In the UK, binding UN embargoes are implemented by prohibiting the export of goods and technology on the Military List which forms Part I of Schedule 1 of the Export of Goods, Provision of Technical Assistance and Transfer of Technology (Control) Order 2003, as amended. In addition, the supply of such items from the UK or supply abroad by UK registered companies and nationals is prohibited by Orders in Council made under the United Nations Act (1946).

The Orders in Council implementing the binding arms embargoes in relation to Liberia, Somalia, Angola and Rwanda also prohibit the supply by persons in the UK or by UK nationals or companies overseas of goods which are or may be intended to be used in connection with the development, production, handling, operation, maintenance, storage, detection, identification or dissemination of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or the development, production, maintenance or storage of missiles capable of delivering such weapons. Orders in Council extend such embargoes to the Crown Dependencies and the Dependent Territories. A licence is required for each export or supply from the UK or abroad by a UK registered company or national.

National embargoes and those agreed in the EU and the OSCE prohibit only the export of goods covered by the scope of the embargo, with the exception of the embargoes on China and Iran the UK interprets the scope of all such embargoes to cover goods and technology on the Military List.