UK government issues guidance to exporters on what to expect from an audit

The UK’s Department for International Trade (‘DIT’) and Export Control Joint Unit (‘ECJU’) have issued updated guidance for exporters on what to expect from an audit conducted by the ECJU (6 December). Article 31 of the Export Control Order 2008 (SI 2008/3231) allows people authorised by the Secretary of State to inspect export records ‘to ensure that licences are being correctly used’.

The guidance applies to exporters holding the following licences:

• open general export licences (‘OGELs’)
• open individual export licences (‘OILs’)
• standard individual export licences (‘SIELs’)
• standard individual trade control licences (‘SITCLs’)
• standard individual export licences (‘SIELs’) for electronic transfers only

The guidance covers the following topics:

• ‘the background to export control compliance inspections
• when you will receive an inspection
• how to prepare for an inspection
• what a Compliance Inspector looks at during an inspection
• penalties you might face if you are not compliant with export control legislation.’

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/compliance-visits-explained/compliance-visits-explained