FANR hosts Nuclear Import Export Control Workshop

DUBAI 1st November 2015 (WAM) -- The UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation FANR held a national workshop today in Dubai at the Dubai Police Officers Club on the implementation of nuclear import-export controls in the UAE.

The UAE's nuclear law calls on FANR to regulate the nation's nuclear sector for peaceful purposes only and as part of its efforts to implement that mandate FANR has issued Regulation 09 on the Export and Import Control of Nuclear Material Nuclear Related Items and Nuclear Related Dual-Use Items.

The three-day workshop aims to improve cooperation among UAE government entities responsible for monitoring and enforcing the UAE trade controls used to achieve the highest standards of nuclear non-proliferation. The workshop will present legal and technical aspects of the international nuclear import-export control of nuclear-related and dual-use equipment materials and technologies outlined in FANR regulations.

Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna Austria delivered opening speech to the workshop which features representatives from UAE courts and customs as well as international trade experts.

Following are the opening remarks by Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi: "The political commitment of the UAE to the peaceful use of nuclear energy was made in 1995 upon accession to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty as well as the ratification of the IAEA Safeguards Agreement in 2003 and the bringing into force of the Additional Protocol in 2010 .

the UAE peaceful nuclear programme is today in advanced stages of development with four nuclear power reactors under construction the first of which is scheduled to be operational in 2017. In line with its decision to pursue the nuclear energy programme the UAE has established a robust policy and legal framework and competent organisational infrastructure to meet and exceed its international nuclear obligations.

Nuclear export control is an essential part of Nuclear Non-Proliferation and any nuclear programme. As part of its commitment to achieve the highest standards of non-proliferation the UAE has committed to strengthening its export control regime to block and respond effectively to illicit trade of nuclear material or equipment. To this end the UAE has gone a long way in developing and implementing its regulatory infrastructure consistent with its international obligations and national policy objectives.

Criteria for licensing of nuclear transfers are determined by the International Nuclear Export Control Regimethe Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Guidelines.

As a means of ensuring the establishment and maintenance of the most comprehensive and up-to-date export control regime the UAE has introduced and implemented regulations and rules for import and export control for nuclear and nuclear-related equipment and technology in strict accordance with NSG Guidelines for Nuclear Transfers.

This is in line with the UAE Policy of 2008 entitled "Policy of the United Arab Emirates on the Evaluation and Potential Development of Peaceful Nuclear Energy" in which the UAE declared its intention to implement the Nuclear Suppliers Group Guideline. Further the export and import of Regulated Items is considered to be a Regulated Activity by the UAE Nuclear Law ( Federal Law No. 06 of 2009 ).

In accordance with this Law it is prohibited for any person to conduct any Regulated Activity in the state including free zones unless licensed to do so by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation.

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation is the Authority of the United Arab Emirates that is exclusively authorised for the licensing of nuclear import export re-export transit and trans-shipment of Regulated Items in accordance with the Nuclear Law .

The requirements of the Nuclear and Obligations of the Nuclear Suppliers Group Guidelines are now implemented in the UAE legal system and processes by the recently adopted FANR Regulation on the Export and Import Controls of Nuclear Material Nuclear Related Items and Nuclear Related Dual-Use Items (FANR-REG-09). The Regulation was distributed in the Official Gazette in January 2015 and it is available in Arabic and English on FANR web pages.

The main goal of this workshop is to present this new regulation to involved stakeholders and entities and FANR processes for licensing under the requirements of this Regulation.

You will receive comprehensive information presented by the FANR Safeguards Department and export/import control specialists and you will have an opportunity to ask questions of the authors of this Regulation which will gave you a transparent overview on the International Nuclear Export Control Regime obligations implemented in the UAE."