Export control regimes

Legislation

Contacts

The uncontrolled spread of military technology, biological and chemical weapons and firearms, as well as other goods of strategic significance, may give rise to a serious threat of terrorism and military conflict. In order to prevent the potential spread of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, an effective control of export, import and transit of strategically significant goods  is important. The successful co-operation between EU, OSCE and UN in  a regime of international export control measures is also of great importance.

Strategically significant goods include military goods, including arms and explosives, and dual-use goods (civil and military), such as equipment, materials, chemical substances, programmes, technologies and services. Trade of dual-use goods is controlled because of the potential for their use in the uncontrolled manufacture of military technology or weapons.   

In Latvia, the circulation of strategically significant goods is controlled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia in co-operation with the Ministries of Defence and of the Interior, the central Customs administration of the National Revenue Service, regional Customs institutions and the Security Police.  In any instance of import, export or transit of strategically significant goods, a licence is required, for which application must be made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Circulation of goods of a strategic nature is outlined in national legislation and international documents, such as the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, the Common Military List of the European Union (equipment covered by the European Union Code of Conduct on Arms Exports) 2008/C 98/01, Council Regulation (EC) No 1334/2000 of 22 June 2000 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports of dual-use items and technology, and lists of measures of international export control such those of the  Australia Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR),  and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Latvia does not issue export licences to countries subject to an embargo from the EU, OSCE or UN. 

Export control regimes

The Australia Group is an informal international forum, having the objective of preventing the spread of chemical and biological weapons. Member countries of the Group exchange views on national export control measures, and have agreed on a Common Control List of controllable materials, which is regularly updated.

The measures were approved in 1984. Latvia has been a member country of the Australia Group since 2004.

The main objective of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is to prevent the uncontrolled spread of nuclear materials for the manufacture of nuclear weapons. This is done by participating countries observing the guidelines of the measures setting export control requirements for nuclear materials.

The measures were approved in 1974. Latvia has been a member country of the Nuclear Suppliers Group since 1997.

The Wassenaar Arrangement is an export control regime for the purpose of regulating the export of weapons, ammunition, dual-use equipment, materials and technologies. Member countries of the Arrangement apply export controls in accordance with their national legislation to goods included in the regime's Control Lists. The Wassenaar Arrangement was established in 1996. Latvia has been a member country since 2005.

The Missile Technology Control Regime was established in 1987 in order to limit the spread of nuclear missiles and their technology throughout the world. Lists of goods under control include all types of missile technologies and auxiliary equipment for their delivery. Although Latvia is not a member country of the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Latvian export control system follows the guidelines of the regime.  

Contacts