SPECTARIS Welcomes Accelerated Export Approval Measures

Starting from 1 September 2023, new measures to strengthen and expedite administrative processes in the field of export control will be introduced through the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). The German industrial association SPECTARIS welcomes this approach but also sees further potential for improvement. "It is commendable that the urgently needed changes are finally coming into effect. SPECTARIS member companies have suffered significantly from the long processing times at BAFA," emphasised SPECTARIS Managing Director Jörg Mayer.

A July and August 2023 SPECTARIS member survey highlights issues and the need for action. BAFA's average processing times for export applications in SPECTARIS sectors recently took six to eight months, with some companies waiting over a year. This hurts competitiveness. In the survey, three-quarters noted lost orders due to delays, totalling over €150 million in pending orders.

One innovation is the accelerated approval for chosen partners. Future deliveries to specific EU or NATO partners are eased with general authorisations, reducing effort. However, thorough case-by-case reviews continue for other third countries. Whether this applies to ‘critical countries’ is uncertain, especially with major partners like China or Israel, where lengthy political processes persist.

Starting 1 September 2023, further measures include extending zero decision validity to two years and expanding the goods list information's validity. Also, the Declaration of Export Responsibility's validity will extend to two years.

SPECTARIS views the removal of the moratorium for individually attributable services critically, expected to introduce fees from 2024. This contrasts with the government's burden moratorium, aiming to reduce bureaucratic weight for the German economy.

SPECTARIS maintains an online special page, offering updates on this issue.

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