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This story is from January 20, 2018

India joins 3rd export control group, bolsters NSG claim

India has become a member of export control regime Australia Group which seeks to check proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. Like with MTCR and Wassenaar Arrangement, China, which continues to block India's NSG membership bid, is not a member of the Australia Group.
India joins 3rd export control group, bolsters NSG claim
The Australia Group seeks to check the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons
NEW DELHI: In what is likely to strengthen further its case for NSG membership, India has become a member of export control regime Australia Group which seeks to check proliferation of chemical and biological weapons.
This is the third export control group which India has joined after Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.

Like with MTCR and Wassenaar Arrangement, China, which continues to block India's NSG membership bid, is not a member of the Australia Group.
The government said in a statement that India had joined the Australia Group (AG) on January 19, 2018 following the completion of internal procedures for joining the Group. The Group decided to admit India as the Group's 43rd participant through a consensus decision.
"India would like to thank each of the AG participants for their support for India's membership. We would also like to thank Ambassador Jane Hardy of Australia, former Chair of the Australia Group, for her role in facilitating India's accession to the Group,'' said MEA in a statement. India's entry into the Group would be mutually beneficial and further contribute to international security and non-proliferation objectives, according to the government.

There was very strong support expressed for India's membership at the June 26-30, 2017 Australia Group Plenary, as the Group said in a press release, after which consensus was reached inter-sessionally. India then reaffirmed its intention to join the Group.
"Warmly welcoming India to the Group, the other Australia Group members recognised the Government of India's commitment to bring India's export control system into alignment with the Australia Group and India's determination to contribute to the global effort to prevent the proliferation of CBW in the security interests of all members of the international community,'' said the Group in a statement.
"With its admission into the AG, India has demonstrated the will to implement rigorous controls of high standards in international trade, and its capacity to adapt its national regulatory system to meet the necessities of its expanding economy. India is also aware of the need to constantly adapt its export controls in the face of rapidly evolving scientific and technological challenges, and in this regard, affirmed its readiness to act in close cooperation with all members towards the furtherance of Australia Group objectives,'' it added.
The Australia Group works to counter the spread of materials, equipment and technologies that could contribute to the development or acquisition of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) by states or terrorist groups.
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