GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026

Export control

A shipper schedules a consignment of high-precision measurement instruments for a destination under an arms embargo – and customs blocks the shipment because no export licence exists.

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Last updated: 22 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0821

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Definition & Explanation

A shipper schedules a consignment of high-precision measurement instruments for a destination under an arms embargo – and customs blocks the shipment because no export licence exists. Export control is the government framework through which states monitor, screen, and licence the export of goods, software, or technology that carry military potential or qualify as dual-use items (usable for both civilian and military purposes). Exporters and freight forwarders must check every shipment against sanctions lists, embargoes, and international arms control regimes before goods leave the country. In the EU, the Dual-Use Regulation (EU 2021/821) provides the primary legal basis; national authorities such as Germany's BAFA or Switzerland's SECO process individual licence applications. Non-compliance can result in substantial fines, reputational damage, and long-term export bans.