“Knowing who your end user is and who you are supplying to is crucial”. Companies need to ask a few questions: ) Is the country in sanction? ) Why does the customer need the equipment? ) What’s the intended end use of the equipment – could it
be intended for a military or weapons of mass destruction end use? “Likewise, if you get an enquiry and are not sure who the end user is, you should do due diligence checks – there’s a lot of open-source information available. If you have suspicions about the end user – or have been informed by government that a licence is required – you must apply for a licence.” On processing licences, ECJU publishes targets – e.g. 70% of SIELs will be processed in 20 working days. Regarding ‘lead times’ for applications, these can vary dependant on the license required and other risk factors including the end use. Check first to see if you can use an open general export licence, as some dual use items are covered by these. ECJU also processes trade sanctions licence applications via the SPIRE platform. HMRC is the government department responsible for enforcing breaches of export control laws. Breaches can lead to taking away use of a licence, financial and/or civil penalties.
Subsea UK champions British underwater engineering expertise, skills, and technology, working closely with the industry, government, and academia on initiatives to assist firms increase exports, diversify into new markets, and develop new technological solutions. The industry body has been working closely with DIT to provide members with the most up to date and reliable information to ensure their compliance with export and trade controls. Neil Gordon, Chief Executive of Subsea UK said: “With recent changes on exports to EU countries and a growing global demand for subsea infrastructure for renewables projects, including the emerging floating offshore wind market, it’s now more important than ever that industry is aware of regulations. “Through our collaborative partnerships with government bodies and agencies like DIT, and our knowledge of the industry’s target markets, Subsea UK arms companies with the intelligence required to increase exports and points them in the right direction for getting the best advice, in-country support and cost-effective access to trade missions to expand their global footprint.” Sign up for Notices to Exporters to receive the latest information on changes to policy and licence requirements. It’s a free service and keeps you updated on how to remain compliant.
