Australia Group

An informal export-control regime, formed in 1985, that harmonizes national licensing of chemical and biological weapons precursors, equipment, and technology. The 42 participants plus the EU maintain common control lists covering chemical-weapon precursor compounds, dual-use chemical manufacturing equipment, and biological agents and toxins. The Group reinforces the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention; it has no treaty status and works by consensus. Shipping compliance turns on screening cargo against members’ implementing legislation before carriage.