Regulation proposed to control exports of dual-use goods and technology
The European Commission has published a "Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) setting up a Community regime for the control of exports of dual-use goods and technology", covering items which can be used for both civil and military purposes. Article 4 of the proposed regulation states: "An authorisation shall be required for the export of dual-use items not listed in Annex I if the exporter has been informed by the competent authorities of the Member State in which he is established that the items in question are or may be intended, in their entirety or in part, for use in connection with the development, production, handling, operation, maintenance, storage, detection, identification or dissemination of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or the development, production, maintenance or storage of missiles capable of delivering such weapons." If a member State denies authorisation for an export of an unlisted dual-use item, it is required to let other Member States and the Commission know immediately.