Evaluated screen

Cluster Munitions Stockpiling, Storage and Possession

Identifies entities that own, possess, retain, stockpile, store, manage inventory for, operate depots for, or exercise knowing custody or control over operational cluster munitions, explosive submunitions, or explosive bomblets. Limited custody or retention solely for permitted detection, clearance, destruction, evidence, authorized technical training, or fully deactivated-device purposes is excluded.

Type
Evaluated
Version
2026.08.21.2
Published
Aug 21, 2026
Inclusions
6
Exclusions
7
How to read this definition

Inclusion criteria describe evidence that can establish this activity. Exclusion criteria identify circumstances that do not establish it on that basis alone. The evaluation remains connected to its taxonomy version and supporting evidence.

Can establish this activity

Included when supported

Evidence may support involvement when it matches one or more of these inclusion criteria.

6 criteria
  1. 01Criterion

    Operation of Depots Holding Operational Cluster Munitions

    Defined as: Entities that operate a depot or storage facility and exercise knowing custody or control over operational cluster munitions, explosive submunitions, or explosive bomblets.

  2. 02Criterion

    Contracted Storage or Custody of Cluster Munitions

    Defined as: Entities contracted to store, secure, monitor, or preserve operational cluster munitions and that have documented custody, control, or legal responsibility for the stored weapons.

  3. 03Criterion

    Inventory Management With Stockpile Control

    Defined as: Entities authorized to maintain inventory records, readiness status, release controls, or lifecycle status for a cluster-munition stockpile. Generic inventory software or administrative support without stockpile authority is insufficient.

  4. 04Criterion

    Ownership, Possession, Retention, or Knowing Custody

    Defined as: Private, state-owned, government, or military entities that own, possess, retain, or exercise knowing custody or control over operational cluster munitions. Entity type and investability are recorded separately.

  5. 05Criterion

    Forward, Temporary, or Pre-Deployment Stockpiles

    Defined as: Entities that manage or control operational cluster munitions held in forward, temporary, readiness, or pre-deployment storage, where custody and operational purpose are established.

  6. 06Criterion

    Corroborated Cluster Munition Stockpile or Custody Evidence

    Defined as: Entities for which official inventories, audits, facility records, treaty reporting, government documents, or other authoritative sources provide an exact entity, product, custody or control role, and time attribution. A broad list or country-level stockpile statement alone is insufficient.

Does not establish this activity on its own

Excluded on this basis alone

These circumstances do not establish this activity unless separate evidence also meets an inclusion criterion.

7 criteria
  1. 01Criterion

    Transportation or Transit Without Storage Authority

    Defined as: Entities that move or temporarily hold cluster munitions solely in transit without operating a storage facility, maintaining inventory, or exercising stockpile custody or control.

  2. 02Criterion

    Storage of Non-Cluster Weapons

    Defined as: Companies storing conventional weapons or general ammunition only, without cluster munitions involvement.

  3. 03Criterion

    Deactivated, Destroyed, Inert, Evidence, or Permitted Training Holdings Only

    Defined as: Entities holding only fully deactivated, destroyed, inert, replica, evidentiary, or minimum-necessary items for permitted detection, clearance, destruction, countermeasure development, or authorized technical training, with no operational stockpile role.

  4. 04Criterion

    General Warehousing Providers (No Weapons Activity)

    Defined as: Commercial storage businesses that lack arms licenses or military contracts involving cluster munitions.

  5. 05Criterion

    Manufacture Without Ownership, Possession, or Storage Control

    Defined as: Entities that manufacture cluster munitions but transfer all custody and do not own, possess, retain, stockpile, store, or control the resulting weapons.

  6. 06Criterion

    Humanitarian, Clearance, or Destruction Custody Only

    Defined as: Entities temporarily possessing or storing cluster munitions solely for detection, clearance, neutralization, destruction, legal evidence, or remediation and without an operational stockpile role.

  7. 07Criterion

    Historical-Only Cluster Munition Stockpiling, Storage, Possession or Custody

    Defined as: Entities with verified past ownership, possession, retention, stockpiling, storage, inventory control, depot operation, or knowing custody of operational cluster munitions, where reliable evidence establishes that the qualifying activity has fully ceased, been divested, transferred, dismantled, terminated, or otherwise ended and no current qualifying involvement remains. Historical-only activity does not qualify as current involvement. Preserve the historical record separately with the activity period, effective cessation or transfer date, relevant entity, product, programme, facility, or contract, and supporting evidence. Absence of recent evidence alone is not sufficient to establish cessation.

Evidence and evaluation methodology

How sources, entity pathways, decisions, qualifiers, and review history are handled.

Map screens to a client policy

How to choose provider screens, document coverage, and decide what happens after an outcome.

Other screens under Cluster Munitions

Taxonomy version 2026.08.21.2, published Aug 21, 2026. Material changes receive a new immutable release so earlier evaluations remain tied to the definitions and criteria used.

Cluster Munitions