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Strategic export controls

The government believes strongly that arms transfers must be managed responsibly. The UK is committed to maintaining one of the most rigorous and transparent arms export control systems in the world.

The criteria

Every licence application must be carefully assessed against a set of stringent criteria. These are known as the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. These criteria were announced by Mr Peter Hain, Foreign & Commonwealth Office Minister, on 26 October 2000. The consolidated criteria are based on those in the EU Code of Conduct, adopted on 8 June 1998. They also incorporate elements from the UK's previous national criteria, which had been in place since 1997.

The consolidated criteria are applied on a case by case basis, taking into account the circumstances prevailing in the country of final destination at the time of export. An export licence will not be issued if the decision is not consistent with the criteria.

Summary of the consolidated criteria

Criterion 1: Respect for the UK's international commitments, agreements, and obligations
Criterion 2: The respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the end-user country
Criterion 3: The existence of tensions or armed conflicts in the end-user country
Criterion 4: Preservation of regional peace, security and stability
Criterion 5: National security of UK, UK overseas territories, Allies, EU member states and other friendly countries
Criterion 6: Behaviour of the end-user country with regard to the international community, in particular to its attitude to terrorism, the nature of its alliances and respect for international law
Criterion 7: Risk that exports will be diverted within the end-user country or re-exported under undesirable conditions
Criterion 8: Compatibility of exports with the economic and technical capacity of end-user country
 
For a full overview of international regimes and agreements, legislation and policy governing export licensing of strategic goods, see the Export Control Organisation page on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website.