Export Control

Control of goods and services of strategic significance

Responsible authority

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for export control in Iceland. It sets policy and issues export licenses (www.mfa.is - external@mfa.is  - tel +354 545 9000 - fax +354 562 2373)

Enforcement

The enforcement of export control legislation is done police and customs authorities, in co-operation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Ministry control exports before they take place, customs authorities screen customs declarations, police investigate breaches of export legislation, prosecutors prosecute cases before the regular courts.

Legislation

Export control in Iceland is based on the Act on the Control of Services and Items that may have Strategic Significance No 58/2010, the International Sanctions Implementation Act No. 93/2008 and implementing regulations, in particular Regulation on Control of Services and Items that may have Strategic Significance, No 800/2011.  This Regulation implements Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 on dual-use (incorporating the latest changes to Annex I), Directive 2009/43/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on defence products (incorporating the latest changes to the Common Military List) and the European Code of Conduct on Arms Exports (2008/944/CFSP).

Control lists

Iceland's control lists include defence-related and dual-use items, identical to those of the European Union. They include items contained in United Nations Security Council documents S/2006/814 (INFCIRC/254/Rev.8/Part1 and INFCIRC/254/Rev.7/Part2) and S/2006/815, dated 13 October 2006 and S/2006/853, dated 7 November 2006.

International cooperation 

Iceland participates in export control regimes, including Australia Group, NSG and MTCR. It implements Wassenaar regime stipulations. Iceland is a member of, participates in or supports export control related organisations  and cooperation, including the OPCW, HCOC and PSI. Iceland is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) and supports the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI). It adheres to the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

Non-Proliferation

Iceland supports international efforts in the area of non-proliferation through international co-operation and implementation of all international obligations in this area. Iceland implements all UNSC resolutions on non-proliferation. It sponsors and supports non-proliferation initiatives at the UN, IAEA, CTBTO and other international fora. Iceland aligns itself with EU positions on non-proliferation on the basis of Agreement on the European Economic Area. 

Selected WMD conventions to which Iceland is a party

• Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1996)
• Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (1993), entered into force 29.04.1997
• Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological Biological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (1972), entered into force 26.03.1975
• Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof (1971), entered into force 30.05.1972
• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (1968), entered into force 05.03.1970
• Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water (1963), entered into force 29.04.1964

Selected nuclear/IAEA related conventions to which Iceland is a party

• Additional protocol to the safeguards agreement (2003), entered into force 12.9.2003
• Joint convention on the safety of spent nuclear fuel management (1997), entered into force 27.4.2006
• Convention on nuclear safety (1994), entered into force 2.9.2008
• Convention on early notification of a nuclear accident (1986), entered into force 28.10.1989
• Convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident of radiological emergency (1986), entered into force 26.2.2006
• Convention on the physical protection of nuclear material (1980), entered into force 18.7.2002
• Safeguards Agreement in connection with the NPT (1972), entered into force 16.10.1974
• Protocol to the Safeguards Agreement in connection with the NPT (1972), entered into force 6.10.1974
• Statute of the IAEA (1956), entered into force 6.8.1957

Laws and regulations relating to export control

English

• Regulation on Control of Services and Items that may have Strategic Significance, No 800/2011
• Control of Services and Items that may have Strategic Significance Act, No 58/2010
• International Sanctions Implementation Act, No 93/2008
• Control list referred to in Regulation No. 123/2009: UNSC document S/2006/814, dated 13 October 2006 (INFCIRC/254/Rev.8/Part1 and INFCIRC/254/Rev.7/Part2).pdf
• Control list referred to in Regulation No. 123/2009: UNSC document S/2006/815, dated 13 October 2006 (ballistic missile programmes).pdf
• Control list referred to in Regulation No. 123/2009: UNSC document S/2006/853, dated 7 November 2006 (chemical and biological items).pdf

Icelandic

• Control of Services and Items that may have Strategic Significance Act, No 58/2010
• International Sanctions Implementation Act, No 93/2008
• Regulation on International Security Measures regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, No 123/2009
• Regulation amending above regulation, implementing nuclear, ballistic and chemical/biological control lists for all countries, No 325/2009

Forms

• Form 1 DECLARATION BY END-USER (GOV) TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ICELAND
• Form 2  DECLARATION BY END-USER (NON-GOV) TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ICELAND
• Form 3  DECLARATION ON USE IN OWN PRODUCTION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ICELAND

See also:

• Sanctions

Links

AG | GICNT | GTRI | HCOC | MTCR | NSG | OPCW | PSI | UNSC | WASSENAAR | ZANGGER

 Updated: 09/11   |     Send comments here     |     Abbreviations