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Non Proliferation – Nuclear - Policy Unit

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy Unit leads on the policy interest of the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR), relating to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The UK’s obligations in this area stem from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This is subject to a rolling 5-year review process, for which the Unit contributes to the UK position. However, the majority of the Unit’s work falls into two main areas related to the NPT:

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),
• Nuclear-related Export Controls.

BERR provides major support to the UK member on the Board of Governors of the IAEA, which is Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy Unit leads on IAEA general policy and financial issues, and co-ordinates briefing for meetings of the Board of Governors and the General Conference.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy Unit provides the UK Liaison Officer and actively seeks to be the UK focal point for the IAEA for all issues including Specialist In-House IAEA Meetings and IAEA Job Vacancies. The External Links Section located to the right of this text provides additional information from the IAEA website.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy Unit has the BERR policy interest for the Zangger Committee and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG); these organisations provide the basis for the UK’s nuclear-related export controls. Detailed information on these two organisations is available via this website. Please see the menu items to the left of this text. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy Unit contributes to development of the UK position on these regimes.  Working with the Export Control Organisation (ECO), on nuclear-related export licence applications (ELAs), the unit ensures that the UK’s commitments under these export regimes are met. Information on ECO is available from this BERR Website. Please see the related DTI links Section to the right of this page.

For further information please contact the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy Unit. Full programme contact details for this programme are available from our Contacts Page located as a Menu Item to the left of this text.