Trade compliance

UK export controls

When a UK export may be strategic or dual-use, ECJU (Department for Business and Trade) expects a licence application with structured facts about the goods, the parties, and the intended use — backed by an undertaking from the overseas end user and evidence of what the item is. Freightcode holds that work as one assessment, attached to your CDS workspace. Licence applications are filed on GOV.UK (LITE or SPIRE); Freightcode does not submit them.

This is UK-focused: Strategic Export Control Lists, UK Sanctions List, EUSU, LITE/SPIRE/OTSI routing. It is not a multi-jurisdiction export-control suite.

The problem

Exporters and brokers assemble classification, party screening, end-user paperwork, and technical evidence across email and spreadsheets, then re-key the same facts into LITE or SPIRE. Incomplete or mismatched undertakings and missing technical specs are common causes of delay. Freightcode keeps the case, the undertaking, the evidence, and the draft pack on one record — with an audit trail.

Who is involved

• The exporter or broker (organisation workspace)
• Our independent consultancy — advise and sign off, or manage and file on GOV.UK
• The overseas buyer / end user (completes the undertaking via a secure link)
• ECJU at DBT (assesses the licence on the official service)

Typical path

1. Assessment created↓
2. Documents uploaded↓
3. Classification approved↓
4. Sanctions complete↓
5. EUSU requested↓
6. EUSU signed↓
7. Application pack generated↓
8. Submitted via GOV.UK↓
9. ECJU information request↓
10. Response uploaded↓
11. Licence granted↓
12. Licence linked to declaration

How a case runs

1. Assessment and documents

Open an export assessment in Trade Compliance. Upload a commercial invoice or specification; AI extracts product names, technical detail, parties, and destination for you to check.

3. Sanctions screening

Buyers, consignees, and end users are screened against the UK Sanctions List using rule-based name matching. Probable matches stay in review until you confirm or dismiss them.

4. Routing

From destination, control entry, and licence type, the case indicates whether the application path is LITE (Apply for a SIEL) or SPIRE / OTSI — for example sanctioned destinations or control entries that remain on SPIRE per GOV.UK guidance.

5. End-user and stockist undertaking (EUSU)

The exporter or consultant sends a secure, time-limited link to the overseas party. The form follows the structure of the official DBT/ECJU EUSU: roles (consignee, end user, intermediate user, ultimate end user, stockist), items, intended use, certifications, and signature. On submit it is stored on the assessment. The party can print or download their completed copy. ECJU still expects the official undertaking to be checked against GOV.UK before filing.

6. Product evidence

DBT needs to understand what the item is and what it does — datasheets, specifications, brochures, or product URLs. Attach evidence on the case; it is included in the draft pack for download.

7. Licence draft pack

The pack assembles the fields the online application asks for, with the completed undertaking and evidence. Printable and downloadable. There is no government API to submit a strategic export licence from Freightcode — the handoff to LITE or SPIRE is deliberate.

8. Recording the outcome

After filing, record the application reference and, when issued, the licence number — with type (SIEL, SITCL, SITL, F680, OIEL, OGEL, OTSI). The assessment audit trail covers the journey on the case.

Consultancy

Some exports need more than software. Independent specialists can review the assessment, challenge a proposed classification, advise on the appropriate licensing route, and help resolve complex sanctions or brokering questions before goods move.

The work starts from the same freightcode assessment, so the classification, parties, undertaking, technical evidence and draft licence pack are already organised in one record. This reduces repeated data gathering and gives the specialist a clear basis for review.

Complete the assessment in your organisation workspace, use the draft pack for LITE or SPIRE, attach the undertaking and technical evidence, and retain ECJU correspondence and application references on the same case. The resulting record supports internal governance, customer due diligence and regulatory enquiries.

You can appoint an independent consultant to advise and sign off, or to manage the licensing process on your behalf using the pack, undertaking and evidence already held in freightcode. Any filing takes place through the relevant official GOV.UK service rather than inside freightcode.

The secure consultancy review link gives the specialist controlled access to the case. They can review the supporting record, dispatch the EUSU, document their opinion, request changes and complete or block sign-off with notes, without relying on disconnected email attachments.

Available support

• Export-control classification and licensing reviews
• Licence strategy and application-management support
• Sanctions, trade controls and brokering guidance
• Mock HMRC export-control audits and remediation support
• Bespoke export-control training

Specialist reviews, training and licence application support are provided by our independent export-control consultancy partner.

Boundaries

• Control entries are recommendations until you approve them
• Freightcode does not submit licence applications to ECJU or OTSI
• Nothing on the platform is legal advice
• EUSU output follows the official form structure; check against GOV.UK before filing

Open Trade Compliance · All solutions · Apply to export controlled goods (GOV.UK)