On September 7-9, 2018 at Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel, the workshop on the Lao National Dual-Use Goods Controls' Legal Framework and Perspective of Enhancement was held by the Department of Import and Export, Ministry of Industry and Commerce in conjunction with EU P2P Export Control Outreach Program for Dual-Use Goods (Project 47). There are participants from relevant sectors such as: Department of Industry and Handicrafts (Ministry of Industry and Commerce), Department of Customs(Ministry of Finance), Department of Drug and Food(Ministry of Health), Department of Planning and Cooperation (Ministry of Science and Technology), Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, Department of Agricuture (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry),Department of Defense Industry (Ministry of National Defense), Ministry of Public Security, Department of Civil Aviation (Ministry of Public Works and Transport), and the EU delegation to Lao PDR.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued a resolution 1540 as a reference for member countries to extend and set up a management mechanism. The objective of this meeting is to consult and discuss existing regulations of Lao PDR in managing the import and export of dual-use goods. Dual-use goods are merchandise in general but can be used in design, development, production, modification of highly destructive weapons that can cause serious damage to living things and a wide range of environments for instance, nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, and biological weapons. These are called Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) as follows:
- Fiberglass fiber: It is used as a material for manufacturing of sports equipment and can be used to produce explosive components.
- Measuring machine: It is used in the production of car’s airbags and can be used to produce explosive components.
- Fermentor eyela: It is used in the food industry and can reduce the use of germs and other toxins.
The EU P2P expert team has conducted a study on some legislation of Lao PDR, especially on Chemicals Law that was recently adopted by the National Assembly. The expert team had provided some technical suggestions to extend and improve existing Lao legislation to be more concise and to assure trade import, and export of goods and. Therefore, the expert team of EU P2P project has drafted a regulation on Dual-Use goods management which sets out the initial responsibility of the Working Group on Strategic Trade and Export Control: WG-STEC established under the supervision of Trade Facilitation Secretariat.
Please share your feedback below and help us improve our content.