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Export Control

Ostfalia has valuable relationships abroad in many areas and has declared internationalisation as one of its strategic goals. Ostfalia's scientists conduct research projects with partners abroad, employ foreign scientists and train foreign students.

In all these activities, foreign trade law, which governs export controls, must also be observed. The constitutionally guaranteed freedom of research and teaching does not exempt Ostfalia from this.

We would like to inform and sensitise you to this topic on our export control website, which has become increasingly important for universities in recent years due to customs audits at individual universities and according to information from the Bundesamts für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (external link, opens in a new window) (BAFA) .

Compliance with export control laws is the responsibility of all parties involved and, as such, is also reflected in the standards of good scientific practice in addition to ethical personal responsibility.

Tasks, Objectives and Content of Export Control

Export controls serve to reduce the production and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and armaments and to prevent sensitive goods from being used to commit serious human rights violations or to promote terrorism abroad.

In addition to person-related sanctions lists (financial sanctions/terror lists) and country-related embargoes, it is particularly important to control exports in terms of goods. This topic is becoming increasingly important for universities, particularly in the area of exporting dual-use goods and knowledge and technology transfer. This also includes the transfer of sensitive expertise abroad or to foreign persons. Relevant restrictions may apply, for example, to international (research) collaborations, business trips abroad, the export of scientific equipment or expertise or in the context of collaboration with foreign scientists. This is just a few of the relevant fields of action and by no means an exhaustive list.

Four key questions can help you to make an initial assessment in order to prevent research results, knowledge or goods from being misused for unauthorised purposes:

  1. Who is being supplied to?
    Clarify whether the recipient is on a sanctions list.
  2. Which country is being supplied to?
    Clarify whether a country embargo prevents a delivery/service.
  3. What is being delivered?
    Clarify whether the export of goods/services is restricted.
  4. For what purpose are the goods/services to be used?
    Clarify the intended use, if necessary with your cooperation partner (there may be authorisation requirements).

Sensitive goods that are included in goods lists are not only purely conventional defence goods, but also "dual-use goods", i.e. goods that can be used for civilian and military purposes. These can also include certain chemicals, machinery and materials, as well as software and the transfer of expertise. In addition to the commercial dispatch of goods abroad, especially to third countries outside the EU, in the case of software and know-how transfer, dispatch by post or e-mail, publication on the Internet or the granting of (digital) access options must be taken into account.

The delivery of sensitive goods abroad is controlled by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) through authorisation processes and information obligations that must be complied with. The eligibility for a licence mainly depends on whether an export to certain high-risk countries (currently Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Russia and North Korea, among others) is permitted.

Further links

Präsentation zur Exportkontrolle (PDF, 243.11 KB) (opens in a new window), (not accessible)

Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Außenkontrolle (external link, opens in a new window)

Handbuch Exportkontrolle und Academia (2. Auflage) (external link, opens in a new window)

Zoll (external link, opens in a new window)

Support from the University's Central Offices

In order to recognise the cases covered by foreign trade law, it is first important to raise awareness of this topic in all activities with a foreign connection.

It is also the responsibility of all academics and teaching staff to find out whether their own work affects foreign trade law provisions and which regulations and processes must be complied with. Ostfalia would like to provide the best possible support in this regard.

If you have any questions, please contact: exportkontrolle​(at)​lists.ostfalia.de. (opens your email program) This e-mail will be sent to the following persons/organisational units: WTT+ (external link, opens in a new window) IRO (external link, opens in a new window), Legal (external link, opens in a new window), Finance (external link, opens in a new window), Human Resources (external link, opens in a new window), I-Office (external link, opens in a new window), IR (external link, opens in a new window).

If you can already assign your question to a specific service organisation, a note in the subject line would be valuable (example: "Personnel" for a recruitment procedure). Depending on the question, the relevant service organisation will get in touch with you.

In addition, a working group has been formed for this topic and would be pleased to receive further support. If you are interested in joining the working group, please contact us at the above email address.