Regulator profile

ECJU

Export Control Joint Unit

Enforcement Regulator UK-wide

What ECJU does

Administers the UK export licensing system for military and dual-use goods, software, and technology. Part of the Department for Business and Trade. Processes export licence applications via the SPIRE system.

Controls exports of encryption, advanced computing, AI technologies, and surveillance equipment. Uses SPIRE online system.

Dual UseExport ControlMilitary

Contact ECJU

Official guidance from ECJU

Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.

Open General Export Licences (OGELs) (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Check if you need an export licence (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

ECJU service and performance code (opens in a new tab)

Publication

Export Control Joint Unit — guidance (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

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

UK Strategic Export Control Lists (opens in a new tab)

Publication

View all 40 guidance documents (opens in a new tab)

Legislation that ECJU directly enforces.

Primary legislation

Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979

Legislation connected to ECJU’s remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.

Administered / monitored

Import of Goods (Control) Order 1954 UK Statutory Instrument Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991 UK Act of Parliament Export Control Act 2002 UK Act of Parliament The Export of Radioactive Sources (Control) Order 2006 UK Statutory Instrument Export Control Order 2008 UK Statutory Instrument Assimilated Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 Retained EU Law Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 UK Act of Parliament Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/125 Retained EU Law The Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 UK Statutory Instrument The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 UK Statutory Instrument The Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 UK Statutory Instrument The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 UK Statutory Instrument The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 UK Statutory Instrument The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 UK Statutory Instrument The Cyber (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 UK Statutory Instrument

Sectors regulated

DefenceManufacturing

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