What are export control?

The objective of export controls is to prevent products that may be used in relation to the development or production of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons from reaching military-related customers in critical countries, for example North Korea and Iran. Similarly, the objective is to prevent products that may be used in relation to conventional weapons from being exported to countries of concern.

The legal basis for export controls is an EU regulation. Exporters in other EU Member States must therefore comply with the same rules.

In Denmark, the Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority is the authority in charge of the administration of the international export control rules that apply to dual-use products, i.e. civilian products, which in addition to their civilian use, may also have a potential military application. The Ministry of Justice administers the export control rules in relation to arms.

It is the exporters own responsibility to ensure that the export control rules are complied with, and that critical products do not end in the wrong hands. Non-compliance with the export authorisation requirement may involve criminal liability in the form of a fine or imprisonment.