Export control compliance case studies
Updated 23 December 2022
皇冠体育appse case studies show examples of best practice and desirable approaches to licence compliance.
Implementing these procedures will help licence holders:
- meet the terms and conditions of the licence
- pass an inspection by an ECJU compliance inspector
Example 1: compliance when there are many controlled items
This company has several operating units. It has dual-use products.
It uses:
- open individual export licences (OIELs)
- open general export licences (OGELs)
- individual licences
Commitment to compliance
皇冠体育app chairman has placed a letter on the organisation鈥檚 intranet. This is addressed to all employees with any involvement in export control compliance.
Delegation of responsibilities
皇冠体育app managing directors of the operating units have responsibility for compliance.
Each has nominated an export control coordinator.
皇冠体育appre is a nominated compliance liaison officer within each function in the operating unit.
皇冠体育appse functions can include:
- sales and marketing
- order processing
- production
- despatch and shipping
- maintenance
- finance
- personnel
Export control responsibility is spelt out in each individual鈥檚 job description.
Information
皇冠体育app export control coordinator in each business unit:
- maintains up-to-date information on regulations
- gets
- gets email alerts from GOV.UK when there are:
皇冠体育app export control coordinator contributes occasional pieces to the company-wide newsletter. This is to raise general awareness.
Training
皇冠体育app export control coordinator records all jobs with export control compliance responsibilities. 皇冠体育app responsibilities are set out in each job description. This is regardless of whether the job has direct or indirect input to export controls.
Anyone in such a job must undertake one of 2 standard modules of training. This is regardless of whether it is induction or re-training.
One module is primarily for administration staff. This is a basic introduction to export licensing and how the system for compliance works.
皇冠体育app other module is for more customer-oriented staff.
This includes:
- sales
- maintenance
- middle managers throughout the company
It covers:
- why export controls exist
- the hazards of non-compliance
- how to spot suspicious orders
Training material includes:
- booklets
- webinars
- DVDs and slides
Procedures
皇冠体育app compliance liaison officer in each function draws up the local procedures for export control.
皇冠体育app compliance liaison officer passes this to the export control coordinator. 皇冠体育app coordinator checks it and then includes it in the manual for the operating unit.
皇冠体育appse functional procedures highlight important export control activities within the company.
Sales and marketing
皇冠体育app compliance liaison officer feeds into business planning. This ensures consideration of export licencing at the outset of a project or when looking at new markets.
皇冠体育app compliance liaison officer:
- publicises indicators of suspicious enquiries
- makes export controls an element in sales training
- ensures that all quotations to both UK and overseas enquirers include a statement of the potential need for an export licence
- gives agents written instructions about UK export controls and contact details of the export control coordinators
Design and development:
皇冠体育app compliance liaison officer:
- sees plans for new design and development
- gives early advice on possible licensing implications
- consults with ECJU and Ministry of Defence if there is a military use, allowing design amendment where necessary
Order processing
皇冠体育app order processing system includes a checklist of export licensing issues.
This should:
- flag a new order by:
- product
- destination
- licence type and number
- indicate end-use information requirements
- number orders sequentially and keep a paper file of end-use statements for each transaction
- records financial status checks, including details of directors of the customer company
皇冠体育app export control coordinator has online access and must record approval of the order and licence detail. This is before generation of an invoice. 皇冠体育app licence details appear on the paperwork generated to go with the goods
Despatch and shipping
皇冠体育app compliance liaison officer issues a checklist of instructions for freight forwarders.
皇冠体育appre is a close relationship with freight forwarders. 皇冠体育app compliance liaison officer provides training sessions for their staff on export controls.
Before despatch the compliance liaison officer or delegated deputy checks:
- completed documentation
- licence details
Final clearance is then given.
Returned export documents are filed with other documents relating to that transaction.
Record keeping
皇冠体育appre is a 4 year on-site document retention policy for all orders. Documents are then electronically archived for an indefinite basis.
Documents include the:
- contract
- letter of credit
- consignee or end-user undertaking
Access to the computer record is by:
- company name
- address
- postcode
- product
- country of destination or final destination
Audit
Compliance liaison officers conduct a self-audit of the procedures in their function twice a year. This includes checks of documentation, implementation, and training. 皇冠体育appy report the result of this audit to the export control coordinator. 皇冠体育appre is joint resolution of any problems.
Export control coordinators conduct peer audits of other operating units. This is to improve the objectivity of the review.
Example 2: compliance when there is a limited number of controlled items
This company:
- is a distributor of electronic components and associated products
- has an extensive catalogue of products
- supplies to mainly small or medium-sized original equipment manufacturers
- uses a sophisticated computer-controlled order processing system
- uses one UK site for all operations, including stockholding
- supplies overseas orders through:
- subsidiaries in important markets
- distributors in other territories
Responsibility
皇冠体育app export director has responsibility for export control supported by:
- the order processing manager, who creates and implements a viable set of procedures
- the finance coordinator, who checks for creditworthiness, as well as licence coverage, end-use and ultimate end-use
Quality
皇冠体育app subject of export control is a permanent agenda item at any senior management meetings. It should form part of the 鈥楾otal Quality Management鈥� programme.
Staff awareness
All staff administering export orders have guidance covering:
- identification of licensable products
- types of licences and working practices
- production of shipping documents
- audit trail
- quotations
A sales team undertakes regular visits to agents and subsidiaries in all territories. 皇冠体育appy brief on export controls and, in particular, on end-use concerns.
Identification of licensable goods
Controls only apply to a small proportion of the company鈥檚 stock. 皇冠体育app order processing system has a flagging process.
皇冠体育app flags:
- highlight the need for a licence
- show if an OIEL held by the company is applicable
- state if there is a valid end-user undertaking on file
If any relevant information is not available (for example concerning the consignee or end-use) a standard letter is sent to the customer requesting further details.
Introduction of a 鈥榩ositive鈥� licensing regime within the company is inappropriate.
End-use
Flags are available in the order processing system to highlight end-use concerns.
Staff refer orders from new consignees to the export manager or order processing manager. 皇冠体育appy carry out further checks on the consignee and end-use.
皇冠体育app business maintains regular contact with ECJU.
Documentation
Product descriptions of relevant goods have an 鈥楲鈥� mark in the order processing system. 皇冠体育app addition of the letter 鈥楲鈥� follows identification of part of an order as requiring an export licence.
皇冠体育app commercial invoice refers to the export licence.
An export log captures relevant information including:
- consignee
- goods
- value
- licence type
皇冠体育app company鈥檚 export log is available for the ECJU compliance inspector to identify shipments for audit.
Shipping
A close working relationship exists with the principal freight forwarder. 皇冠体育appre are regular discussions on export licensing. Shipments use direct routing wherever possible.
Example 3: compliance with electronic transfer of controlled technology
This company:
- electronically transfers controlled technology
- transfers controlled technology between foreign countries
Export control
Decisions on whether the technology requires an export licence need to be made as soon as possible. 皇冠体育app trigger for technology transfer could be the signing of a non-disclosure agreement. 皇冠体育appre is a similar, immediate point at which a licence is required when trade controls are applicable.
Responsibility
皇冠体育app electronic transfer of controlled technology and the movement of controlled goods between foreign countries, do not necessarily pass through the usual export control channels.
皇冠体育app company selects staff to play a more active role in complying with export control legislation. This could include:
- personnel in sales and marketing
- project managers
- senior engineers
Some companies have software to control technology transfers. Others rely on the provisions of a contract or project to define what can be transmitted and between which people. Details of every transaction are usually not required.
皇冠体育app relevant project manager should confirm whether the item needs a licence. This data is then passed to someone who can determine which licence is applicable.
Staff awareness
Potential exporters are all staff with access to both:
- controlled technology
- electronic means of transfer
皇冠体育appy must be briefed on their responsibilities under the legislation.
皇冠体育app level of detail and the method of doing this should be relevant to the needs and culture of your company. When they audit, compliance inspectors will ask to see what the company has done.
Actions could include:
- reading the guidance on exporting military or dual-use technology: definitions and scope
- setting up an authorisation system for laptops leaving the UK so they are:
- signed for
- checked for sensitive technology and appropriate Ministry of Defence approvals
Record keeping
Where possible you should use existing records.
皇冠体育app information you need to have available is:
- a description of the technology sent (including the type and use)
- details of the person or entity it is sent to, including:
- information on end-users and any other party to the transaction
- the destination countries involved
- the date of the transfer or the period of time the transaction takes place over (start and end dates in cases where the transfer takes place over a period of time)
- any other records which the licence may specifically state
Electronic transfer of technology
Compliance inspectors will not need to see every email.
You should record (as part of the project plan) what technology was sent, to what organisation, when the transfer began and when it ended.
If it is part of a call-off contract to provide assistance there will be a start and end date to the contract. Invoices are likely to hold information on the technology transferred and where to.
Trade controls
Records of trade control transactions can be:
- emails or faxes
- records of telephone conversations
This is acceptable to a compliance inspector if the documentation confirms that the terms of the licence have been met.