakeholder from Nigeria, it’s amazing. The calibre of participants, the energy, and the optimisation of resources to achieve targets is remarkable. The subject of this workshop in particular hits a bullseye in the current challenges the developing world faces in managing ‘dual-use’ chemicals.”