OSCE Handbook of Best Practices on Conventional Ammunition - Decision No. 6/08 - Handbook

Sep 20, 2026

OSCE Decision No. 6/08 presents a structured handbook assembling best-practice guides for conventional ammunition across six OSCE languages. It supports national policy making and aims to raise harmonized standards for marking, registration, and record-keeping; stockpile management; physical security; transportation; and destruction. The decision also explains the rationale for addressing risks linked to surplus stockpiles, explosive material, and detonating devices awaiting destruction, and tasks OSCE bodies to distribute the handbook widely.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Best Practice Guide on Ammunition Marking, Registration and Record-Keeping

Best Practice Guide on Procedures for Management of Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition

Best Practice Guide on Physical Security of Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition

Best Practice Guide on Ammunition Transportation

Best Practice Guide on the Destruction of Conventional Ammunition

OSCE Handbook of Best Practices on Conventional Ammunition Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Table of Contents Decision No . 6/08 Handbook of Best Practices on Conventional Ammunition I. Best Practice Guide on Ammunition Marking, Registration and Record-Keeping 3 II. Best Practice Guide on Procedures for Management of Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition 15 III. Best Practice Guide on Physical Security of Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition 39 IV. Best Practice Guide on Ammunition Transportation 81 V. Best Practice Guide on the Destruction of Conventional Ammunition 143 © 2008. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe asserts its copyright in the entirety of this work and its formatting. Reproduction of this work (or sections thereof ) in limited quantities for the purposes of study or research is permitted. All other requests should be directed to: FSC Support Section, Conflict Prevention Centre, OSCE Secretariat Wallnerstrasse 6, A-1010, Vienna, Austria 􀀱 Decision No. 6/08 Handbook of Best Practices on Conventional Ammuniton The Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), Reaffirming its commitment to the full implementation of the OSCE Document on Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition (SCA) (FSC.DOC/1/03, 19 November 2003) Recalling Section VII of the OSCE Document on SCA, in which participating States agreed to consider developing a “best practice” guide of techniques and procedures for the destruction of conventional ammunition, explosive material and detonating devices, and the management and control of stockpiles, and noting that such a document would cover, inter alia, indicators of surplus and risk, standards and procedures for the proper management of stockpiles, norms to be used in determining which stockpiles should be destroyed, as well as standards and technical procedures of destruction, Noting that a handbook gathering these best practice guides could serve as a guide for national policy making by participating States and encourage higher common standards of practice among all participating States, Acknowledging that such a handbook of best practices could also be useful to OSCE Partners for Co-operation and other United Nations Member States in their efforts to tackle the risks and challenges caused by the presence of stockpiles of conventional ammunition, explosive material and detonating devises in surplus and/or awaiting destruction, Recognizing the work done by participating States to complete this task, Decides to: • Welcome the development of the best practice guideson conventional ammunition and endorse the compilation of those that are currently available and under preparation into a handbook of best practices in all six OSCE languages; • Ensure that the remaining guides are included in the handbook when finalized and reviewed; • Encourage participating States to make this handbook available to all relevant national authorities for its implementation as appropriate; • Task the Conflict Prevention Centre to ensure the widest possible distribution, including the OSCE Partners for Co operation and the United Nations, of this handbook after its completion; • Take account of this handbook, including the possibility of its further development during the regular review of the OSCE Document on SCA, in accordance with Section VII, paragraph 37 of the Document; • Append this decision to the handbook in order to be distributed with it. 􀀲

FAQs

What is the purpose of OSCE Decision No. 6/08?

It endorses and formalizes the compilation of best-practice guides into a handbook to support implementation and harmonize standards across participating States.

Which topics are covered in the handbook’s best practice guides?

The handbook includes guidance on ammunition marking, registration and record-keeping; stockpile management procedures; physical security; transportation; and destruction.

How will the handbook be distributed after completion?

The decision tasks the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre to ensure the widest possible distribution, including OSCE partners and the United Nations.

Sep 20, 2026

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