Latest News

The ECO's new programme of training and seminars is now out! View details of the seminars running between now and December 2009. See the

Export control awareness bulletin 20 (572KB)

New EU legislation controlling dual use exports comes into force on 27th August 2009.  Read Notice to Exporters 2009/17

ALL exporters should be aware of the imminent introduction of EORI (European Operators Registration and Identification) numbers which are due to replace the current TURN numbers on 30 June 2009.

This has implications for applications made via SPIRE. As a result all exporters should check and update their details on SPIRE as soon as possible. For more information see Notice to Exporters 2009/16

Amendments have been made to the Export Control Order 2008. As a result the Strategic Export Control Lists have been amended.

For more details see: Notice to Exporters 2009/15

The updated lists are:

• UK strategic export control lists: the consolidated list of strategic military and dual-use items that require export authorisation (5480KB)
• UK military list: the UK military list of items that require export authorisation (1252KB)

Export Control Organisation has now launched an online searchable statistics database. More details are available in Notice to Exporters 2009/14.

See the: Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics Website

3 men have been jailed for breaching the UK arms embargo to Iran.

Read more details about this successful prosecution and the wider advice to exporters to avoid similar steps being taken if they are found in breach of export controls. Details are published in Notice to Exporters 2009/13.

A new Open General Export Licence has been issued which allows, subject to certain conditions, vintage military vehicles (falling within entry ML6) manufactured 50 years or more before the export date, to be exported to EU countries for not more than three months. View a copy of the licence and how to register for the OGEL (Vintage Military Vehicles).  

As of Monday 18 May, applications for the Ministry of Defence's F680 Form can now be made via SPIRE. Find out more about the MOD F680 Process. A detailed guidance document (including screenshots) about making an F680 application is available on SPIRE. See Notice to Exporters 2009/11.

View Notice to Exporters 2009/10 which provides an update about EU Sanctions and resulting UK legislation on Uzbekistan.

Complying with Export Control Legislation should be a high priority for all companies issued with export licences. The ECO's Compliance Team have just launched a new newsletter to provide additional advice, tips and guidance on export control compliance issues. See:

Compliance newsletter - issue 1: May 2009 (94KB)

Access the updated Iran Sanctions - Frequently Asked Questions (Notice to Exporters 2009/09). This guidance has been amended following adoption of new UK legislation - the Iran (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2009.

The MOD Form 680 is the way that government considers the release of classified information by defence companies for use in export promotion. Guidance is now available on the transfer of MOD Form F680 applications to SPIRE. From 18 May 2009 all companies who need to apply for F680s should apply via SPIRE. Read more in Notice to Exporters 2009/08.

The Quarterly Report and Quarterly Figures for October to December 2008 are now published. See the Export Licensing Statistics - 2008.

The Export Control Order 2008 comes into force today!

This order consolidates previous UK legislation. As a result a number of updates have been made to these webpages especially in the Legislation area and we have updated the Guidance on Trade in Controlled Goods (Trafficking and Brokering) and issued new guidance on Transport Controls and Transit and Transhipment.

NOTE: We are also currently reviewing all our other guidance documents to update references where applicable to the new Order.

If you want to know more about the legislative changes, you might want to attend ECO's half day course on Trade Controls taking place on 21st April. To register: download the booking form attached to the latest

 (170KB)

To reflect the implementation of the new Order, the ECO has republished the UK Strategic Export Control Lists.