Wassenaar Arrangement
Background about the Wassenaar Arrangement, which is a voluntary grouping of countries who are focused on controlling the export of conventional weapons and military goods and dual-use goods. This group is one of the export control international regimes in which the UK participates.
The Wassenaar Arrangement was agreed between 33 co-founding Participating States in July 1996 and began operations in September 1996.
To see the countries that are currently signed up to the Wassenaar Arrangement you can check the List of Non-Proliferation Regime Members
The Arrangement aims to contribute to regional and international security and stability, through transparency and responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and other military goods and of dual use goods and technologies relevant to conventional military capability. It is not directed against any state or group of states, nor does it seek to interfere with the rights of states to acquire legitimate means to defend themselves, as recognised in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, nor to impede bona fide civil transactions.
The Arrangement maintains agreed control lists of both military and of dual-use items considered relevant to its aims.
It is for each Participating State to decide whether and under what conditions it authorises its own transfers of such items, in accordance with its national policies and with its own judgement as to the potential contribution to military capabilities and the impact on security and stability.
Participating States exchange information on a confidential basis on their transfers, and on their refusals to authorise transfer, of listed items. Information on transfers enables all the Participating States to be aware of trends in the movement and accumulation of controlled items. Information on refusals enables them to be aware of activity, involving attempted acquisition of controlled items, which could be contrary to the aims of the Arrangement. The information reported on military controlled items relates to transfers of the more major weapon systems and platforms. For dual use items, there is reporting of refusals, and of transfers of those items which are listed as being of greater sensitivity in terms of their potential to contribute to military capability. Other information may be reported where an individual Participating State considers it desirable to bring it to the attention of others.
The Wassenaar Arrangement’s Secretariat, based in Vienna, provides administration which facilitates its work.
Further information on the Arrangement can be found on the Wassenaar Arrangement website.
The United Kingdom’s implementation of the military goods controls agreed under the Wassenaar Arrangement is through the Export Control Order 2008. The dual use controls are implemented in European Community legislation and can be found within Council Regulation (EC) 428/2009.
The controls derived from Wassenaaar Arrangement agreements are then incorporated into the UK Strategic Export Control Lists.
You can find further guidance on the UK's current legislation and the Control Lists on the export control pages on the Businesslink website.
Export Control Organisation
Updated: March 2010
