Export Controls

The Export Control Joint Unit has issued Notice to Exporters 2025/09 advising of the update of the Open General Export Licence, Oil and Gas Exploration Dual Use Items

Applying for a Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) can be daunting, particularly if the applicant is unused to terminology or unsure why the application questions are phrased the way they are.

The Export Control Joint Unit issued NTE 2025/04 on 26th February, confirming that four Open General Export Licences (OGELs) have been updated to remove Rwanda as a permitted destination.

OGEL for exports to support the Joint Strike Fighter has been updated to include Greece as an Export Customer.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK’s commitment to global security through intensified sanctions has taken centre stage. Among the UK’s key priorities is the non-proliferation (the unintentional spreading) of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and other controlled goods.

The Environment Agency has requested that export measures be put in place to enable the identification of goods for export containing mercury where an export waiver is applied against the export prohibition.

As we step into 2025, UK exporters are confronted with a rapidly evolving global regulatory landscape, marked by increased sanctions and emerging risks tied to technological advancements. To remain compliant and competitive, businesses must navigate this intricate web. The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU), a government department responsible for issuing export licenses and providing guidance on export controls, and the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), which enforces financial sanctions, are intensifying their enforcement efforts. Geopolitical shifts and technological progress are also reshaping the risks faced by exporters.

Published 19 December 2024, exporters were advised that special and diacritic characters should not be used in licence applications or licence declarations. The CDS is unable to accept these particular characters at present.