Import controls
How to import goods under national or UN-level import controls. This includes weapons, sanctioned goods, or goods that could be used for torture.
Legislation
If you import goods into the UK, it is your responsibility to know about import restrictions and controls.
Import controls are imposed using statutory instruments or the Openopen Generalgeneral Importimport Licencelicence (OGIL),), as enabled by the:
- Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939
- Import of Goods (Control) Order 1954
Goods that need a licence
The OGIL is a national trade control measure that allows the import of goods into the UK without a licence.
There are exceptions. Certain goods need import licences due to controls at a national or UN level.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) issues licences for the import of:
- firearms and ammunition – according to UK licensing controls
- anti-personnel mines – for mine detection techniques, clearance, or mine destruction
- torture equipment – for display in a museum
- certain goods subject to import sanctions
- relevant nuclear materials
Firearms and ammunition
There are 3 types of import licence for firearms and ammunition:
- specific individual import licence (SIIL) – for firearms falling under section 1, 2 or 5 of the Firearms Act 1969 and firearms exempt from certification or control under section 58(2) of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended (for example, firearms of obsolete calibre)
- open individual import licence (OIIL) – open licence for firearms, their component parts, and ammunition falling under section 1 or 2 of the Firearms Act 1968 from any country not under sanctions
- deactivated firearms import licence – for firearms that conform to the current UK deactivation standards
Read more on firearms licencing and good practice on firearms law.
Nuclear materials
As part of the UK’s commitment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), DBT undertakes licensing for relevant nuclear materials through the apply for an import licence service.
Individual import licences are needed for goods that fall under the relevant commodity codes and description.
- tariff heading: 26 12 - uranium ore and concentrates
- tariff heading: 28 44 - plutonium, uranium 233, uranium enriched in the isotopes 233 or 235, natural uranium and mixtures, compounds and alloys containing any of the foregoing, including spent or irradiated nuclear reactor fuel elements (cartridges)
Nuclear materials import licence (NMIL)
The NMIL has a validity period of 3 months from its date of issue (a single import licence (SIL)) if covering one import shipment or a validity period of one year from its date of issue if covering multiple shipments within that period (an open import licence (OIL)). Please note that the total quantity of the imports cannot exceed the quantity specified on the licence.
Read the nuclear materials import licensing (NMIL) notice to importers.
Previously issued licences
Please be aware that amendments cannot be made to previously issued licences. New applications must be submitted if material or dates change.
When to apply for an import licence
You must apply for an import licence before the goods are transported to the UK.
Trade sanctions
DBT implements trade sanctions.
Traders can apply for a licence to import otherwise prohibited goods. This can be done by applying for a sanctions and ad hoc licence through the Applyapply for an import licence service. It is a criminal offence to import sanctioned goods without the necessary licence.
Note that a trader must apply for an import licence before the goods are transported to the UK. A licence cannot be granted if an application is made for goods at the UK border or goods otherwise held in storage in the UK prior to making a customs declaration.
DBT reviews each application case by case. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade is ultimately responsible for decisions to grant or refuse a sanctions licence.
If you are unclear on any aspect of the regulations, or if you need a trade sanctions licence, we recommend that you first seek independent legal advice.
UK sanctions regimes are in force under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. Read guidance on UK sanctions regimes and on trade sanctions, arms embargoes, and other trade restrictions.
For further information, or queries about import sanctions licensing, contact importsanctions@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
Tiered-priced medical products
Re-importing certain tiered-priced products is illegal across the whole of the United Kingdom. The retained domestic version of Regulation (EU) 2016/793, as amended by The Prevention of Trade Diversion (Key Medicines) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, establishes a system controlling the import of certain medicines into Great Britain.
The medicines covered by this measure are called ‘tiered-priced products’. Tiered-priced products are destined for developing countries and sold to these countries at heavily reduced prices to avoid trade diversion.
Read the Noticenotice to importers 2937 – Importimport of tiered-priced medicines.
Contact details and help
If you need advice on DBT’s import controls which do not relate to import sanctions, contact enquiries.ilb@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
The import goods into the UK: step by step guide also explains how to bring goods into the UK from any country.
Notices to importers
Notices to importers published by DBT’s Import Licensing Branch.
They contain important information about:
- current import prohibitions and restrictions
- import controls
- updates on legislation and sanctions
- amendments to import licences
DBT distributes these notices to importers at the time of publication via mailshots on their import licence system.
Some notices will also be updated as required, in line with amendments and updates to the relevant legislation. For example, when additional import sanctions are introduced with respect to a particular country.
| NTI number | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Not applicable | Open general import licence (OGIL) | 21 October 2022 |
| 2955 | Nuclear materials import licensing (NMIL) | 8 April 2025 |
| 2954 | UK open general import licence 2022 and guidance on its use | 21 October 2022 |
| 2953 | Russia import sanctions | 20 March 2022 |
| 2952 | Belarus import sanctions | 9 August 2021 |
| 2951 | Syria import sanctions | 17 June 2021 |
| 2950 | Somalia import sanctions | 17 June 2021 |
| 2948 | Libya import sanctions | 17 June 2021 |
| 2946 | Iran (nuclear weapons) import sanctions | 17 June 2021 |
| 2945 | North Korea import sanctions | 17 June 2021 |
| 2944 | Import firearms and ammunition (PDF, 264KB) | 1 April 2021 |
| 2941 | Import of anti-personnel mines (PDF, 172KB) | 31 December 2020 |
| 2938 | Import of equipment that could be used for torture (PDF, 209KB) | 31 December 2020 |
| 2937 | Import of tiered-priced medicines (PDF, 143KB) | 31 December 2020 |
| 2936 | Import and export of cat and dog fur (PDF, 143KB) | 31 December 2020 |
Further information
Updates to this page
Last updated
-
'Trade sanctions' section updated to advise when a licence cannot be granted.
Update history
2025-04-08 09:30
Additional information added about how to apply for an import licence for relevant nuclear materials. The nuclear materials import licence (NMIL) has been transferred from a paper-based application from the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) into the digital apply for an import licence service.
2025-02-10 11:39
‘Trade sanctions’ section updated to advise when a licence cannot be granted.
2024-12-03 16:19
Import Case Management Service (ICMS) name updated to ‘Apply for an import licence’. Email address changed from importcontrols@businessandtrade.gov.uk to importsanctions@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
2024-10-01 14:33
‘Notice to Importers 2940: applying for certificates of free sales’ removed.
2024-09-26 09:00
Additional detail added regarding firearms and ammunition licensing. Information on certificates of free sale moved to ‘Apply for an export certificate’ page. Link to apply for an import licence updated.
2022-10-21 15:28
Added the latest open general import licence (OGIL) which has some updated commodity codes that fall within the firearms import licensing control.
2022-03-30 17:18
Addition of link to Notice to Importers 2953, and removal of superceded NTI 2949.
2020-03-23 10:48
NTI 2933 added to European import controls section replacing NTI 2930. Six tariff codes removed and 12 added relating to imports of aluminium extrusions from the People's Republic of China.