Export Control List Updated

Summary#

The Order Amending the Export Control List: SOR/2020-48 updates which goods and technologies need an export permit from Canada so the list matches recent international export-control agreements. It was registered on March 16, 2020 and published in the Canada Gazette on April 1, 2020; it comes into force on the 30th day after publication.

What it does#

• Updates the reference to the official list used in Canada — the Guide — to the December 2018 version. That brings Canadian controls in line with recent changes agreed in international regimes.
• Adds controls on some items and removes controls on others. Examples (not exhaustive):
  • Newly controlled examples include items such as MRAMs, electro‑optic modulators, certain read‑out integrated circuits, components used in tritium production, and some laboratory synthesizers used with genetic materials.
  • Decontrolled examples include some robotic imaging systems, certain feedback units, and some older aero‑engines.
• Updates wording and technical notes for many categories so the Canadian list matches the technical descriptions used by the regimes.
• Confirms Canada’s alignment with the multilateral regimes: the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, and the Australia Group. It also reflects the creation of Group 9 for reporting on full-system conventional arms covered by the Arms Trade Treaty.
• Keeps the existing rule that items on the Export Control List require an export permit under the Export and Import Permits Act. Enforcement responsibilities remain with the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Who's affected#

• Exporters and manufacturers of defense, aerospace, nuclear, chemical, and some biotech equipment and related technologies.
• Freight forwarders, customs brokers and any businesses that ship controlled items abroad.
• Research labs or universities that work with high-end devices or materials listed in the Guide.
• The government department that issues permits, Global Affairs Canada, and enforcement agencies named above.
• The exact businesses affected will depend on whether the specific goods they make or ship match the technical descriptions in the updated Guide. The government said it did not identify small businesses that currently export the newly controlled items, but that could change in some cases.

Why it matters#

• If your product or equipment matches a newly controlled item, you will likely need an export permit before sending it abroad. That can add time and paperwork to international shipments.
• The change helps Canada meet international non‑proliferation and arms‑control obligations. That reduces the chance controlled goods reach destinations where they could be misused.
• Some items are decontrolled, which can simplify exports for those products.
• There are legal penalties for exporting controlled items without a permit, so exporters should check the updated Guide to see if their goods are affected.