The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was created following the explosion in 1974 of a nuclear device in India, which demonstrated that nuclear technology transferred for peaceful purposes could be misused. The NSG, which met for the first time in 1975, was set up to consider ways of adapting conditions of supply for nuclear material, including the application of IAEA safeguards, so that nuclear co-operation could be pursued without contributing to the risk of nuclear proliferation.

The purpose of the NSG is to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons through export controls on materials, equipment, and technology which may be used for the development of nuclear weapons.

After a series of meetings of the group between 1975 and 1978, guidelines for the transfer of nuclear material, equipment, and technology were agreed. These were published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); the latest version is INFCIRC/254/Rev.4/Part 1 (known as the "Trigger List"). The group did not meet again until 1991. When, following the Gulf War, Iraq’s clandestine nuclear weapons programme was uncovered it was concluded that the existing conditions of supply for nuclear-related items needed to be strengthened.

In March 1991, an informal meeting of states subscribing to the NSG Guidelines was held, which led to further meetings and the setting up of a working group to consider the controls on "dual-use" equipment – i.e. equipment which could be used in a nuclear explosive activity as well as in the nuclear fuel cycle. Agreement was reached on guidelines for transfers of nuclear-related dual-use equipment, material, and technology. These Guidelines are published by the IAEA as INFCIRC/254/Rev.4/Part 2, which is better known as the Dual-use List.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group meets formally once a year at the NSG Plenary. Its next Plenary will be held in May 2002 in Prague, Czech Republic.

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