GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026

ENC License Exception

When exporting encryption products from the United States, the ENC License Exception comes into play as a provision of U.S.

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Last updated: 18 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/regulations/export-administration-regulations-ear

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Definition & Explanation

When exporting encryption products from the United States, the ENC License Exception comes into play as a provision of U.S. export control law, allowing the export and reexport of specified encryption commodities, software, and technology without a prior individual licence from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). "ENC" stands for "Encryption Commodities, Software and Technology". Eligibility depends on meeting defined technical criteria, acceptable end-user categories, and permitted destination countries; embargoed destinations and military end-users are generally excluded. Logistics and compliance teams routinely rely on ENC for cross-border shipments of commercial security software—VPN clients, encrypted drives, or standard cryptographic libraries. Annual self-classification reports to BIS are required in many cases, and thorough documentation of eligibility must be maintained. The ENC exception should not be confused with a blanket export authorisation; the exporter remains responsible for correctly classifying the item under the Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) system.

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ENC License Exception

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