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)

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 as facts for review. AI does not decide control status or clear a shipment.

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

Complete the assessment in your organisation workspace. Use the draft pack to file on LITE or SPIRE, attach the undertaking and evidence, and record references when ECJU responds.

You can engage our independent consultancy on the same assessment. They may advise and sign off only, or manage the licensing process and file on GOV.UK on your behalf — using the pack, undertaking, and evidence already on the case. SPIRE company registration allows authorised users (including consultants) to prepare and submit applications for a company; that filing still happens on the official service, not inside Freightcode.

Classification approval and sanctions adjudication today remain with the organisation user in the dashboard. The consultancy review link can view the case, dispatch the EUSU, and complete sign-off or block with notes (and record licence references if they filed).

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)