The Export Control Order 2008, when introduced, represented a major strengthening of export controls from the UK. Government intervention is necessary to find an effective and proportionate strategy in guarding against the risks of undesirable exports and related activities. This legislation was aimed at ensuring that recent business developments didn’t enable unscrupulous exporters and traders to put controlled goods and technology into the hands of blacklisted individuals, legal entities and undesirable end users. The Order forms a significant component of HM Government’s strategy to combat undermining efforts against their counter-proliferation aims, their support for international human rights and their prevention of UK technology from falling into the hands of illegal or blacklisted individuals or legal entities, i.e. by terrorists.
The Export Control Order 2008 ensures UK businesses and exporters are committed to responsible, effective, open and transparent export activities under the UK exporting regime. Failure to comply with legislation could mean UK businesses contributing, inter alia, to internal repression, regional instability, external aggression and the undermining of development in third world countries.
