Arms export licensing

The Government is committed to maintaining a responsible defence industry.

All arms export licences are rigorously examined on a case-by-case basis
under the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria. The
criteria reflect an EU Common Position and thus ensure consistency across
the EU in the control of exports of the military technology and equipment listed
in the agreed EU Common Military List.

Consideration of Criterion 2 of the eight Consolidated EU and National Export

Licensing Criteria – the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in
the destination country – is mandatory for all export licence applications. If we
believe there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal
repression, the Government will not issue a licence. The UK’s economic,
financial and commercial interests are only taken into consideration if the
decision under the criteria is not otherwise clear-cut. If there is no basis under
the criteria to approve or refuse an application, consideration of other factors
is not relevant; in other words, these factors do not create a self-standing
basis for approval or refusal. Only when a decision is marginal do they add
weight.