SGSELSG3065 - Issuing and presentation of licences: Exporting Dual Use Items
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-24)


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Exporting dual-use items

From the UK to the EU and the Channel Islands

A new export licence is needed if dual-use items are being exported from the UK to the EU or the Channel Islands, issued by the UK.

ECJU has published the Open General Export Licence (OGEL) for exports of dual-use items to EU Member States (https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fopen-general-export-licence-export-of-dual-use-items-to-eu-member-states&data=04%7C01%7Camanda.thompson%40hmrc.gov.uk%7C1a0957b6693d488ec54b08d8951c9fb3%7Cac52f73cfd1a4a9a8e7a4a248f3139e1%7C0%7C0%7C637423297453176756%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=cmYkS0AI7FYnxntgePqujlMBPvSUomL8p5XM3ljISv8%3D&reserved=0). link is external.

This new export licence also covers exports to the Channel Islands and will remove the need for individual licences to be applied; and can be used from 1 January 2021 following registration on SPIRE, the online export licensing system (https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spire.trade.gov.uk%2Fspire%2Ffox%2Fespire%2FLOGIN%2Flogin&data=04%7C01%7Camanda.thompson%40hmrc.gov.uk%7C1a0957b6693d488ec54b08d8951c9fb3%7Cac52f73cfd1a4a9a8e7a4a248f3139e1%7C0%7C0%7C637423297453186718%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=ClMBfH%2Bawf2zdsEl%2BkPxAAYFWz4%2FnKF6I60gvxn1F8A%3D&reserved=0). Link is external.

However, the conditions of this new licence allows 30 days from the first use to register with DBT.

If DBT assess the goods as controlled but the OGEL (Export of Dual-use items to EU Member States) may be used, goods can be released for export and the exporter issued with a letter advising them of the need to register for the OGEL within 30 days. A pro forma letter can be found in SGSAROA.

If exporters do not register for the OGEL within 30 days and subsequently present goods for export under the licence, they may become liable to proceedings under Section 68(1) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

An export declaration is required for exports from GB (NI has different rules see) Moving goods between Great Britain and NI or from the EU to NI (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/trading-and-moving-goods-in-and-out-of-northern-ireland-from-1-january-2021#content)

From the UK to a non-EU country

If a licence to export dual-use items to a non-EU country issued by the UK is held, it will remain valid for export from the UK. This includes registrations for Open General Export Licences and General Export Authorisations, which will still operate as UK licences.

An export licence issued by one of the 27 EU countries will no longer be valid for export from the UK.

From the EU to a non-EU country

A new licence, issued by an EU member state, is needed for exporting dual-use items from EU member states to a non-EU country.

An export licence issued in the UK will no longer be valid to export dual-use items from an EU member state

From the EU to the UK

A new licence, issued by an EU member state, is needed for exporting dual-use items from EU member states to the UK.

The European Council has proposed to add the UK as a permitted destination to Union General Export Authorisation (GEA) EU001, to minimise any additional licensing burden for those exporting dual-use items from the EU to the UK