BEIJING -- The top legislature on Saturday passed a law on export control, which will go into effect on December 1.

With detailed stipulations on export-control lists and measures, the law was adopted after the third reading at a bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

China may take countermeasures against any country or region that abuses export-control measures and poses a threat to China's national security and interests, according to the law.

The law also clarifies that technical documentation related to the items covered by the law is also subject to export-control stipulations.

Export control is a common international practice in which a country prohibits or restricts the export of specific items, such as nuclear materials, in order to fulfil its international obligations, such as non-proliferation, while safeguarding its own national security and development interests.