The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) links its NuTech portal with “Dhabi” Customs Clearance System of the General Administration of Customs - Abu Dhabi

The portal is a paperless system that reduces the shipments’ customs clearance approval time by 80%, while achieving 100% customer satisfaction. It was launched in March 2018 after five months of intensive development work by a team of experts affiliated with the Authority in the sections of safeguards and verification, import and export control, and ICT.

The new portal played a role in strengthening the monitoring of import and export operations, re-importation, cargo transport and reload of the concerned dual-use nuclear materials in accordance with the FANR-REG-09 regulation. This is the result of the joint and ongoing efforts of the FANR to prevent diversion, misuse, and illegal trafficking of nuclear substances and technology, consistent with the International Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

In this regard, Mr. Christer Viktorsson, Director General of FANR, said, “Our keenness to effectively implement the UAE’s obligations to the IAEA regarding the implementation of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is a top priority for the Authority; the monitoring of import and export operations is an essential part of our system of safeguards and verification.”

H added, “NuTech portal contributes to enhancing our current monitoring system, improving its efficiency and upgrading the experience of its users. Innovation is a vital and necessary step for the UAE government; so, we embrace innovation in every detail of our business, and therefore we fully developed NuTech portal within FANR to a clear example of our success in the implementation of the best practices in terms of control of import and export. NuTech is the first system of its kind in the UAE to enable automated clearance of shipments, resulting in improved response times and reduced impact levels on the environment through a paperless process, and increased user happiness significantly.”

HE Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Director General of the General Administration of Customs - Abu Dhabi said, “This period is full of achievements which the Emirate of Abu Dhabi intends to achieve in accordance with the goals of Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 as a single and distinguished government work team, and we are committed to achieve our strategic vision, mission, and plan which stems from the objectives of Abu Dhabi Government plan to facilitate the procedures and provide the highest level of services to customers.

He added, “In this context, the electronic linkage project between “Dhabi” customs system and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Energy system “NuTech” aimed at regulating and controlling the import and export of nuclear substances, so that this electronic linkage between the two systems reduces customs clearance time to 80% compared to the old customs clearance time and raises the level of customer happiness to 100%, with no impact on the controls of security checks while maintaining the highest levels of protection and control.”

He continued, “This joint project includes enhancing cooperation, coordination and electronic linkage between the two parties, which is the first of its kind in the country in terms of implementation, and therefore the second phase of the project will yet see a reduction in clearance time at customs centers, in line with the global developments and the expansion of trade in hazardous chemicals and the use of dual-use and radioactive materials, which necessitates development of the procedures followed by Abu Dhabi Customs as an executive body that implements the laws and legislation issued by the competent authorities in the State, while complying by the international conventions and protocols signed by the State in respect of regulating the movement of hazardous materials through customs ports using state of the art electronic detection systems and through application of the highest international practices to provide world-class services and facilities to customers.”

Compared with the old system that requires companies and freight forwarders to apply for FANR’s approval by sharing paper documents and emails, NuTech portal has succeeded to perform exceptional work having played since its launch a major role in facilitating corporate transactions, which reduced the shipments’ customs clearance approval time by 80%.

Control of nuclear exports is an essential part of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and any other nuclear program. As part of its commitment to achieving the highest standards of non-proliferation, the UAE implements a strict import and export control system to prevent illicit trafficking of nuclear substances, techniques or equipment, and takes appropriate action in this regard. To this end, the State has gone a long way in the development and implementation of regulatory infrastructure consistent with its international obligations and the objectives of the national policy.

FANR issues licenses to companies to conduct controlled activities, conduct inspections on licensed companies, and cooperate with local and federal government agencies to ensure compliance with the international law and the national laws and regulations.