Recently the Dutch authorities have started adding a ‘human rights’ export license condition to the global licenses it issues for encryption items with ECCN 5A002.a.1. This condition states the following: ‘This license may not be used if the exporter is aware or has been informed by the competent authorities of the Member State where he is established, that the items in question are or may be intended, in their entirety or in part, for use…

The Thai cabinet recently approved a new regulation proposed by the Ministry of Commerce to control the export of dual-use goods in accordance with United Nations Security Council requirements, and to protect Thai exports. Thailand’s development on export regulation regarding dual-use goods has been ongoing since 2008. A Working Group on Preparing an Export Control System of Dual Use Goods has been established on 13 March 2008. In July 2010, the Cabinet approved the establishment…

On May 7, 2015 the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) issued Letter No. 01/4955-15-39 imposing a ban on importation to Russia of certain hygiene products manufactured by “Procter & Gamble Ukraine”, as, allegedly, they do not comply with certain Russian and EEU sanitary and epidemiologic standards. The ban came into force starting from May 9, 2015. It has no grandfathering exception for deals in progress. Since Russia…

The Russian State Duma is planning to impose limitations on government procurement of foreign software products (draft Law No. 7646787-6, introduced to the State Duma on April 9, 2015). According to the draft law, the Russian Government should establish a state register of “Russian software programs”. A software program would be viewed as a Russian product, if the IP rights for such software are owned by either the state, or a Russian non-governmental organization controlled…