UK ECO issues key export control changes

The UK’s Department for International Trade (‘DIT’)’s Export Control Organisation (‘ECO’) has made several changes of which exporters should be aware.

On 7 July, DIT and ECO amended schedule 2 of Export Control Order 2008, which lists military goods, software and technology subject to export controls. These amendments include several changes to the definitions – such as for airship, lighter than air vehicles, laser, pyrotechnics and software – as well as changes to ML1, ML8 and ML10. Schedule 2 is now up to date with changes made to the EU Common Military List amended in light of changes to the Wassenaar Arrangement.

The new order, The Export Control (Amendment) (No.3) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017 No. 697) comes into force on 13 July 2017.

The ECO has also amended its open general export licence (‘OGEL’) for printed circuit boards and components (10 July). The key change is that the schedule of goods has been extended to include component parts such as unpopulated printed circuit boards, vehicle parts, such as brake disks, and aircraft parts, such as windows.

For guidance on changes to the OGEL for printed circuit boards and components see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revoked-open-general-export-licences-pcbs-and-components-for-military-goods

For Notice to Exporters 2017/13 amending schedule 2 of the Export Control Order 2008 see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-to-exporters-201713-export-control-order-2008-amended/notice-to-exporters-201713-export-control-order-2008-amended