HCOC is a voluntary and legally non-binding regime to prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles which are capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). It was established on 25 November 2002. The HCoC does not ban ballistic missiles but works to restrict their production, testing, and export. It is only multilateral transparency and confidence building instrument related to the spread of ballistic missiles.
Austria serves as the Immediate Central Contact (Executive Secretariat) and coordinates the information exchange within the HCOC framework. Since 2002, annual Regular Meetings (annual conferences) are in which the subscribing states to the HCOC participates. As of now 138 nations are signatories to the HCoC. India is the latest signatory to the HCoC.