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  • Product: ONESOURCE Global Trade

UK introduces new consolidated Dual-Use Open General Export Licence (OGEL)

Date of publication: July 1, 2026.
On 25 June 2026, the UK's Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) introduced a new consolidated Dual-Use Open General Export Licence ("Dual-Use OGEL"), replacing and merging two existing instruments — the EU Member States Dual-Use OGEL and the General Export Authorisation GEA001 — into a single streamlined framework, while expanding the list of permitted destinations to include five new low-risk jurisdictions.

What has changed?

  1. Consolidation of Two Existing OGELs
    The new Dual-Use OGEL replicates the conditions of two pre-existing licences in a simplified format — the EU Member States Dual-Use OGEL and the General Export Authorisation (GEA) GEA001. Exporters already registered under either of the legacy OGELs are instructed to register under the new Dual-Use OGEL going forward. The legacy OGELs have not yet been formally revoked, suggesting a likely transition period during which both may coexist.
  2. Expanded destination scope
    The Dual-Use OGEL covers all destinations previously authorised, plus five new destinations added on the strength of a data-led ECJU risk review of historic licensing decisions:
    Category
    Destinations
    Previously covered (carried over)
    EU Member States, United States, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland
    Newly added
    South Korea, Singapore, Chile, Uruguay, British Overseas Territories
    The ECJU has signalled that further destinations may be added in future as the data-led review continues.
  3. Items covered
    The licence applies to the wide range of dual-use items listed in Annex I of:
    • Assimilated Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 — for items located in England, Wales and Scotland.
    • Regulation (EU) 2021/821 — for items located in Northern Ireland (under the Windsor Framework).
    Coverage spans civilian aerospace components, electronics, telecommunications, information security, sensors, navigation, marine, propulsion equipment and academic research data.

Key exclusions — controls have not been loosened

The OGEL does not authorise exports in several scenarios. Notable carve-outs include:
  • Items intended (in whole or part) for WMD end-use (chemical, biological, nuclear weapons or missile delivery systems).
  • Items destined for a military end-use in an embargoed country.
  • Items destined for the New Destinations (South Korea, Singapore, Chile, Uruguay, British Overseas Territories), where additional exclusions apply, including but not limited to:
    • Full-face masks, filter canisters and decontamination equipment for defence against CBRN agents.
    • Protective suits, gloves and footwear for CBRN defence.
    • Body armour.
    • Software and technology for the generation, command and control, or delivery of "intrusion software."
important
The control lists, SPIRE registration requirement and licence conditions remain unchanged. The reform is a repackaging of permissions — not a relaxation of controls. End-use, end-user and diversion-risk screening continue to apply in full.

Why this matters — business impact

  • Reduced administrative burden
     for exporters shipping to the new destinations — no need for individual SIELs for routine, low-risk transactions.
  • Faster lead times
     for importers in South Korea, Singapore, Chile, Uruguay and British Overseas Territories sourcing UK-origin dual-use goods.
  • Strategic alignment
     with the UK's risk-based licensing posture — ECJU expertise is freed up for higher-risk exports.
  • Greater enforcement visibility
     — mandatory CDS entry of the licence reference allows HMRC real-time oversight of open-licence shipments.

Conclusion

Following the structure of comparable regulatory updates — which note that such measures may impact licensing requirements and classification procedures for affected goods and technologies — we recommend that businesses review their export operations, update SPIRE registrations, and ensure CDS licence references are correctly applied to remain compliant with the new consolidated framework.
These changes have been implemented into the
ONESOURCE Global Trade content.
For more information on how ONESOURCE Global Trade solutions can assist you in managing export control classification and licensing requirements, please contact your Account Manager or Customer Success Manager.