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Legislation and Policy

The processing and practicalities of issuing export licences for strategic goods (military or dual-use items) result ultimately from international regimes and agreements, legislation and policy. This is all distilled into the Control Lists which are essential documents in listing controlled items.

 

International Regimes and Agreements

The UK participates in a number of export control regimes. Each regime maintains a list of controlled goods and technology which is discussed and updated regularly. These agreed lists are then incorporated into each countries different legislation and respective Control Lists. Read more about the international regimes .

 

EU and UK Legislation (Statutory Law)

This is derived from 2 aspects:

  1. EU law which has direct effect within all EU member states separate legal systems (including the UK) and overrides national law.
  2. UK national law which is specific to the UK situation.

As an exporter, you need to be aware of the following EU legislation, which is directly applicable in the UK:

You should also be aware of specific UK legislation:

  • Export Control Act (2002) and resulting secondary legislation (known as “orders”):
    • Export Control Order 2008
    • Export of Radioactive Sources (Control) Order 2006

The Act has recently undergone a Review.

A summary of the UK's legislation is available under Current UK Strategic Export Control Legislation.

 

Strategic Export Control Lists

These are key documents. As the name suggests they are a list of controlled items. The Control Lists comprise several different parts, in particular:

Both lists form part of the UK Strategic Export Control Lists: The Consolidated UK Military and UK and EC Dual-Use Lists

 

End Use Controls


These are so called “catch-all” controls where there are concerns about the end-user. End Use Controls fall into 2 categories – Military End Use and WMD End Use.

 

License Decision Making

The UK Government is a party to internationally agreed criteria governing the export of arms and military equipment. These are:

All licence applications to export arms and other goods controlled for strategic reasons are considered against these criteria on a case by case basis.

 

Background to Export Controls

If you want to know more about the history and developments of export controls in the UK, see the History of Export Controls

 

Keep Updated

Access ECO's Notices to Exporters which keep exporters informed about the latest updates to legislation and other export control related issues.

Sign up for these notices by selecting to Join the ECO Mailing List.

 

Export Control Organisation

Updated: 27 August 2009

 

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