NTE 2020/19: EU transition and SPIRE
Published 11 December 2020
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-to-exporters-202019-eu-transition-and-spire/nte-202019-eu-transition-and-spire
At 11pm on 31 December 2020 the transition periods ends and EU export control law ceases to apply in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).
EU regulations and directives relating to strategic export controls will continue to apply in Northern Ireland. This is as a result of the Northern Ireland Protocol which forms part of the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU.
The rules that will apply to controlled exports will depend on whether the items are exported from Great Britain or from Northern Ireland.
1. What you need to know
In preparation for the end of transition changes, SPIRE, the online export licensing system will be unavailable on 31 December 2020 to allow for essential system updates.
In connection with these changes, you may receive Requests for Further Information regarding current licence applications in order to ensure that we are able to issue the correct licence from 1 January 2021.
The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) will issue further guidance on export controls and the end of transition period in due course.
2. Action to take
With immediate effect and in order to ensure that we are able to issue the correct licence from 1 January 2021, a response to the following questions on your current application are/is required.
Where stated on your application form that the location of your items is the ‘UK’, please could you confirm if the items are located in either ‘Northern Ireland’ or ‘Great Britain’.
Where stated on your application form that a third party is located in the ‘UK’, please could you confirm that the third party is located in either ‘Northern Ireland’ or ‘Great Britain’.
Where stated on your application form that an ‘Ultimate End User’ is in the UK, please could you confirm that the Ultimate End User is located in either ‘Northern Ireland’ or ‘Great Britain’.
Where stated on your application form that the item recipient (consignee or End User) is located in the UK, please could you confirm if the recipient is located in either ‘Northern Ireland’ or ‘Great Britain’.
If possible, please provide this information within SPIRE via Supplementary Information, and E-Mail your case officer once this has been done. If you do not take this action when applying, we will have to write to you separately and this might cause delays to processing your application.
In providing this information you give permission for ECJU to update your application on your behalf.
These actions will be put in place regardless of the EU negotiations outcome.
3. Contact ECJU
General queries about strategic export licensing
Export Control Joint Unit
Department for Business and Trade
Old Admiralty Building
Admiralty Place
London
SW1A 2DY
Email exportcontrol.help@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Telephone 020 7215 4594