Updated EU control list includes ECAD technology and chem/bio software

The European Commission has published Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/66 that updates the EU dual-use export control list in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2021/821, thus bringing it into line with decisions ‘taken within the framework of the international non-proliferation regimes and export control arrangements until December 2021.’

In an explanatory document the Commission notes:

‘The updated EU control list includes new entries in the field of electronics, semiconductors and computers such as: Electronic Computer-Aided Design (ECAD) used in the design process of Gate-All-Around Field-Effect Transistor (GAAFET), certain frequency synthesisers and signal generators, gallium oxide and diamond as new semiconductor materials, as well as their related technology. The control on digital computers has been adapted to the evolution of the technology, being 70 TeraFLOPS the new threshold.

‘In the chemical and biological sector, the updated list includes software specially designed for nucleic acid assemblers and synthesisers. Under the category of aerospace and propulsion, the addition of sub-orbital crafts and certain technology for the manufacturing of gas turbines (pressure gain combustion) stands out. There is a modification on additive manufacturing equipment designed for “superalloys”.

‘The updated control list also adds technical notes as local definition for “resolution”, “superalloys”, and a new technical note for “direct-acting hydraulic pressing”. It also adds a new nota bene regarding gas turbine engines and a definition of GAAFET. Other changes are mostly removals, changes of references and editorial changes.’