Nuclear Suppliers Group(NSG)

Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation  by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be applicable to nuclear weapon development and by improving safeguards and protection on existing materials.

The NSG was founded in response to the Indian Nuclear Test in May 1974 and first met in November 1975

Initially the NSG had 7 participating governments -

• Canada
• West Germany
• France
• Japan
• Soviet Union
• UK and
• USA

In 1976-77, participation was expanded to 15 with the admittance of

• Belgium
• Czechoslovakia
• East Germany
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Sweden
• Switzerland 

Germany was re-united in 1990 while Czechoslovakia broke up into Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993

12 more nations joined up to 1990.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union a number of former republics were given observer status as a stage towards future membership.

China became a participating government in 2004.

As of 2014 the NSG has 48 members