In the following circumstances, the Export Control Joint Unit will accept amendment requests.

• Changes to exporter details (such as the site or registered address)
• Amendments or additions to named recipient details for an existing destination (name and address) 
• Request to extend an extant OIEL, where a renewal application has already been submitted 

The Notice advises that the ECJU will no longer accept amendment requests for the following circumstances

• Amendments or additions to goods
• Amendments or additions to destinations

The ECJU has advised the reasons for the changes to OIEL applications, confirming that processing substantive amendments takes as long as, or longer than, assessing a new licence application.

NTE 2026/09 is also detailed on the SPIRE login page, the Shared Primary Information Resource Environment, which has been the ECJU Portal for registering and applying for Strategic Export Licences since 2007. SPIRE’s replacement, LITE, was released in Public Beta in September 2024. LITE's first service was to enable SIEL (Standard Individual Export Licence) applications to be submitted on the new portal, with some exceptions for classifications or destinations where a SPIRE application would still be required.

LITE was originally titled Licensing for International Trade and Enterprise and is also referred to as the 'Apply to export-controlled goods' (LITE) service.   

The transition from SPIRE to LITE for Open Individual Export Licence applications has begun. On March 11^th, the ECJU delivered a one-hour webinar titled “OIEL Functionality in LITE”. The webinar shared details about the screens and data required to apply to the new portal. It is my understanding that OIEL applications on LITE are currently in the Private Beta stage, meaning that certain exporters can apply for licences. This mirrors the transition from SPIRE to LITE for SIEL applications. It is important to highlight that the ECJU have confirmed that amendments or additions to goods and destination are currently not possible on the LITE system.  

As with the SIEL application process, SPIRE and LITE share similarities and differences. The OIEL application screens and format will look familiar to exporters who have applied for a SIEL on the new LITE system. The process is split into two sections. Firstly, preparing the application by providing a reference and asking if the exporter has been asked to apply by HMRC or Border Force.

The second section, completing the application, requires a variety of information. The LITE OIEL application process asks “Why are you applying for an OIEL and (roughly) how often do you expect to use the licence to export products”, together with details of the end project that the OIEL exports will relate to, if applicable. The application requires the destinations (countries), Sector type and specific sector, for example, Sector type Non-Government, Sector Anti-Piracy and Destination type, which confirms if the item will be supplied to a country as the first destination of the goods or via a re-export.

We await further details on the release to Public Beta for OIEL applications on LITE.