Under what circumstance does a military munition cease to be classified as such?

A military munition ceases to be classified as such primarily when it is rendered harmless. This refers to processes that ensure the munition can no longer pose a risk to safety or security, effectively deactivating its potential to cause harm. Rendering a munition harmless involves specific procedures that may include demilitarization, neutralization, or destruction, which eliminate its explosive capability and hazardous characteristics.

In this context, disposal methods that do not eliminate the munition's potential for danger, such as abandonment or reuse in training exercises, do not change its classification status. For example, simply abandoning a munition does not remove its classification; it still remains a military munition until it is safely deactivated. Reusing the munition in a training exercise likewise does not negate its status as a military munition, as it is still functional and capable of causing harm. Thus, the process of rendering it harmless is distinct and definitive in determining when a military munition is no longer classified as such.