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Review of arms export controls launched today

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY News Release (P/2007/117) issued by The Government News Network on 18 June 2007

The Government today launched a review of its three-year old arms export control legislation.

The consultation will look at a wide range of proposals, including whether more needs to be done to control the trading in a wider range of arms or equipment and whether a pre-licensing registration system for UK based arms traders should be introduced.

The review of the UK's Arms Export Controls was launched today by Malcolm Wicks, Minister for Science and Innovation. He said:

"The UK has one of the most robust export control systems in the world and so I am proud of this Government's record in this area. The Export Control Act 2002 completely overhauled the UK's export control system for the first time in over 60 years.

"But ensuring that the UK's export controls remain among the most stringent in the world requires regular review. This consultation is part of our on-going review of export controls to ensure they are appropriate in a constantly changing world, and our commitment to ensuring that these controls remain as open as possible to public and parliamentary scrutiny.

"This Review seeks to identify options for further change, many of which have been highlighted in discussions with both industry and Non-Governmental Organisations. Ultimately our aim is to find an effective and proportionate way to guard against the risk of undesirable exports and related activities. We are seeking the evidence and ideas that will enable us to do so.

"I encourage all those with an interest in export control to contribute their views."

The legislation which the Government introduced three years ago was seen as radical and far-reaching. This Review will enable the government to revisit the new controls in the light of experience to establish whether they are having the intended effect, without imposing unnecessary or disproportionate business burdens, and to consider the case for further change.

The consultation document sets out a wide range of options for changes to the controls including whether:

* trading by UK persons overseas should require a UK licence for a broader range of equipment than at present - including small arms and light weapons

* providers of 'ancillary services', such as transportation, should be subject to greater control

* tighter control should be applied to the production agreements under which UK companies use overseas companies or their own overseas subsidiaries to produce military equipment on their behalf for onward supply

* the Military End Use Control - under which goods which are not normally licensed can be deemed licensable when exported for incorporation into military equipment which will be used in an embargoed destination - should be extended to cover equipment that is complete when it leaves the UK and to destinations that are not subject to embargoes

* a pre-licensing registration system for UK based arms traders should be introduced

* the scope of controls on torture equipment should be extended, for example by adding to the list of items considered to be 'torture equipment', or introducing an EU or UK 'end use control' on any equipment where there is reason to believe that it is being exported for use in acts of torture

The full consultation document, and detailed questionnaire for views and evidence is available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/index.html. The consultation will run until 30 September 2007. At the end of the consultation period, the Government will analyse responses received and publish the initial results of that analysis by 31 December 2007

Notes for Editors

1. The consultation document '2007 Review of Export Control Legislation' can be found at http://www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/index.html

2. Paper copies of the consultation document are available from the DTI Publications Orderline, ADMAIL 528, London, SW1W 8YT, Tel. 0845 015 0010; Fax 0845 015 0020; Minicom 0845 015 0030.

3. Queries regarding any aspect of the Consultation Document, including advice on how to respond to the Document, should be directed to the ECA Review 2007 mailbox at: ecareview2007@dti.gsi.gov.uk

4. The UK's strategic export controls support the Government's counter-proliferation objectives. They are based on the Export Control Act 2002 and in particular its secondary legislation which came into effect in 2004. This review fulfils a Government commitment to undertake a Post Implementation Review three years after their introduction, in accordance with Cabinet Office 'Better Regulation' Guidelines. The Government sees this as an important opportunity to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of what it did in 2004, and to assess options for change.

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