Strategic export controls

Book excerpt: The Government published a consultation document "Export Control Act 2002: 2007 review of export control legislation" in June 2007 (further details can be accessed at http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/page39910.html). This report contains the Quadripartite Committee's own review of export control legislation, along with its response to the Government's consultation document. The Committee concludes that the Export Control Act 2002 has provided a sound legislative basis for controlling and regulating the UK's strategic exports but with gaps and shortcomings. It also welcomes the Government's review as a constructive process that addresses many of the issues the Committee and other parties have raised over several years, and praises the improvement in the volume and quantity of information that the Government provides. But the review does not mention HM Revenue and Customs, the department that enforces the controls; and it ignores the EU dimension despite a significant part of the export control regime being derived from EU legislation. The Committee makes nearly 100 recommendations and observations on the review and the operation and effectiveness of the UK export control legislation.