Australia Group
Background about the Australia Group, which is an informal forum of countries. The group collectively seek to prevent harmful and dangerous goods being exported. This group is one of the international regimes in which the UK participates.
Controls have been in place for many years on the export of chemical warfare and biological agents which have been adapted to produce casualties in humans or animals, or damage crops or the environment.
Since 1985 a group of like-minded countries known as the Australia Group (because of Australian chairmanship) has met regularly to exchange information on chemical and biological weapons (CBW) proliferation. The group also meets to agree common Control Lists of dual-use chemicals, pathogens, toxins and equipment which are critical for a significant CBW programme.
The number of countries belonging to the Group has increased steadily since 1985. To see the countries that are currently signed up to the Australia Group you can check the List of Non-Proliferation Regime Members
The following indicates the kinds of items appearing on the Australia Group's common control lists, and where export from the UK is specifically controlled.
- Chemicals which may be used as precursors for toxic chemical agents
- Certain human pathogens, zoonoses and toxins
- Certain animal and plant pathogens
- Certain genetically modified micro-organisms
- Vessels and equipment made from, or lined with, corrosion resistant
materials, including:
- Heat exchangers
- Pumps
- Double or multi-walled piping
- Valves
- Distillation columns
- Fermentation vessels
- Biological containment facilities
- Freeze drying equipment
- Continuous flow centrifuges
- Biological safety cabinets or isolators
- Toxic gas monitors
- Incinerators designed to destroy chemicals
- Cross (tangential) flow filtration equipment
You should consult the UK's Strategic Export Control Lists for the full lists of goods and their control parameters. These are published on the export control pages on the Business Link website.
You will also need to bear in mind End-Use Control requirements when considering exporting similar goods or other goods that might be useful in a chemical or biological weapons programme. Further details about End-Use Controls are also available on the Business Link site.
Export Control Organisation
Updated: March 2010
