Export Control

What is Export Control?

The European Union operates a system of Export Controls, which seeks to prevent technologies, materials, chemicals, goods, equipment, information, software or computer programmes, and know-how, being acquired by actors/parties that may use these items for undesirable purposes such as to destabilise governments, threaten national security or human life.  

Export controls take the form of legal obligations on ‘exporters’ to obtain prior authorisation (an Export Licence) from the national competent authority for the export to third countries of listed items – both tangible (e.g. hardware) and intangible (e.g. software, know-how) - or export restrictions (sanctions) in respect of certain destination countries or end-users. Items for military use, or that can be adapted for military use - i.e. dual use items (including their constituent parts, or unfinished goods) - attract particular attention.  

The University of Galway is subject to Export Control regulations.  If the University exports a listed item - or exports technical assistance/know-how relating to a listed item - it must obtain a licence in advance, regardless of the intended use.  Penalties for breaches of Export Controls can apply to individual researchers as well as to the University.   

In Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) is the national competent authority for Export Control. Its Trade Licensing & Control Unit is responsible for administering the export licensing system set out in the relevant Irish and European legislation. Further information is available here, including a useful information leaflet on Export Licensing and Control.   

Further university information on Export Controls legislation and compliance; what constitutes an ‘export’; research areas covered by export controls; and training resources can be found on our Research Community Portal - here.