UK OGEL follows US certification
The United Kingdom has published an Open General Licence (‘OGEL’) for AUKUS nations, as the three partners in the military pact ready for the 1 September deadline when they begin licence-free trade of sensitive military items for the first time.
The purpose of the new OGEL, published 16 August and to become effective at the start of next month is, ‘To permit the export of dual-use items or military goods software or technology and trade of military goods, to, between and among Australia, the US and the UK,’ the UK government said. ‘This includes re-exporting goods, software or technology to and from permitted destinations, even if they have been incorporated into other products.’
The licence follows action last week in the United States, where the US Department of State informed Congress that AUKUS partners Australia and the United Kingdom now have export controls comparable to that of the US, a key step in the process that grants export licensing exemptions for the first time for top secret nuclear technology.
‘To reciprocate the US exemption, the UK is publishing an AUKUS specific open general licence (OGL) that will cover the equivalent range of goods and technology on the US exemption,’ the Export Control Joint Unit (‘ECJU’) and the Department for Business and Trade (‘DBT’) explained in an update. ‘To be able to use the OGL, UK exporters must be on the AUKUS nations’ Authorised Users list. In addition, the export or transfer, or supply and delivery of controlled goods under the OGL must be to recipients who are also Authorised Users,’ they explained.
