The European Union (EU) has as of today, a new export control regulation. Referring to sensitive products and technologies, of military or security purposes, intending to "better respond to emerging threats."

The new export control regulation came into force today and will strengthen the control of trade in dual-use items. These are civilian goods and technologies with possible military or security uses.

This new regulation improves the EU's ability to "protect human rights and support the security of strategic product supply chains," the EU executive announced.

This update follows the regulation proposed by the European Commission in 2016. It is now applied to modernize the EU's control over goods and technologies with civilian uses.

The EC's Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, quoted in a statement, stresses that "in an increasingly unstable world, the EU must be able to respond better to emerging threats.

In his view, the new rules will now allow member states to work even more closely with each other and their allies. Thus addressing the potential security risks arising from biotechnology, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.