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The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Export Control Joint Unit have jointly issued Notice to Exporters 2025/17, dated 3rd July 2025, updating traders on amendments to the wording and conditions of the UK arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The NTE has been published following a government statement made by Stephen Doughty, Minister for Europe, North America, and Overseas Territories, on July 1st, 2025, advising of changes to restrictions on both countries.
The UK government has refined the wording of the controls detailed initially in the UK's interpretation of the 2014 arms embargo, as issued by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
The wording changes are as follows:
- from ‘all’ the UK Military List’ to ‘Weapons, ammunition, and munitions’
- The text ‘where this equipment could be used in the Nagorno-Karabakh region’ has been removed from the conditions.
Definition:
The UK’s embargo, therefore, applies to weapons, ammunition, and munitions specified in the Military List entries ML1, ML2, and ML3, and is expressly detailed as goods that could be used by either country’s government entities on the land border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Government entities include the military, police, and security forces.
Controlled Goods
Standard Individual Export Licences (SIEL) are required for all Military and dual-use goods for export to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
A link to the Export Licensing System can be found at the link below:
Apply for a standard individual export licence (SIEL) - GOV.UK
Controlled goods can be identified on the Consolidated List of Strategic Military and Dual Use goods list at the link below, which includes the UK Military List:
Consolidated list of strategic military and dual-use items that require export authorisation
The update from the ECJU reminds exporters that all export licences are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the UK Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. A link is below:
Strategic Export Licensing Criteria
Transit control
Traders are also reminded that a transhipment licence will be required for the movement of controlled goods through the UK with a destination of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Ministerial Statement by Stephen Doughty issued on 1st July can be found at the link below:
Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Further Information and Contact Details
For financial sanctions: contact the Office of Financial Sanctions implementation ofsi@hmtreasury.gov.uk
For UK export controls, contact the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU)
Helpline: 020 7215 4594 or email: exportcontrol.help@trade.gov.uk
To receive updates about export controls and trade sanctions, register for Notices to Exporters at the link below:
Transport Sanction information is available from the Department for Transport at the following email address: transportsanctions@dft.gov.uk
For specific queries about the sanctions regime, email the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office at the following email address: fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk
More details on the UK arms embargo for Armenia and Azerbaijan can be found on the Government Guidance page on the link below:
UK arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan guidance page.
Notice to Exporters 2025/17 can be located at the following link:
NTE 2025/17: update to the UK arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan - GOV.UK
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