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The Import and Export
(Strategic Commodities) Regulations also impose licensing requirement
on articles specified in Schedule
3 to the Regulations, or any technological document which includes
information relating to any such article :
- if the importer/exporter
knows that the article or document is intended or likely to be used
in any activity related to nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or
missile capable of delivering them as specified in Schedule 4 to the
Regulations; or
- if he or she has
grounds to suspect that the article or document may be used in any activity
specified in Schedule
4.
These applications
should also be made on import and export licence forms for strategic commodities.
Traders who have doubts
about the end-use of their goods should make all reasonable enquiries
as to the stated/intended use. Reasonable enquiries should include the
sort of checks one would normally make before doing business with anyone
and should, in particular, cover investigation of anything which led the
trader to be suspicious in the first place. For example, traders should
know something about the capability of the goods and technology they are
selling. They should find out more about the end-use from their customer,
the nature of the business activity of the end-user, dealer or buyer who
wants to purchase the goods and consider whether the end-use is genuine.
They should make sure that they record what they have done and any information
on which their conclusions are based, including any written assurances.
Traders should watch out for cases where :
- the customer is
reluctant to offer information about the end-use of the goods;
- the customer is
reluctant to provide clear answers to commercial or technical questions
which are routine in normal negotiations;
- an unconvincing
explanation is given as to why the goods are required, in view of the
customer's normal business or the technical sophistication of the goods;
- the customer's
order is considered to be inappropriate or for which the customer appears
to have no legitimate need;
- routine installation,
training or maintenance services are declined;
- unusually favourable
payment terms such as higher price and/or lump-sum cash payment are
offered;
- unusual shipping,
packaging or labelling arrangements are requested;
- circuitous or
commercially illogical routing is requested;
- there are instruction
to make direct shipments to trading companies, freight forwarders or
export companies which have no apparent connection with the purchase;
- the customer is
new to the trader and their knowledge about him/her is incomplete;
- the customer is
unfamiliar with the product, its applications or performance;
- the installation
site is in an area under strict security control or is in an area to
which access is severely restricted, or is unusual in view of the type
of equipment being installed;
- there are unusual
requirements for excessive confidentiality about final destinations,
customers, or specifications of items;
- there are requests
for excessive spare parts or lack of interest in any spare parts;
- the dealer the
trader is selling to is new to them, or has been evasive about customers;
- the customer or
end-user is a military body;
- the order is itself
unusual in any way e.g. the quantity and performance capabilities of
the goods ordered significantly exceed, without satisfactory explanation,
the amount or performance normally required for the stated end-use.
The above is a list
of indicators of illegitimate transaction. If a trader still has suspicion
after enquiries, he should submit a licence application to the Trade and
Industry Department, giving all relevant information and stating the likely
end-use of the goods and technology and the grounds for suspicion.
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