Transparency data

Israel export control licensing data: 31 May 2024

Updated 10 December 2024

Introduction

The UK’s arms export system is enshrined in law through the Export Control Act and implemented through our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. Every quarter, comprehensive Official Statistics are published on licence applications including those issued, refused or revoked. No other international export control regime offers this level and frequency of transparency.

The next Official Statistics publication will cover export licensing decisions made between 1 July and 31 December 2023, and will be published on 13 June 2024. However, given the exceptional circumstances, and the significant Parliamentary and public interest, the Department for Business and Trade has chosen to publish an ad hoc management information release to provide more current information about Israel export licensing.

This ad hoc management information release therefore provides data on:

• the number of extant licences where Israel was included as a destination as at 31 May 2024 (Table 1)
• the number of licences currently in-progress where Israel was included as a destination as at 31 May 2024 (Table 2)
• the number of licensing decisions where Israel was included as a destination from 7 October 2023 to 31 May 2024 (Table 3)

This ad hoc management information release should not be considered to be part of the strategic export controls licensing Official Statistics as they have not been produced in the same manner – see Related statistics for further details.

Table 1: Israel export control licences extant as at 31 May 2024

Licence type	Number of licences
Standard individual export licence (SIEL)	290
Standard individual trade control licence (SITCL)	0
Open individual export licence (OIEL)	51
Open individual trade control licence (OITCL)	4
Total	345

Table 1 notes

1. Licences extant as at 31 May 2024. These figures include licences extant that were issued prior to 7 October 2023. Upon a licence being issued, it remains extant until the licence is exhausted (i.e. the exporter uses the licence in full), the licence is surrendered (i.e. the exporter proactively gives up the licence as it is no longer required), the licence expires (e.g. SIEL licence types generally have a validity of 2 years), or the original decision to issue the licence is overturned (e.g. the licence is revoked).
2. Figures for extant OIELs do not contain Cryptographic OIELs or Media OIELs given they authorise the export of specified items to a pre-determined list of multiple destination countries (which includes Israel by default). Cryptographic OIELs authorise the export of specified cryptography hardware or software and the transfer of specified cryptography technology. Media OIELs authorise the export of military helmets, body armour, non-military 4WD civilian vehicles with ballistic protection and specially designed components for any of these items, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists in areas of conflict. There were 105 Cryptographic OIELs and 2 Media OIELs extant as at 31 May 2024.
3. Examples of military equipment covered under these licences include components for military aircraft, components for military vehicles, and components for combat naval vessels. Examples of non-military equipment covered under these licences include technology for spacecraft and components for scientific submersible equipment.
4. Figures include licences where Israel and/or Occupied Palestinian Territories are listed as the End User Destination country (e.g. where UK components are incorporated into a wider item for re-export), Third Party Destination country (e.g. an agent or broker) and/or Ultimate End User Destination country (e.g. where UK components are being utilised in that country).

Table 2: Israel export control licence applications in-progress as at 31 May 2024

Licence type	Number of applications
Standard individual export licence (SIEL)	155
Standard individual trade control licence (SITCL)	0
Open individual export licence (OIEL)	27
Open individual trade control licence (OITCL)	3
Total	185

Table 2 notes

1. Licence applications in-progress as at 31 May 2024. These figures include licence applications that were submitted prior to 7 October 2023. These figures also include applications that were made in relation to amending licences that were previously issued and may still be extant. Licence applications are submitted to and processed by  ECJU through SPIRE and LITE. Applications are considered to be in-progress where the application is still being assessed by ECJU with an outcome still to be determined.
2. Figures for OIEL applications in-progress do not contain Cryptographic OIELs or Media OIELs given they authorise the export of specified items to a pre-determined list of multiple destination countries (which includes Israel by default). Cryptographic OIELs authorise the export of specified cryptography hardware or software and the transfer of specified cryptography technology. Media OIELs authorise the export of military helmets, body armour, non-military 4WD civilian vehicles with ballistic protection and specially designed components for any of these items, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists in areas of conflict. There were 7 Cryptographic OIEL applications and 11 Media OIEL applications in progress as at 31 May 2024.
3. Figures include licence applications where Israel and/or Occupied Palestinian Territories are listed as the End User Destination country (e.g. where UK components are incorporated into a wider item for re-export), Third Party Destination country (e.g. an agent or broker) and/or Ultimate End User Destination country (e.g. where UK components are being utilised in that country).

Table 3: Israel export control licensing decisions made between 7 October 2023 and 31 May 2024

Licence type	Description of goods	Issued	Refused	Rejected	Revoked	NLR
Standard individual export licence (SIEL)	Military	37	0	N/A	0	N/A
Standard individual export licence (SIEL)	Non-military	63	0	N/A	0	N/A
Standard individual export licence (SIEL)	NLR	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	21
Standard individual export licence (SIEL)	Total	100	0	N/A	0	21
Standard individual trade control licence (SITCL)	Total	0	0	N/A	0	0
Open individual export licence (OIEL)	Military	5	N/A	0	0	N/A
Open individual export licence (OIEL)	Non-military	3	N/A	2	0	N/A
Open individual export licence (OIEL)	Total	8	N/A	2	0	N/A
Open individual trade control licence (OITCL)	Total	0	N/A	0	0	N/A
Total	Total	108	0	2	0	21

Table 3 notes

1. Licensing decisions made between 7 October 2023 and 31 May 2024. Licence decisions include the licences being issued, refused/rejected, revoked. Some licence applications are submitted for goods that do not require an export licence. Where this is determined, the applicant is informed that no licence is required and a decision of No Licence Required (NLR) is reached.
2. Some licence applications are not suitable for OIELs and may need the scrutiny that a SIEL application provides to fully address and assess the risk. Where this is determined, the OIEL application is rejected and exporters are recommended to apply for a SIEL.
3. Figures for OIEL licensing decisions made between 7 October 2023 and 31 May 2024 do not contain Cryptographic OIELs or Media OIELs given they authorise the export of specified items to a pre-determined list of multiple destination countries (which include Israel by default). Cryptographic OIELs authorise the export of specified cryptography hardware or software and the transfer of specified cryptography technology. Media OIELs authorise the export of military helmets, body armour, non-military 4WD civilian vehicles with ballistic protection and specially designed components for any of these items, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists in areas of conflict. There were 13 Cryptographic OIEL licensing decisions made between 7 October 2023 and 31 May 2024, all of which were issued. There were no Media OIEL licensing decisions made between 7 October 2023 and 31 May 2024.
4. Goods are categorised as Military if any goods on the licence were rated as Military. For example. if the licence included goods rated as both Military and Non-military, the overall description of goods on the licence is categorised as Military.
5. Military equipment includes exports of military products for re-export to end users in third countries.  It also encompasses equipment for civilian use where it is on the military controlled schedule (e.g. body armour of military grade, for use by non-military users).
6. Examples of military equipment covered under these licences include components for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, training small arms ammunition, submarine components and components for body armour.  Examples of non-military equipment covered under these licences include telecommunications equipment, chemical manufacturing equipment, and imaging cameras.
7. Figures include licences where Israel and/or Occupied Palestinian Territories are listed as the End User Destination country (e.g. where UK components are incorporated into a wider item for re-export), Third Party Destination country (e.g. an agent or broker) and/or Ultimate End User Destination country (e.g. where UK components are being utilised in that country).

Related statistics

The strategic export controls licensing Official Statistics provides detailed data on licensing decisions each quarter.

The next Official Statistics publication will cover export licensing decisions made between 1 July and 31 December 2023, and will be published on 13 June 2024. 

This ad hoc management information release should not be considered to be part of the strategic export controls licensing Official Statistics as they have not been produced in the same manner and there are several notable differences.

The Official Statistics provides detailed data on licensing decisions, whereas this ad hoc management information release provides data on extant licences, licence applications in-progress and licensing decisions - please see accompanying table notes above for definitions of extant licences, licence applications in-progress and licensing decisions.

The Official Statistics provide data on licensing decisions for each quarter, whereas this ad hoc management information release provides data on extant licences / licence applications in-progress as at 31 May 2024, and licensing decisions for the period 7 October 2023 to 31 May 2024. Please note that there will be some overlap between licences extant as at 31 May 2024 and licensing decisions for the period 7 October 2023 to 31 May 2024. For example, if a SIEL was issued on 31 October 2023 and it remained extant as at 31 May 2024, it would be counted within Table 1 and Table 3.

Where the Official Statistics are broken down by country this is determined by the End User Destination. Therefore, a licence is determined to be for Israel within the Official Statistics where Israel and/or Occupied Palestinian Territories are listed as the End User Destination country. However, for this ad hoc management information release, a licence/application is determined to be for Israel where Israel and/or Occupied Palestinian Territories are listed as the End User Destination country (e.g. where UK components are incorporated into a wider item for re-export), Third Party Destination country (e.g. an agent or broker) and/or Ultimate End User Destination country (e.g. where UK components are being utilised in that country).

The Official Statistics are usually published 4 to 6 months after the reference period they relate to, which allows for significant levels of quality assurance to be carried out, whereas this ad hoc management information release has been produced and released at pace to ensure timelier management information can be made available in an orderly, open, fair and transparent manner.  Therefore, whilst we are have applied as much assurance and due diligence as possible in the time allowed, the same level of quality cannot be guaranteed and extra care should be taken when using data taken from the ad hoc management information release.

The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) publish guidance on understanding the difference between Official Statistics and published Management Information.

Contact

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