This primer is the result of a need, brought to our attention by a number of delegates to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, to provide basic information relevant to the negotiation of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. It is part of a larger effort, supported by the W. Alton Jones Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Ploughshares Fund, to provide information relevant to this treaty to Conference on Disarmament delegations.

Many people have helped to make this primer possible. The authors would like to thank, in particular, George Bunn, Marina Laker, Kevin O'Neill, and several government officials for their comments and suggestions during the course of writing this primer. ISIS would also like to thank Ambassador Mark Moher and the entire delegation at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations, Geneva for their encouragement in producing this primer and their assistance in its design and content.

Nonetheless, the content of this primer is the sole responsibility of ISIS and the authors. It should not be ascribed to any of the aforementioned individuals, institutions, or governments.