{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2020-979/annex/division-2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2020-979/annex/division-2.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2020/979",
  "legislation_title": "Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/979 of 7 July 2020 in support of the development of an internationally recognised system for the validation of arms and ammunition management according to open international standards",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2020-979",
  "path": "annex/division/2",
  "kind": "division",
  "number": "2",
  "heading": "Introduction",
  "text": "This project will study the feasibility of establishing an internationally recognised validation/certification system for SALW and ammunition management policies and practices. The risk of diversion of SALW and ammunitions to unauthorised actors is present all along the supply chain: from manufacture to transfer (export, transit and import), through stockpiling (storage and utilisation), to disposal (transfer and destruction). Ammunition stockpiles also pose a risk of accidental explosion, particularly in storage but potentially also at other points of the stockpile supply chain. Addressing these challenges is a State responsibility and requires a comprehensive life-cycle approach in line with national and international norms and measures, including, but not limited to, the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG), the Modular Small-arms-control Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC), best practices issued by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Allied Ammunition Storage and Transport Publication (NATO-AASTP).\nThe primary aim of this project is to support the establishment of safe, secure and sustainable policies and practices regarding the management of SALW and ammunition in countries with track records of diversion and accidental explosions. Specifically, the project will generate and analyse options for the internationally recognised validation/certification of policies and practices for the safe and secure management of SALW and ammunition across the supply chain. The project will support the development of a system that would allow States to voluntarily demonstrate through an independent assessment that these issues have been addressed and that their arms management practices and policies are in accordance with open international standards.\nThis project supports the implementation of the EU Strategy against illicit firearms, small arms & light weapons, and their ammunition ('EU SALW Strategy'). It aims to strengthen the capacity of beneficiary States in the implementation of the UN PoA, the International Tracing Instrument (ITI), the ATT, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (in particular Goals 16 (target 16.4), 5 and 11), and the UN Secretary General's Agenda for Disarmament (2018, Action 22: Disarmament that saves lives). Implementing the project will increase transparency and accountability in the governance and management of conventional arms and ammunition in accordance with international good practice, including the IATG, the MOSAIC, OSCE guidelines and the NATO-AASTP. The project will also take into account the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs' findings and efforts regarding gender sensitive weapons and ammunition management.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2020/979/annex/division/2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:12:13.591881+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}