To better follow its non-proliferation commitment,
China will introduce export registration and licensing systems for
sensitive items or technologies.
Drafted by the Ministry
of Commerce (MOC) and the General Administration of Customs,
the interim measures will come into practice on Thursday, according
to a MOC statement.
Sensitive items or technologies refer to nuclear, biological,
chemical, missile and arms material, equipment and technologies,
experts say.
In recent years, China has issued a series of regulations and
measures to control the export of nuclear dual-use items and
related technologies, certain chemicals and related equipment and
technologies, missiles and missile-related items and technologies,
and sensitive items and technologies, they said.
For exporters, the interim measures will provide operational
rules based on non-proliferation laws and regulations in order to
guide their operations, said an anonymous MOC official.
With the emphasis on enterprises' self-discipline, the measures
have empowered customs to do more checks so it can protect lawful
trading and prevent the illicit exporting of sensitive items and
technologies.
The measures have made public the detailed control list of
sensitive items and technologies, which was also drawn up by the
MOC and the General Administration of Customs, the official
said.
According to the new measures, the MOC will take the lead in
terms of the acceptance, examination and issuance of export
licenses for sensitive items and technologies. Customs will oversee
the custom procedures for enterprises which are required to hand in
relevant export licenses.
Different from the management of common quota licenses, the
export controls for sensitive items and technologies will follow
the international practice of the so-called "Catch-all'' principle,
said the official.
"If an exporter knows or should know that there is a risk of
proliferation from an item or technology to be exported, the
exporter is required to apply for an export license even if the
item or technology is not on the export control list,'' the new
measures reads.
The official said overall, China has established a law-based
system for the non-proliferation export control of sensitive items
and technologies in an effort to safeguard regional and
international peace and stability.
According to a white paper published on December 3 by the
Information Office of the State Council on China's
non-proliferation policy and measures, the state relied mainly on
administrative measures for import and export controls.
But its non-proliferation export control pattern has changed
from an administrative to a law-based one, the paper said.
In recent years, China has widely adopted international
standards, vigorously strengthened the system for ensuring
non-proliferation export controls, and formulated and enforced a
number of laws and regulations.
In relation to penalties for non-proliferation offences, the
white paper said those who export controlled items or technologies
without approval will be investigated for criminal liability in
accordance with provisions in the Criminal Law.
(China Daily December 27, 2003)