The UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, FANR, has held the third National Workshop on Nuclear Export-Import Control Obligations in the UAE.

Over 60 participants from local and international stakeholders, representing various government agencies, took part in the workshop to showcase their practices in terms of import-export control of Nuclear Material, Trigger List Items and Nuclear Related Dual-Use Items controlled by the International Nuclear Export Control Regime, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and to protect their borders.

The two-day workshop aimed 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 presented legal and technical aspects of the international nuclear export-import control of equipment, materials and technologies outlined in FANR regulations.

The UAE’s Nuclear Law calls on FANR to regulate the nation’s nuclear sector for peaceful purposes, and, as part of its efforts to implement that mandate, FANR has issued Regulation No. 09 on the Export and Import Control of Nuclear Material, Nuclear Related Items and Nuclear Related Dual-Use Items.

During the workshop, the authority presented its perspective of the system for licensing and export control of regulated items which consists of a number of phases such as preliminary approvals, inspection, information exchange and joint cooperation.

"FANR established and implemented robust procedure and inspection mechanisms which helped us to clarify to relevant entities the requirements for nuclear export and import control," said Mohammad Foolad, FANR’s Manager of Export/Import.

He added, "FANR extended its support by signing agreements to strengthen cooperation in information exchange among national and international partners. It also contributed to setting up a training programme to provide support to its partners in import and export control."

Adam Roth, Commercial Attache and Export Control officer at the US Consulate in Dubai, said that the basic principle in export/import control is education, inspection and enforcement. He also stressed the importance of working with customs agencies to develop targeted inspection that highlights all requirements to protect the borders.

"FANR has been adopting procedures and mechanism to protect the UAE borders through inspection and issuing guidelines. It proved to be a valuable partner by working with international partners," he said.