Guidance

Prohibited and restricted: Great Britain exports

Published 31 January 2026

This guidance lists the items with prohibitions and restrictions which apply to exports.

Exporters should check with the relevant departments before arranging to export goods.

In the UK, Open General Export Licences (OGELs) primarily cover the export of controlled military and dual-use goods, software, and technology. Each specific OGEL has precise conditions, detailing the exact items (often identified by their export control list entry or ‘rating’), permitted destinations, and eligible end-users. 

Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) are for goods, technology, software, destination or situation that are controlled and not covered by an OGEL.

An Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) is designed to cover long-term contracts, projects and repeat business.

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) administers the UK’s system of export controls and licensing. There are also restrictions in force under other legislation which may require export licences from other issuing authorities in the UK.

This list is not exhaustive.

Item for Export	Information Resource
Agricultural products	Export or move food, drink and agricultural products
Animals (live)	Export or move live animals
Cash	Read sections 294 and 303Z8 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
Cat and dog fur	The Cat and Dog Fur (Control of Movement etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 The Cat and Dog Fur (Control of Import, Export and Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008
CFCs and other ozone depleting substances	Ozone-depleting substances: guidance for users, producers and traders Applying for a licence to import or export ozone-depleting substances
Chemicals	Export chemicals: licences and special rules
Controlled Drugs	Controlled drugs: import and export licences
Counterfeit currency notes	Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981
Counterfeit, pirated and patent infringing goods	Apply to protect your intellectual property rights
Cultural goods	Export art, antiques and cultural goods — special rules
Diamond Trading	Export rough diamonds: special rules
Dissostichus ssp (Patagonian toothfish/Antarctic toothfish)	Exporting or moving fish from the UK EU IUU Regulation Changes 2026: Catch Certificate & other documentation updates
Drugs precursor chemicals	Precursor chemical licensing
Dual use	UK strategic export controls Export controls: dual-use items, software and technology, goods for torture and radioactive sources
Endangered species	Guidance on exporting live animals or animal products Check if you need a CITES permit to import or export endangered species
End use	UK strategic export controls Export controls: dual-use items, software and technology, goods for torture and radioactive sources End-use controls applying to WMD-related items, including technical help
False identity documents	Policing and Crime Act 2009
Firearms	Exporting firearms
Fishery products	Exporting or moving fish from the UK EU IUU Regulation Changes 2026: Catch Certificate & other documentation updates
Fruit and vegetables	Importing and exporting fresh fruit and vegetables Export Narrative for Regulated Plants and Plant Products — UK Plant Health Information Portal
Horse and ponies	Export horses and ponies: special rules
Illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations	EU IUU Regulation Changes 2026: Catch Certificate & other documentation updates Exporting or moving fish from the UK
Indecent and obscene materials	Crown Prosecution Service website: Obscene Publications
Medical devices	Certificate of Free Sale for exporting medical devices
Military goods	UK strategic export controls Export controls: military goods, software and technology
Nuclear materials	Exporting items on the ‘Trigger List’
Pharmaceuticals	Export drugs and medicines: special rules
Plants and plant products	Importing and exporting plants and plant products Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website: Export Narrative for Regulated Plants and Plant Products — UK Plant Health Information Portal
Products of animal origin	Export or move animal bones, protein and other by-products
Protected coins	Export art, antiques and cultural goods — special rules
Radioactive Sources	Controls on radioactive sources
Sanctions	UK sanctions Moving to a single list for UK sanctions designations, 28 January 2026
Torture Goods	Export controls: torture and capital punishment goods
Trade sanctions	Trade sanctions, arms embargoes, and other trade restrictions
Waste shipments	Waste: export and import
Wood	Export wood, wood products and bark from Great Britain
Wood packaging material	Export wood, wood products and bark from Great Britain