In December, the UK government released new comprehensive compliance guidance for professionals and businesses moving items that are subject to export controls.

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) is part of the Department for International Trade and regularly issues updates about rules and licence requirements for firms moving controlled items.

In December, the ECJU published:

• a new export control compliance code of practice
• a checklist of internal procedures for businesses to ensure export control compliance
• a series of case studies showing best practice

‘Extremely useful’

Roger Arthey, chair of the Institute of Export & International Trade’s (IOE&IT) Export Control Profession, said these documents will be “extremely useful” for individuals and organisations operating in export controls.

“We welcome this new guidance from the ECJU which will help British exporters to develop compliance procedures, prepare for audits and meet their export licence obligations,” he told the IOE&IT Daily Update.

“The practical nature of this new advice is also great to see,” he added. “For instance, the new checklist will be extremely useful for firms that do not have a central auditing function, helping them to ensure compliance with the terms of any licence issued by the ECJU”.

26 OGELs revoked

The ECJU also issued a ‘Notice to Exporters’ on 30 December stating that it had revoked 26 open general licences (OGEL), which they explained were “no longer required”.

“These licences were originally created to be used in parallel with licences that had been locked against further registration,” the unit stated. “These parallel licences maintained the ability to use open licences but with fewer permitted destinations. On 30 September 2022 the original licences were unlocked and made available for registration making the parallel licences below redundant.”

The 26 revoked OGELs are listed on the government website.

Updated guidance

The ECJU also updated the following guidance in December:

• UK strategic export controls
• End-use controls applying to WMD-related items, including technical help
• Open individual export licence (OIEL)
• Global project licence

Russia sanctions

The government last month introduced further sanctions against Russia in response to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, including an expansion of its prohibitions on exports.

The ECJU stated that the further sanctions “are to be added to the critical-industry goods and technology list as well as the defence and security goods and technology list”.

The government’s guidance for traders on Russia sanctions can be viewed here. It was also updated in December.

Controls in 2023

Arthey also told the IOE&IT Daily Update that the IOE&IT will be enhancing its support for export control professionals with the creation of a new special interest group (SIG) later this month.

“The new SIG will allow export control professionals to network and share practice as the IOE&IT continues to enhance its support for the sector in 2023,” he said.

The IOE&IT offers training and consultancy in export control compliance, with IOE&IT members able to benefit from discounted rates.