| Fact Sheet Bureau of Nonproliferation Washington, DC August 2, 2004 Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)There is an updated version of this document dated February 27, 2008, located at http://www.state.gov/t/isn/rls/fs/101472.htm. [Also: fact sheets on MTCR Questions and Answers and the International Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation] In 1987, seven concerned countries created the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) to restrict the proliferation of nuclear-capable missiles and related technology. The original participants in the Regime were Canada, France, West Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1993, the focus of the Regime was expanded to include missiles for the delivery of chemical or biological weapons (CBW) as well as nuclear weapons.
The MTCR is not a treaty, but a voluntary arrangement among member countries sharing a common interest in controlling missile proliferation. The Regime’s mandate was expanded in January 2003 to include preventing terrorists from acquiring missiles and missile technology. The MTCR Partners have committed to apply a common export control policy (MTCR Guidelines) to a common list (MTCR Annex) of controlled items, including virtually all key equipment and technology needed for missile development, production, and operation. The Guidelines and Annex are implemented by each Partner in accordance with its national legislation. The MTCR Guidelines restrict transfers of “missiles” -- defined as rocket systems (including ballistic missiles, space launch vehicles, and sounding rockets) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems (including cruise missiles, target drones, and reconnaissance drones) capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction (WMD) -- and their related equipment and technology. The Regime places particular focus on unmanned delivery systems capable of delivering a payload of at least 500 kg to a distance of at least 300 km, so called “Category I” or “MTCR-class” systems. The MTCR Annex of controlled items is divided into two sections:
The MTCR Guidelines are open to all nations to implement, whether or not they are MTCR Partners; we encourage all governments to unilaterally adhere to the Guidelines. Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Membership As of June 1, 2004
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