Mr. Sanctions

Category: ECJU (UK)

  • Notice to Exporters 2026/03: Illegal Exports lead to jail

    NTE 2026/03: company director jailed for illegal export

    Introduction

    A company director has been jailed for attempting to export military‑grade night vision rifle sights to Hong Kong without the required licence.

    Summary

    Key facts of the case include:

    • Steven Gates, 47, from Wakefield, attempted to export 8 thermal imaging rifle sights classified as ML1d under the UK Military List
    • he misdescribed the items as “low‑value cameras” to conceal their controlled status
    • Border Force seized 3 scopes at Manchester Airport in February 2022 and another 5 in April 2023
    • a search of Gates’ home uncovered evidence of 10 further unlicensed shipments to Hong Kong
    • he was convicted under sections 68 and 167 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979
    • Gates received a 2 year and 1 month prison sentence at Leeds Crown Court on 6 February 2026

    HMRC enforcement

    The UK operates strict export controls and a partial arms embargo on China and Hong Kong.

    HMRC has increased enforcement significantly, with 51 criminal investigations in 2024 to 2025, up from 5 in 2021 to 2022.

    HMRC statement

    Edwige Hill, Deputy Director, Fraud Investigation Service, said:

    “This was a calculated attempt to bypass the UK’s strict licensing regime. Anyone seeking to export military items without a licence will be detected and brought to justice.”

    Voluntary disclosures

    HMRC operates a voluntary disclosure process for unlicensed exports of strategic or sanctioned goods.

    Outcomes can include:

    • educational visits
    • written warnings
    • compound settlements
    • referral for prosecution

    Information on recent compound settlements is available through the Export Control Joint Unit’s Notices to Exporters collection.

    Guidance on how to submit a voluntary disclosure is provided in the export controls for military goods, software and technology guidance.

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  • February 9, 2026: ECJU introduces webinars for export licensing portal

    Export Control & Sanctions

    2026 Training Webinars on Using the LITE Export Licensing Service

    Dear Exporter,

    We are pleased to invite you to a series of webinars, developed in response to feedback and questions from the exporter community. Each session will address important topics to help you navigate the ‘Apply to export controlled goods’ service(also known as LITE) with greater confidence. Select here to view and sign up the webinars.

    Upcoming Webinars

    1. Demo on the ‘Apply to Export Controlled Goods Service’: Applying for an Open individual export licence (OIEL) (11th March, 3.30-4.30pm) This webinar will introduce the new functionality available for processing military and dual-use Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs).
    2. How to use the ‘Apply to Export Controlled Goods Service’: Determining Ultimate End Users (24th March, 1–2pm) This webinar will help you understand how to determine and manage end users versus ultimate end users, including a live demonstration.
    3. How to use the ‘Apply to Export Controlled Goods Service ‘: Editing Applications (22nd April, 10–11am) Learn how to edit draft and submitted applications and follow best practice for checking and amending your applications.
    4. How to use the ‘Apply to Export Controlled Goods Service’: Understand End Users, Consignees and Third Parties (14th May, 2-3pm) This session will clarify the roles of consignees, third parties, and additional contacts in licence applications, with examples and guidance based on different export scenarios.

    If you are unable to attend on the scheduled dates, a link to the recording will be made available for each webinar.

    We also welcome your questions in advance. Please submit them using the following link: Submit your questions here.

    We look forward to your participation.

    Kind regards,

    ECJU

    ECJU’s website can be found on GOV.UK

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  • January 29, 2026: Notice to Exporters 2026/02: updated guidance on open licence returns

    Export Control & Sanctions

    The guidance for submitting open licence returns has been updated to reflect changes in reporting requirements and to provide clearer instructions for exporters.

    This includes an updated list of open general export licences (OGELs) that now require an open licence return (OLR), along with revised explanations of what information must be recorded and how returns should be submitted.

    These updates are intended to help exporters meet their compliance obligations by improving the accuracy and consistency of reporting. Exporters should review the updated guidance and ensure their internal processes are aligned with the new requirements ahead of their next reporting cycle.

    Contact ECJU

    General queries about strategic export licensing

    Export Control Joint Unit
    Department for Business and Trade
    Old Admiralty Building
    Admiralty Place
    London
    SW1A 2DY

    Email exportcontrol.help@businessandtrade.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7215 4594

    NTE 2026/02 page

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  • January 29, 2026: Notice to Exporters 2026/01: exporter notices and e‑alert sign‑up

    Export Control & Sanctions

    Keeping you updated

    We are aware that some external users have experienced difficulties subscribing to updates for content relating to export controls after the migration to a new e-alert system in late 2025. This is separate to the GOV.UK page‑level subscriptions. This may affect user awareness of Notices to Exporters (NTEs), training announcements and outreach activity.

    Action for stakeholders

    To ensure consistent and reliable communication, we are directing you to the ECJU e‑alert service for UK sanctions and strategic export controls to receive updates. This remains our central channel for distributing notices to exporters, training information and updates on export control requirements.

    New training and open licence courses

    You can access the latest ECJU training sessions, such as a new short run of regional training providing essential guidance for exporters using open licences. These pages are updated regularly.

    Find training on export control compliance.

    Contact ECJU

    General queries about strategic export licensing

    Export Control Joint Unit
    Department for Business and Trade
    Old Admiralty Building
    Admiralty Place
    London
    SW1A 2DY

    Email exportcontrol.help@businessandtrade.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7215 4594

    Notice to Exporters 2026/01 page

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  • UK’s latest export control workshop bulletin

    Export Control & Sanctions

    Compliance and open licence workshops

    The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) will be providing Compliance and open licence workshops across the country.

    Duration: Half-day (including lunch)
    Cost: £195

    Target audience: You will have no or limited experience of using open export licences. This course will also benefit anyone considering using open export licences for the first time.

    Description: This course is aimed at improving exporters’ knowledge and understanding of open export licences and helping exporters to use those licences with confidence. It will also explain the role of the Compliance Inspectorate Team (CIT), and the structure and purpose of inspections and the ongoing relationship with users of open export licences.

    The course will consist of a short presentation, followed by a series of case studies covering several different open export licences for military and dual-use items. This will enable attendees to work together to consider and understand the benefits available. This should also help mitigate and reduce the risk of export control breaches when using open export licences.  

    This course will not cover Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs), Standard Individual Trade Control Licences (SITCLs), or the LITE system.

    Please see link for details.

    ECJU’s website can be found on GOV.UK

    Here’s the course schedule (follow the link above for other details):

    February 2026
    Edinburgh
    DateEventLocationCost
    4 FebruaryCompliance and open licence workshop – 9.15 – 12:45DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre, 34 Bread Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9A£195
    4 FebruaryCompliance and open licence workshop – 1:30 – 5:00DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre£195
    Aberdeen
    DateEventLocationCost
    11 FebruaryCompliance and open licence workshop – 9.15 – 12:45Leonardo Hotel and Conference Venue Aberdeen Airport, Argyll Road, Aberdeen, AB21 0AF£195
    11 FebruaryCompliance and open licence workshop – 1:30 – 5:00Leonardo Hotel and Conference Venue Aberdeen Airport£195
    London
    DateEventLocationCost
    24 FebruaryCompliance and open licence workshop – 9.15 – 12:45Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge, 45 Prescot St, London, E1 8GP£195
    24 FebruaryCompliance and open licence workshop – 1:30 – 5:00Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge£195
    March 2026
    Bristol
    DateEventLocationCost
    18 MarchCompliance and open licence workshop – 9.15 – 12:45Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin Sion Hill Clifton Bristol BS8 4LD£195
    18 MarchCompliance and open licence workshop – 1:30 – 5:00Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin Sion Hill Clifton£195
    April 2026
    Leeds
    DateEventLocationCost
    21 AprilCompliance and open licence workshop – 9.15 – 12:45Granary Wharf, Leeds, LS1 4BR91£195
    21 AprilCompliance and open licence workshop – 1:30 – 5:00Granary Wharf, Leeds£195

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  • ECJU wants your paperwork… now

    Export Control & Sanctions
    Open Licence Annual Returns for 2025 Exporters holding certain Open General Licences (OGLs) will have received automatic requests from SPIRE to complete their annual returns for 2025.

    Before you submit your return, check the following:

    • Select the correct reporting period (01-JAN-25 to 31-DEC-25)
    • Usage count must be entered accurately.
    • Surrender any licences no longer in use after submitting returns.

    The Open Licence Returns guidance is being updated and will be ready in the new year. 

    It has also come to our attention that whilst the current guidance requires details of ‘trades’ to be submitted under licence usage, there are inconsistent interpretations over what is meant by this wording. For the avoidance of doubt, exporters of tangible items should regard this as requiring details on a shipment-level basis (i.e. if 400 items were exported together as one shipment, this would be 1 use of the licence). Exporters of intangible items should regard this as requiring details on each transfer.

    ECJU’s website can be found on GOV.UK

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