Export rules for UK businesses
A UK exporter must not deal with sanctioned parties, or ship restricted goods without a licence. Here is each rule that reaches UK businesses, who it reaches, what it asks, what Certaby checks and what stays with you.
UK rules always apply. US export rules, OFAC and EU sanctions reach you only in the cases each one names; in export screening you tell us once which apply (“Your rules”). A guide to the rules, not legal advice: Certaby never classifies goods or decides whether you need a licence. Checked against the sources on 13 October 2026.
UK rules
UK financial sanctions
Required by law- Who it reaches
- Every UK business.
- What it asks
- No funds or economic resources to a designated person, or to a company they own or control directly or indirectly: more than 50% of the shares or votes, the right to appoint or remove most of the board, or it is reasonable to expect they can have its affairs run as they wish. Different designated persons’ holdings are not simply added together.
- What we do
- We screen every party against the UK Sanctions List each morning, and for a UK company we give the UK ownership and control verdict from Companies House.
- What stays with you
- Confirming a possible match, and owners above a foreign company (Companies House does not record them).
- Sources
UK trade sanctions, arms embargoes and other trade restrictions
Required by law- Who it reaches
- Every UK exporter, and UK people involved in a supply.
- What it asks
- Restricted goods and services need a licence, or are prohibited, for the destinations GOV.UK lists. Transit control applies to goods passing through the UK.
- What we do
- We show the measures GOV.UK lists for your destination, each linked to its official page (the destinations page), and we check GOV.UK’s list for changes every hour.
- What stays with you
- Whether your goods are caught, and the licence.
- Sources
Sanctions end-use controls
Required by law- Who it reaches
- Exporters of goods not otherwise controlled, once the government has told them of a risk.
- What it asks
- From 13 May 2026, a licence is needed once the government has informed you that an export risks being diverted to a sanctioned destination.
- What we do
- We explain the rule and link the guidance. We cannot know whether you have been informed.
- What stays with you
- Telling us if you have been informed, and the licence.
- Sources
UK strategic export controls
Required by law- Who it reaches
- Exporters of military and dual-use goods, software and technology.
- What it asks
- A licence for controlled items. Records under a general licence describe each export, the goods, dates, quantities and the names and addresses of the consignee, end user (if known) and supplier, kept at least 3 years from the end of the calendar year (4 for trade controls), or longer if the licence says. An individual licence application needs an End-User and Stockist Undertaking.
- What we do
- We keep a dated record of every party you screen, for 7 years, with your reference.
- What stays with you
- Classifying your goods (GOV.UK’s goods checker) and applying for a licence.
- Sources
US export rules
US export rules (Export Administration Regulations)
Required by law- Who it reaches
- UK businesses re-exporting US-origin items, or items with more US content than the de minimis level.
- What it asks
- No supply to parties on the Entity List, the Military End User List or the Denied Persons List without a US licence; from 10 November 2026, unless the US extends its suspension, also to companies 50% or more owned by Entity List or Military End User parties; US country controls for the destinations in Part 746; records kept 5 years.
- What we do
- We screen the six US export lists each morning, and for a UK company we give the US 50% ownership verdict.
- What stays with you
- The US licence, and working out the US content of your goods.
- Sources
US OFAC sanctions
US OFAC sanctions
Required by law- Who it reaches
- UK businesses dealing in US dollars, through US banks or with US people.
- What it asks
- Companies owned 50% or more, in total, by blocked (SDN-listed) persons are blocked too. The rule is about ownership, not control.
- What we do
- We screen the OFAC lists each morning, and for a UK company we give the OFAC 50% verdict from SDN entries only.
- What stays with you
- Whether US people or US dollars are involved in your deal.
- Sources
EU sanctions
EU sanctions
Required by law- Who it reaches
- Your EU companies, and goods shipped from the EU.
- What it asks
- Companies owned 50% or more by listed persons (their holdings added together), or controlled by them, fall under the same asset freeze (the EU Council’s best practices of 3 July 2024).
- What we do
- We screen the EU list each morning, and for a UK company we give the EU ownership and control verdict.
- What stays with you
- EU licences.
- Sources
Guides
Check a buyer, consignee, end user or supplier
One check screens the name against the UK, UN, EU and US sanctions lists and six US export lists, or a UK company and everyone recorded in its ownership, with a verdict for each set of rules that reaches you. A dated record for your file.