This proposed treaty is still being negotiated.

FMCT

Proposed Fissile Material (Cut-off) Treaty (FMCT)

The Proposed Fissile Material (Cut-off) Treaty (FMCT) would prohibit production of fissile material. There are disagreements on scope of the Treaty.

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  • Subcategory Proposed Multilateral

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Treaty Overview

Status

Currently being discussed in the Conference on Disarmament (CD). Since negotiations have not yet begun, it is unclear if scope of the treaty will include pre-existing stocks of fissile material. States in favor of including stocks tend to call for a Fissile Material Treaty (FMT) while States favoring a ban on production often refer to a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT). The designation FM(C)T, used by the International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM), makes this disagreement explicit. Several draft treaties have been proposed including one by Dr. Thomas Shea, a former IAEA safeguards officer (2003), and one by Greenpeace International (2004). The United States submitted a draft treaty to the CD in 2006, and the IPFM released its own draft treaty in 2009.

Background

In 1946, the United States introduced the Baruch Plan to the UN Atomic Energy Commission. This Plan proposed the creation of an International Atomic Development Authority that would have “managerial control or ownership of all atomic energy activities potentially dangerous to world security.” Little resulted from the Baruch Plan because of Cold War suspicions. When President Eisenhower proposed the creation of the International Atomic Energy Agency in his 1953 “Atoms for Peace” speech, gone was the hope that an international body would control all fissile materials.

Throughout the 1960s, a ban on the production of fissile materials for military purposes was included in discussions covering a larger group of nonproliferation and arms control measures. In June 1964, the United States submitted a working paper to the Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament that discussed “the inspection of nuclear powers under a cutoff of fissionable material for use in weapons.”

In 1978, the Final Document adopted by the UN General Assembly after its first Special Session on Disarmament contained a program of action on disarmament which noted that nuclear disarmament would require “urgent negotiations of agreements at appropriate stages and with adequate measures of verification satisfactory to the States concerned for: … cessation of … the production of fissionable material for weapons purposes.”

Finally, in the last months of 1993, concrete steps were taken in the pursuit of an FM(C)T. In September, President Bill Clinton delivered a speech to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) calling for a multilateral convention banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear explosives declaring, “We will pursue new steps to control the materials for nuclear weapons. Growing global stockpiles of plutonium and highly enriched uranium are raising the danger of nuclear terrorism in all nations. We will press for international agreement that would ban production of these materials forever.” On 16 December, the UNGA adopted by consensus Resolution 48/75L “Prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.” This resolution recommended the negotiation of a “non-discriminatory, multilateral, and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other explosive devices,” thereafter referred to informally as the FM(C)T. The resolution also called on the IAEA for support regarding the verification arrangements of the treaty.

On 25 January 1994, Ambassador Gerald Shannon of Canada was appointed by the Conference on Disarmament to seek the views of all Member States on the most appropriate arrangement to negotiate an FM(C)T. In March 1995, the “Shannon Mandate” (CD/1299) established an Ad Hoc Committee on a “ban on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.” Charged with negotiating an FM(C)T, the Committee never got off the ground. However, the Shannon Mandate has since been used as a basis for negotiations. The Mandate addresses the disagreement regarding the scope of the proposed treaty as to whether, in addition to future production, past production of fissile materials should be included:

“During the course of my consultations, many delegations expressed concerns about a variety of issues relating to fissile material, including the appropriate scope of the Convention. Some delegations expressed the view that this mandate would permit consideration in the Committee only of the future production of fissile material. Other delegations were of the view that the mandate would permit consideration not only of future but also of past production. Still others were of the view that consideration should not only relate to production of fissile material (past or future) but also to other issues, such as the management of such material.

It has been agreed by delegations that the mandate for the establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee does not preclude any delegation from raising for consideration in the Ad Hoc Committee any of the above noted issues.”

In May during the 1995 NPT RevCon, States Parties agreed to pursue the “immediate commencement and early conclusion” of negotiations on a convention based on the Shannon Mandate.

In 1998, the Conference on Disarmament appointed an Ad Hoc Committee on an FM(C)T, but by 1999, the CD had failed to adopt a program of work, and the Committee was not reconvened.

At the following NPT RevCon held in 2000, the negotiation of an FM(C)T was agreed upon as the third step of the 13 Practical Steps toward disarmament. In Step 3, States Parties agreed on “the necessity of negotiation in the Conference on Disarmament on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.” The States Parties agreed to begin negotiations with the goal of completing an FM(C)T within five years. However, for various reasons (see Developments section below), the CD has not yet formally launched negotiations on such a treaty.

Treaty Obligations

Obligations

There are two primary issues that divide the different drafts for an FM(C)T: verification and pre-existing stocks. With regard to the issue of pre-existing stocks, under the 2009 International Panel on Fissile Materials’ (IPFM) draft treaty, States Parties would be required to declare to the IAEA all fissile materials in its civilian sector, excess for all military purposes, and for use in military reactors. Under Article I, State Parties would agree not to produce, acquire or encourage the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. Each State Party would also agree to disable, decommission and, when feasible, dismantle its fissile material production facilities. Article I also calls on States to declare and submit to IAEA monitoring fissile materials in excess of their military requirements and future excess materials resulting from future nuclear disarmament measures. Article V of the draft treaty would establish an FM(C)T Organization to implement the treaty objectives, ensure implementation with the IAEA, and provide a forum for the State Parties.

While a “ban on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices” implies a cut-off, a number of states often call for a fissile material treaty (FMT) that would limit existing stockpiles of fissile material in addition to future production. The Shannon Mandate specifically does not preclude these states from raising this issue in negotiations. In this manner an FMT would promote the principles of both nonproliferation and disarmament. Pakistan, in particular, has advocated for the negotiation of an FMT due to its concern regarding India’s large stockpiles of weapons-usable nuclear material.

Verification and Compliance

Compliance

With regard to compliance, the verification issue is what separates the various drafts of an FM(C)T. In the 2009 draft released by IPFM, the treaty requires verification. The treaty itself does not state the verification requirements, but calls upon the IAEA to implement any needed verification arrangements. In contrast, the 2006 draft tabled by the United States contained no verification procedures, as the Bush Administration believed such a treaty could not be effectively verified.

Under the NPT, non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS) have already committed not to produce fissile material for weapons and are under verification requirements by the IAEA. Therefore the obligations of an FM(C)T would primarily impose limitations on the five declared nuclear weapon states under the NPT (China, France, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom) as well as the four countries currently outside of the NPT (India, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan). Unless all or most of these states participated, a fissile material cut-off would be of little value. The possibility of extending verification procedures to India, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan is viewed by many as crucial, as it would legally bring them into the international nonproliferation regime.


Developments

2023-2024

2024

The United States Department of State released a Joint Statement on the Friends of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty on September 23, 2024. The statement was released during the UN General Assembly, and reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a world without nuclear weapons. The statement confirmed that participants would work to realize common objectives of the group, including enhancing political attention to the FMCT, and calling for more countries to join the negotiations.

2023

Japan hosted a High-Level Event on FMCT on September 21, 2023, calling for the commencement of negotiations of the FMCT. Parties in attendance reiterated the crucial nature of the FMCT to realize arms control objectives, and stated the usefulness of the treaty.

2019-2016

2019

From 17-18 December, in Bangkok, Thailand, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs organized a meeting or scientific experts from Africa and Asia to discuss how to advance negotiations of a treaty which bans the production of fissile material production for nuclear weapons.

2018

From 15-16 February, the chair of the High-level FMCT Expert Preparatory Group held an informal consultative meeting, allowing member states to share their views on the FMCT before the Preparatory Group convened.

On 13 July, the UN released a report detailing the results and recommendations of the High-level FMCT Expert Preparatory Group, advocating that negotiations for the FMCT should continue, despite the lack of significant improvements in negotiations.

2017

On 20 March, the members of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative submitted a working paper on a FMCT and practical steps to implement action 15 of the 2010 Action Plan. The NPDI expressed its concern over the continued stalemate in the Conference on Disarmament and called upon all nuclear armed states to maintain or declare moratoriums on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear devices

On 1 May, a group of states submitted a working paper advocating a progressive approach to nuclear disarmament. The working paper highlighted the need for a verifiable and non-discriminatory treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.

On 11 May, the Chairman of the First Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference released his factual summary. The report emphasized that a treaty banning the production of fissile materials would contribute to implementing Article VI of the Treaty. The Chair also recalled the decision of the General Assembly to establish a high-level FMCT expert preparatory group.

2016

On 26 February, Argentina submitted a statement on behalf of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) calling for a treaty banning fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices.

On 4 March the Russian Federation submitted a draft program of work to the Conference on Disarmament calling for the creation of a working group to identify effective measures to ban the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices.

On 19 August the UN Secretary General submitted a report to the seventy-first session of the UN General Assembly. The report contains the views of Member States on a treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices.

On 22 September the Conference on Disarmament submitted its annual report to the seventy-first session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. The report included the work of the Conference in its 2016 session, including a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices.

On 13 October Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands submitted a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly on a Fissile Material Treaty. The report emphasizes the need for a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices.

2015-2013

2015

On 19 February France announced to the first round of 2015 meetings of Conference on Disarmament (held 19 January- 27 March 2015) that it would put forward an initial draft of the text of a fissile material cut-off treaty “in the near future.”

On 26 February 2015, the CD addressed the FM(C)T. The UK, Pakistan, Japan, South Africa, Korea, France, the US, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Canada, Indonesia, Australia, Turkey, China, Argentina, India, Algeria, and Russia participated in the discussion. States reiterated previously held positions.

On 23 March to 2 April, a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) met in Geneva to discuss recommendations for advancing FMCT negotiations and composed a draft treaty.

During the 2015 NPT Review Conference (27 April–22 May 2015), the United Kingdom representative delivered a joint statement on behalf of the P-5, reaffirming support and readiness to negotiate on the FMCT issue and welcome multilateral efforts. Canada representative also delivered a statement, calling for substantive negotiations on the FMCT.

During the second part of the Conference on Disarmament (25 May – 10 July 2015), the issues of the FMCT were discussed. On 5 June, France delivered a statement, considering the adoption of the draft treaty on the prohibition of the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons (FMCT) in April as noteworthy progress. On 9 June, Pakistan expressed oppositions towards the FMCT draft treaty with regard to the issues of scope, definitions, verification, and entry into force. On 23 June, the Conference addressed the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty. Most countries speaking at the Conference expressed support to the draft treaty, except for Pakistan and India. The two countries argued that the draft treaty has no value in disarmament with no inclusion of past production.

On 24 August, Pakistan submitted a working paper to the Conference on Disarmament on the elements of a Fissile Material Treaty, the scope of which addresses existing stockpiles of fissile materials. The working paper also addresses definitions of fissile material and methods for verification.

On 15 October the delegate from Pakistan, Tahmina Janjua, addressed the First Committee calling into question the balance between disarmament and nonproliferation efforts. She stated that progress was currently being stalled by diverting the attention of the Conference on Disarmament with such topics as a fissile material cut-off treaty, and further called the report submitted by the GGE an “ill-conceived experiment” and would not accept its findings.

On 20 October the Canadian Delegation submitted a draft resolution on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices in the First Committee. Canada urges immediate action on behalf of the Conference on Disarmament to begin negotiations as well as encouraged further involvement of the GGE.

2014

On 4 February 2014, at the 2014 Conference on Disarmament, acting Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller stated that negotiating an FMCT “is an essential prerequisite for global nuclear disarmament.”

On 31 March to 11 April, a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) met in Geneva to discuss recommendations for advancing FMCT negotiations.

On 2 May, at the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, French Representative Jean-Hughes Simon-Michel voiced France’s support for an FMCT as “the first logical step towards multilateral disarmament” and putting “a quantitative limit to the development of arsenals.” Representatives from the United States, the Netherlands, and other countries made similar declarations.

On 2 June, Pakistan Ambassador Zamir Akram gave two statements regarding Pakistan’s continued disagreement to furthering the FM(C)T.

2013

The first session of the CD’s 2013 deliberations ran from 21 January to 29 March. All opening statements addressed the stalemate in the CD, many calling it “unacceptable” that the CD could not adopt a program of work or address clear initiatives such as that for an FM(C)T.

On 11 February, the CD President, Ambassador András Dékány of Hungary, presented a draft program of work for the 2013 CD session. The draft proposed establishing a working group entitled “Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament” with the ultimate goal of systematically and progressively eliminating nuclear weapons. The program tasked this group “to begin substantive work towards a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.”

On 12 February, Ambassador Akram of Pakistan gave a statement at the CD reiterating Pakistan’s refusal to engage in direct, indirect or even pre-negotiations on an FM(C)T that did not address stockpiles. Cuba, South Africa, and Egypt also expressed concern that the working group explicitly prioritized working on fissile material. Despite opposition to the program of work, CD President Dékány asked the CD to approve the program, calling it a “narrow path between the different views and comfort zones” but one necessary to adopt. Referencing their previous explanations, the delegations of Pakistan and Egypt blocked the adoption of the program of work.

On 12 March, the Conference on Disarmament discussed an FM(C)T. Many representatives, including the those from the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and the European Union, argued that an FM(C)T should firstly ban the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. However, Pakistan stated that such a treaty would “lock in the advantage of those with the larger stockpiles” and that a treaty must address existing stocks. Pakistan criticized the use of the Shannon mandate’s “constructive ambiguity” today and declined to support an FM(C)T that did not directly address stockpiles. Delegations from Iran, South Africa, Switzerland, and Ireland also argued that the treaty must address existing stockpiles in order to effectively address nuclear nonproliferation.

On 24 April, Canada made a statement calling on states in South Asia to declare a moratorium to the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.

Also on 24 April, the International Panel on Fissile Materials hosted an event to provide proposals directed to NWS to increase transparency on fissile material stocks. Canada and Spain issued a working paper no.13 addressing the final provisions on a future FM(C)T. It includes the duration of the treaty, a mechanism for its entry-into-force, and clauses for withdrawal. The Chairman’s factual summary indicted that many States Parties called for the NWS to initiate or accelerate development of verification for the removal of excess fissile materials.

The second session of the CD ran from 13 May to 28 June, but failed to adopt a program of work.

On 11 June, the CD discussed revitalization of the CD. Many delegations reiterated their priorities in order to adopt a program of work. Ambassador Hoffman of Germany noted that the two statements by the Group of 21 did not include a mention of an FM(C)T, after which Cuba, Egypt, and Zimbabwe clarified that their positions had not changed.

On 18 June, the CD met to discuss the non-paper draft Programme of Work. This draft programme of work would have established a working group on agenda items 1, 3, and 4 and appoint a special coordinator on items 5-7. However, Australia, Germany, France and the United Kingdom argued that there is not much point in a programme of work based on the lowest common denominator without a negotiating mandate. On the other hand, some other delegations were willing to go along with it because the proposal was comprehensive and balanced. In the end, this proposal was not accepted by all members of the CD and the CD president decided not to take any formal action on the text.

In October during the UNGA First Committee, a draft resolution A/C.1/68/l.35 was adopted on a “Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.”

On 5 November, it was reported that the United States is consulting with key nuclear powers along with India and Pakistan on ways to start negotiations on the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty.

The Group of Governmental Experts for the FM(C)T will meet in 2014.

Discussion will commence again in January on the FM(C)T during the next first session of the Conference on Disarmament.

2012-2011

2012

The first session of the CD’s 2012 deliberations ran from 23 January to 30 March. Many countries’ opening statements called on the CD to restart FM(C)T deliberations. Although the CD was able to agree on an agenda for 2012, the agenda did not include deliberations on an FM(C)T.

During the May 2012 NPT Review Conference, some discussion focused on restarting deliberations on the FM(C)T.

On 29-30 May, Germany and the Netherlands hosted a meeting of scientific experts to discuss technical issues related to an FM(C)T.

On 31 May, the CD held a thematic discussion on an FM(C)T. The United States reiterated its position that such a treaty should only cover new production of fissile materials, while others, including Iran, Syria and Switzerland, argued for the inclusion of existing stocks in the negotiations. Germany reminded the body that all NNWS currently have the equivalent of an FM(C)T in place, under their NPT obligations.

On 26 June, the CD held another thematic discussion on an FM(C)T. States Parties discussed the relationship between an FM(C)T and a nuclear weapons convention, and whether or not fissile material stocks should be included in an FM(C)T. Several states emphasized the need for a nondiscriminatory and verifiable treaty.

On 28 August, the CD concluded its thematic discussion on the revitalization of its work and began discussions of its draft annual report to the General Assembly. Delegates did not reach a consensus on the scope and details of an FM(C)T.

On 13 September, the CD concluded its 2012 session, once again, without any substantive negotiations on an FM(C)T. However, 49 Member States, scientific experts, and diplomats held meetings on technical issues related to an FM(C)T.

On 16 October, Pakistani delegate Ambassador Zamir Akram stated that the lack of consensus in the CD on negotiating an FM(C)T could not be attributed solely to Pakistan’s position.

2011

The CD meetings opened on 25 January with an agreement on an agenda but were unable to adopt a program of work due to divisions over the inclusion of beginning negotiations of an FM(C)T. In place of a formal program of work, the CD President Ambassador Grinius of Canada proposed a series of thematic discussions. On 3 February, the CD met to discuss a fissile material cut-off treaty. Topics included definitions of “fissile materials” and “production,” verification, and stockpile issues. Pakistan reasserted its opposition to an FM(C)T based on the Shannon mandate, emphasizing the need to address asymmetries in nuclear stockpiles in addition to halting production.

The representatives from Australia and Japan announced a series of side events that would discuss definitions for an FM(C)T, though these would be simply informal discussions driven by national initiative and not connected with the work schedule of the CD. The results of these discussions were presented on 17 February by Australian Ambassador Woolcott, who observed that though no definitive answers were reached, the sessions “allowed us to delve into the issues in greater depth” and demonstrated a strong interest in an FM(C)T among CD members.

On 28 February and 1 March the CD held a series of high-level meetings where an FM(C)T was discussed extensively. Most expressed an interest in starting negotiations on an FM(C)T, but differences emerged in how it would be accomplished. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicated that should the CD continue to be blocked, the U.S. would pursue other options. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed concern that parallel disarmament initiatives would degrade the multilateral disarmament system.

On 3 March discussion of four different definitions of fissile material was held in the CD.

On 30 April, the ten member states of the Non-proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) – Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates – met in Berlin and issued a statement containing four concrete proposals for implementing the 2010 NPT RevCon Action Plan. The first proposal called for the start of negotiations on an FM(C)T and expressed a “continued preference” for conducting these negotiations within the CD. However, the proposal also stated that if substantive steps towards negotiations were not taken in 2011, the NPDI would request that the UN General Assembly begin to consider ways to proceed on negotiations outside of the CD.

From 30 May -1 June, Japan and Australia hosted a third round of side events through the CD to discuss issues related to an FM(C)T. Ambassador Suda of Japan reported on this round of events at the CD plenary meeting on 16 June, noting that like the second round of side events, these meetings were focused on verification measures.

On 1 June, Ambassador Manfredi of Italy presented a report on two informal meetings held in May regarding the potential structure and definitions of a future FM(C)T. Manfredi reported that discussions also covered an entry-into-force provision, verification and stockpiles.

On 16 June, Bulgaria, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Turkey and Spain introduced a working paper proposing elements of a future FM(C)T treaty at a plenary meeting for the CD.

During the October deliberations of the UN First Committee, many countries called for the CD to restart FM(C)T deliberations as soon as possible.

2010-2008

2010

At the beginning of the 2010 CD meetings on 2 March, the Norwegian deputy permanent representative Ms. Hilde Skorpen spoke about the entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, citing it as an example for the fissile material treaty. She stated that the formation of the cluster munitions convention outside the CD provided “grounds for inspiration” for the negotiations on an FM(C)T. In response, Ambassador Zamir Akram of Pakistan outlined why his country continued to oppose the negotiation of a fissile material treaty. No program of work was adopted by the CD the in the first two parts of its 2010 session.

During the 2010 NPT Review Conference many States called on the CD to adopt a program of work that included negotiations on a fissile material treaty. For the second time, the Norwegian delegation called for FM(C)T negotiations to occur in a different venue if the CD remained deadlocked. However, a proposal to convene a conference outside the CD to address the fissile material cut-off issue did not receive a consensus support at the RevCon.

The consensus action plan adopted by the 2010 NPT Review Conference made direct reference to a fissile material treaty, stating: “All States agree that the Conference on Disarmament should, within the context of an agreed, comprehensive and balanced programme of work, immediately begin negotiation of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices in accordance with the report of the Special Coordinator of 1995 (CD/1299) and the mandate contained therein.” UN Secretary-General was also invited to convene a “high-level meeting in support of the Conference on Disarmament.” This meeting will take place on 24 September in New York, during the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly.

Throughout the third part of CD meetings, delegates debated the negotiation of an FM(C)T outside of the CD, particularly on 24 August. The Secretary-General of the CD Sergei Ordzhonikidze warned that delegates would probably have at most one more year to start negotiations of an FM(C)T before parallel initiatives were organized. Ambassador Akram of Pakistan observed that there are clear options for negotiating an FM(C)T outside of the CD that would not be opposed by Pakistan, but that it would not participate in such negotiations.

The CD closed in 2010 without substantive progress on the negotiation of an FM(C)T. The High Level Meeting of the CD held in New York on 24 September saw states emphasize the need for a review of disarmament machinery as well as an emphasis on making the negotiation of an FM(C)T a priority for the next CD meetings.

On 15 October, the UN General Assembly again adopted a resolution entitled “Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices” (A/RES/65/65), which urged the CD to start negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons. The resolution was adopted with a vote in 179 in favor, 1 against (Pakistan), and 2 abstentions (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Syria).

In December, the Fissile Material Control Initiative (FMCI) published a report on global fissile materials, presenting the official declarations of fissile material production and stocks around the world. This report provides important insight into the level of fissile material currently possessed by states as well as an indication of disarmament measure being taken by states.

2009

On 5 April, President Barack Obama delivered a speech in Prague, Czech Republic. In his oration, President Obama declared the need for a treaty that “verifiably ends the production of fissile materials intended for use in state nuclear weapons.” This statement reversed the Bush administration’s position first stated in 2004 that an FM(C)T could not be effectively verified.

During the 2009 session of the NPT Preparatory Committee in May, Norway first proposed that the FM(C)T should be negotiated in “another avenue” if the CD remains paralyzed.

On 29 May, for the first time in a decade, the CD adopted a program of work. In the program of work, the CD established a working group entitled “Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament” which was charged which negotiating a treaty on the basis of the 1995 Shannon Mandate. However, Pakistan’s subsequent objections rendered the CD unable to implement its program of work for 2009, and the working group did not convene.

In September, the IPFM released a draft treaty which includes verification provisions. On 24 September, the UNSC adopted Resolution 1887, which “calls upon the Conference on Disarmament to negotiate a Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices as soon as possible.”

On 29 October, for the first time since 2004, the First Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on a treaty specifically banning the production of materials for use in nuclear weapons. The resolution (A/C.1/64/L.1/Rev.1) was adopted without a vote and was entitled “Treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.”

2008

During the 2008 NPT Preparatory Committee meetings, States including Norway and Germany proposed the creation of a Fissile Material Control Initiative (FMCI). FMCI would be a voluntary, multilateral arrangement open to any country that possessed fissile material (whether safeguarded or not) and was willing to sign onto a set of agreed principles. The overall goals of FMCI would be to increase security, transparency, and control over fissile material stocks worldwide; to prevent their theft or diversion to non-state actors or additional states; and to move fissile materials verifiably and irreversibly out of nuclear weapons and into forms unusable for nuclear weapons. FMCI would also help to establish the confidence needed between States in order to negotiate an FM(C)T. The creation of the FMCI was first proposed by Robert Einhorn of the Center for Strategic and International Studies during the International Conference on Nuclear Disarmament, held on 26 February 2008 in Oslo, Norway.

The six presidents of the CD tabled a draft decision (CD/1840) that “decides, without prejudice to future work and negotiations on its agenda items,” and appoints four Ambassadors to preside over negotiations on the four core topics, including a non-discriminatory and multilateral treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. The content of the draft decision is almost identical to the documents L.1, CRP.5, and CRP.6 in the proposed program of work from 2007. The draft decision uses the A5 Proposal from 2002 as its basis. The CD was still unable to adopt a program of work, and little progress was made on any FM(C)T negotiations.

2007-2002

2007

The CD nearly reached consensus on a program of work, which called for negotiations on an FM(C)T through documents L.1, CRP.5 and CRP.6. Only China, Iran and Pakistan withheld their support for the comprehensive package. The Canadian delegation attempted to gain support for a “strictly procedural draft decision that would have added the issue of the prohibition of the production of fissile material to next year’s First Committee agenda.” No consensus was reached however; the draft was withdrawn and no committee was established for the negotiation of an FM(C)T.

2006

In January, the International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM) was established. IPFM is a group comprised of arms-control and nonproliferation experts from both nuclear weapon and non-nuclear weapon states.

On 18 May, the United States tabled a draft FMCT. This draft excluded any verification and compliance requirements due to the U.S. delegation’s position that the “the so-called effective verification of an FMCT cannot be achieved.” The majority of the other Member States of the CD found the lack of a verification mechanism and the omission of the issue regarding existing stocks unsatisfactory. The CD continued to be unable to agree on a program of work or begin negotiations on an FM(C)T.

2005

The President of the CD circulated a “food for thought” non-paper that was based primarily on the A5 Proposal promoting the establishment of four ad hoc committees, including one for negotiations regarding a fissile materials treaty. No consensus was reached.

In the meetings of the UNGA First Committee, the governments of Brazil, Canada, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand and Sweden introduced a non-paper outlining elements of a draft resolution to establish ad hoc committees on the four priority issues declared in the A5 Proposal. This initiative was blocked by the United States.

2004

In April, Greenpeace drafted a proposed treaty “Banning the Production of Fissile Materials for Nuclear Weapons and Other Nuclear Explosive Devices” which it delivered to the NPT PrepCom.

In July, the high hopes for reaching agreement on a program of work in the CD were destroyed when Ambassador Jackie Sanders of the United States declared that although the United States continued to support negotiations on an FM(C)T, it did not believe such a treaty would be verifiable. The United States also succeeded in blocking consensus of Resolution L.34, a Canadian sponsored resolution that in previous years had been adopted without a vote. At this time, Pakistan voted in favor of the 2004 UNGA resolution (L.34) urging the CD to commence negotiations on a “non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.”

2003

The A5 Proposal continued to garner support, including from China. Japan, in addition to holding informal discussions both at home and in Geneva, tabled a working paper on a Treaty to Ban the Production of Fissile Material for Nuclear Weapons and other Nuclear Explosive Devices. In August, China and Russia broke from their previous positions that work on an FM(C)T must be pursued concurrently with work on a treaty for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS). China had previously held to their position on a linkage between an FM(C)T and PAROS due to their concern over implications of U.S. missile defense plans. Despite this breakthrough, the CD again closed without a program of work and no committees were established due to disagreements between the Member States on the scope and terms of an FM(C)T.

In November, Dr. Thomas Shea, a former IAEA safeguards officer released a draft treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons or other explosive devices.

2002

During the CD Conference in 2002, the Ambassadors of Algeria, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, and Sweden established what later became known as the A5 Proposal. This proposal suggested the establishment of four ad hoc committees including one to negotiate a fissile material (cut-off) treaty. Despite widespread support, the A5 Proposal was not adopted. However, it is frequently referenced throughout the CD’s discussions on a program of work. South Africa tabled a substantive working paper (CD/1671) which discussed the issues of verification and scope, including the possibility of controlling tritium.

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Glossary

Thirteen Practical Steps
The Thirteen Practical Steps toward nuclear disarmament were adopted as part of the Final Document at the 2000 NPT Review Conference. The steps outlined ways in which Article VI, the nuclear disarmament provision of the NPT, could be implemented.
Non-nuclear weapon state (NNWS)
Non-nuclear weapon state (NNWS): Under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), NNWS are states that had not detonated a nuclear device prior to 1 January 1967, and who agree in joining the NPT to refrain from pursuing nuclear weapons (that is, all state parties to the NPT other than the United States, the Soviet Union/Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China).
UNSC Resolution 1887
UNSC Resolution 1887: In September 2009, the UN Security Council committed to working toward the reduction of nuclear weapons and global nuclear dangers by adopting UNSCR 1887. In addition to calling for nuclear arms reductions, a strengthened NPT, greater support for the IAEA, and more robust export controls, the resolution also encouraged states to share best practices for improving nuclear safety and security standards, in order to reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism and to secure vulnerable nuclear materials within four years. The resolution also called on states to "minimize to the greatest extent that is technically and economically feasible the use of highly enriched uranium for civilian purposes, including by working to convert research reactors and radioisotope production processes to the use of low enriched uranium fuels and targets.” UNSCR 1887 also reaffirmed the need for full implementation of UNSCR 1540.

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