Amendments to export control of dual-use items starting on 9 September 2021

A new Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the control of dual-use items was issued on 20 May 2021. The Regulation was published in the Official Journal L 206 on 11 June 2021, and it will enter into force on 9 September 2021. The currently valid Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 will be observed until that date.

Export control will be enhanced not only in order to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their use for undesirable military purposes but also to prevent human rights violations and terrorist acts. The new Regulation will bring new obligations to the competent export control authorities, for example with regard to cyber-surveillance items.

The Export Control Unit of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs organised an export control clinic in November 2020, where the content of the new Regulation was presented to Finnish export companies. The Regulation was also presented at the European Commission’s Export Control Forum in December 2020. A few linguistic changes have been made to the Regulation after that in the proofreading and translation process.

The Export Control Unit of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has prepared for the entry into force of the new Regulation on 9 September 2021 by reforming all of its electronic forms related to dual-use items.

Link to the new Regulation(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) (pdf, 465 pages)