Canada
Practice Relating to Rule 75. Riot Control Agents
Canada’s LOAC Manual (1999) states: “The use of riot control agents, including tear gas and other gases that have debilitating but non-permanent effects, as a means of warfare is prohibited.”
Canada’s Code of Conduct (2001) provides: “The use of CS gas or pepper spray is lawful and may be used for crowd control purposes, but their use as a means of warfare is illegal.”
Canada’s LOAC Manual (2001) states in its chapter entitled “Restrictions on the use of weapons”: “The use of riot control agents, including tear gas and other gases that have debilitating but non-permanent effects, as a means of warfare is prohibited.”
Canada’s Code of Conduct (2005) provides: “The use of CS gas or pepper spray is lawful and may be used for crowd control purposes, but their use as a means of warfare is illegal.”
In 1971, during a debate in the UN General Assembly, Canada stated:
Tear gas and other riot- and crowd-control agents were excluded from Canada’s commitment not to develop, produce, acquire, stockpile or use any chemical weapons in warfare … Canada’s reservations with regard to the use of these agents in war should be waived.