Export Control Act 2002

At a glance

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

• Any Person 1

Plus 1 non-business duty on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

• Export Control Joint Unit — guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
• End-of-life vehicles — producer responsibility guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
• Vehicle Certification Agency — type approval (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
• GOV.UK Notice to Exporters on ITAR (opens in a new tab) Publication
• Apply for export licence (SPIRE) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
• UK Strategic Export Control Lists (opens in a new tab) Publication
• Export controls — dual-use items (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
• Exporting controlled goods (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
• OGEL (AUKUS Nations) (opens in a new tab) Publication
• GOV.UK Notice to Exporters on ITAR (opens in a new tab) Publication
• ... and 9 more

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.