Ministry to regulate export of dual-use items
In the wake of rising global terrorism, Thai exporters of dual-use items - a product or technology that can used for both beneficial and dangerous purposes - will next year be regulated by the Commerce Ministry in order to ensure national security in expo
The system is set to be completed in February next year, while the ministry’s regulation should be submitted to the cabinet by June 2016.
Under the regulation, exporters of dual-use items need to get an allowance and licence from the ministry. The electronic system will check the name list of importers for dual-use items, to prevent Thai exporters becoming suppliers of dangerous substances or items for terrorists or related companies.
If the regulation could be enforced next year as scheduled, Thailand will be the third country in Asean to adopt this international regulation after Singapore and Malaysia. The Philippines and Vietnam are also drafting a law to regulate dual-use items.
Thailand will primarily use the name list of the EU, which consists of 1,692 items. Of these, 1,431 are tangible and categorised as a product, while 277 items are technology and intangible.
For instance, a dual-use item like carbon-fibre can be used to make a tennis racquet but can also help produce a nuclear weapon, or maraging steel can produce a golf club, while it can also be a material for missiles.
The move is also in compliance with the United Nations agreement on weapons of mass destruction that require member states to launch measures to control trading of dual-use items. According to the department, Thailand’s export value of dual-use items was Bt1.4 trillion in 2013. These involved 14,707 exporters, and consisted of 73,971 dual-use items.
