GEP 41 amended: 300 km UAVs and Rockets

Summary#

On September 1, 2023, the government registered the Order Amending the General Export Permit No. 41 — Dual-use Goods and Technology to Certain Destinations under the Export and Import Permits Act. It adds items intended for rocket systems or unmanned aerial vehicles with a range of 300 km or more to the list of goods that cannot use the streamlined permit, so those exports now need an individual export permit.

What it does#

• Adds to the “unauthorized goods and technology” in General Export Permit No. 41 — Dual-use Goods and Technology to Certain Destinations any item intended for the development, production or use of rocket systems or unmanned aerial vehicles with a range of 300 km or greater.
• Updates a renumbered cross-reference to the Export Permits Regulations (a housekeeping correction).
• Means exporters can no longer rely on the streamlined permit for those items. They must apply for an individual export permit from Global Affairs Canada and those applications will be reviewed case-by-case.
• The change took effect when the order was registered on September 1, 2023.

Who's affected#

• Canadian exporters who used General Export Permit No. 41 to send dual-use or strategic goods to the eligible destinations covered by that permit.
• Companies that make parts, components, software or technology that could be used in long-range rocket systems or long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• Border and enforcement bodies flagged by the government, including the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who enforce export controls.
• It is a relatively narrow group: the government says only a small subset of the defence and dual-use industry is likely to be affected. If it is unclear whether a specific part is covered, exporters will need to seek an individual permit.

Why it matters#

• This closes a gap where components that could contribute to long-range missiles or UAVs might previously have moved under a simplified permit. Those exports now face closer scrutiny.
• The change brings Canada’s practice closer to its commitments under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
• For businesses, it can mean extra paperwork and the need to apply for an individual permit. The government expects most applications to be processed quickly against the 10-day service standard for low-risk destinations, but individual reviews could take longer or be refused in some cases.
• The amendment is mainly a security and export-control measure; it does not create a broad new ban but shifts certain shipments from a streamlined route to case-by-case assessment.