Dual-use goods are goods, software and technologies that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. Below you will find concrete examples as well as an overview of the ten goods categories (0–9) of Annex I to EU Regulation 2021/821.
The European goods list is divided into ten categories. The overview below shows typical goods per category – the binding classification is always based on the exact technical characteristics in the wording of the list entry.
| No. | Category | Typical goods (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Nuclear materials, facilities & equipment | Uranium, plutonium, reactors, gas centrifuges |
| 1 | Materials, chemicals, micro-organisms, toxins | High-performance alloys, precursor chemicals, composites |
| 2 | Materials processing | CNC machine tools, isostatic presses, vacuum furnaces |
| 3 | General electronics | RF components, frequency converters, ADCs |
| 4 | Computers | High-performance computers, quantum computers |
| 5 | Telecommunications & information security | Encryption software, satellite modems, interception gear |
| 6 | Sensors & lasers | Night-vision devices, thermal imagers, high-power lasers |
| 7 | Avionics & navigation | Inertial navigation (INS), gyroscopes, flight control |
| 8 | Marine & naval technology | Underwater vehicles, sonar, marine propulsion |
| 9 | Aerospace & propulsion | Engines, drones (UAV), rockets, satellites |
Certain drones are dual-use goods: above defined thresholds for range, endurance or payload they fall under Category 9 of Annex I to EU Regulation 2021/821. The exact technical parameters are decisive – check your model in the Dual-Use-Finder.
Yes, many cryptographic products fall under Category 5 Part 2. There are, however, exceptions, for example for certain mass-market products. The exact classification depends on the encryption used.
Certain chemicals and precursor substances are listed in Category 1. In addition, the chemicals list of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) applies, which is not covered by the Dual-Use-Finder and must be checked separately.
A good is dual-use if its technical characteristics match an entry in Annex I to EU Regulation 2021/821. The fastest way to check is via the export control number or the customs tariff number in the Dual-Use-Finder.
