GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
export control authority
Unlike a customs agency, which primarily collects duties and monitors cargo flows, an export control authority operates preventively: it determines whether controlled goods – dual-use items, military equipment, and sensitive technologies among them – may be exported at all.
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Source: https://www.bafa.de/DE/Aussenwirtschaft/Ausfuhrkontrolle/ausfuhrkontrolle_node.html
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Definition & Explanation
Unlike a customs agency, which primarily collects duties and monitors cargo flows, an export control authority operates preventively: it determines whether controlled goods – dual-use items, military equipment, and sensitive technologies among them – may be exported at all. Its core tasks include issuing export licences, conducting risk assessments, and monitoring compliance with sanctions lists and embargoes. In the United States, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) fulfils this role for dual-use goods; in Germany, the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) is the competent authority. For companies, the practical implication is clear: any shipment of licence-required goods must be authorised before departure, as missing approvals can lead to criminal liability and permanent licence denial.
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