Title:  "Biological Weapons Export Controls List Agreed." A group of 25 countries has consolidated its lists of biological weapons export controls on organisms and the toxins they produce and on equipment. (930611)

Author:  ODESSEY, BRUCE (USIA STAFF WRITER)
Date:  19930611

Text:
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS EXPORT CONTROLS LIST AGREED

(Three new members join Australia Group) (340) By Bruce Odessey USIA Staff Writer Washington -- A group of 25 countries has consolidated its lists of biological weapons export controls on organisms and the toxins they produce plus equipment.

The action was taken at a June 2-10 meeting in Paris of the Australia Group; a copy of the press release issued afterward was made available in Washington.

In earlier meetings the Australia Group had already consolidated their lists of export controls on chemicals and equipment that could be used to produce chemical weapons.

"Consolidation of the export control lists should ensure that countries with aspirations to develop chemical or biological weapons will find it increasingly difficult to acquire the necessary agents and equipment from member countries," the statement said.

A State Department official said the United States was pleased that Australia Group members also achieved agreement against undercutting one another.

The members agreed that when one member denies approval for export of a good to a non-member country for non-proliferation reasons, then the other members will do the same, he said.

He said the Australia Group will meet again in December, when the members will seek agreement on rules preventing non-member re-exports.

Three new members -- Argentina, Hungary and Iceland -- attended the Australia Group meeting for the first time. The State Department official viewed Hungary's membership as especially important because that country has a substantial chemical equipment industry.

Another U.S. goal, he said, is bringing more members into the Australia Group, noting important non-members in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union as well as China and India.

He added that the United States has no existing complaints about lack of cooperation with Australia Group aims by non-members.

Other Australia Group members are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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