GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026

Export Compliance Program

Once a company ships controlled goods – technology, defence articles, chemicals, or dual-use items – national and international export control regimes come into play.

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Last updated: 18 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/policy-guidance/enforcement/compliance

Category

Logistics Concept

Reading time

1 min

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113

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Definition & Explanation

Once a company ships controlled goods – technology, defence articles, chemicals, or dual-use items – national and international export control regimes come into play. An Export Compliance Program is the company-wide framework ensuring that all shipments meet these requirements: it covers end-use and end-user verification, screening against sanctioned-party and controlled-goods lists, and documented pre-shipment approval workflows. Agencies such as the US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) or Germany's BAFA require evidence of such due diligence during enforcement actions. A well-documented program serves as mitigating evidence; the absence of one typically aggravates penalties. Unlike a single export licence, an Export Compliance Program is a permanent institutional control structure embedded across all relevant departments.