International Ammunition Technical Guidelines

In 2008, a United Nations group of governmental experts reported to the General Assembly on problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus. The group noted that cooperation with regard to effective stockpile management needs to endorse a 'whole life management' approach, ranging from categorisation and accounting systems – essential for ensuring safe handling and storage and for identifying surplus – to physical security systems and surveillance and testing procedures to assess the stability and reliability of ammunition.

A central recommendation made by the group was for technical guidelines for the stockpile management of ammunition to be developed within the United Nations.

Subsequently, the General Assembly welcomed the report of the group and strongly encouraged States to implement its recommendations. This provided the mandate to the United Nations for developing 'technical guidelines for the stockpile management of conventional ammunition', now commonly known as International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG).

The work of preparing, reviewing and revising these guidelines was conducted under the United Nations SaferGuard Programme by a technical review panel consisting of experts from Member States, with the support of international, governmental and non-governmental organisations. These IATG will be regularly reviewed to reflect developing ammunition stockpile management norms and practices, and to incorporate changes due to amendments to appropriate international regulations and requirements.

List of Guidelines