Today marks the launch of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade’s Export Controls Advisory Practice, which provides direct, tailored support for traders to ensure they are compliant with export controls.
As part of the service, Chartered Institute advisers offer objective, specialised advice to support businesses in meeting complex export control regulations and remaining compliant. With deep expertise across a range of industries, the team provides knowledge, and helps streamline operations, introduce internal compliance programmes and standard operating procedures, and to identify opportunities for efficiency.
Speaking ahead of the launch, interim academy director Daniela Turiccki, who will lead the practice, highlighted the need in industry for support on export controls.
In discussions with major exporting firms, Turiccki says it “has been highlighted that there’s not enough emphasis on export controls – that people often underestimate the importance of it”.
Support
Firms can sometimes be unaware of the need for customs and trade compliance experience and knowledge on top of specific knowledge of export controls, she said.
“So it's not just the export control element that's the vital part; they need to have the whole package of information.
Turiccki notes that the Chartered Institute has been listening directly to industry on how best to respond to their needs on export controls:
“We're in the middle of gathering feedback from different companies, as well as people that have been working in the industry for some 20–30 years.”
“We're gathering their vital feedback on what's actually needed out in the market, including the need to establish professional competencies.”
Training
As well as the upcoming Advisory Practice, there is a need for tailored training on export controls, she says, noting that “companies have highlighted the lack of export control education out there in both training and regulated qualifications”.
“We're launching a Level 3 regulated qualification in March next year which will cover all aspects of export controls and licensing, and include aspects of US export controls.
“Following that, there will be higher level qualifications which will be aimed at experienced export control professionals.”
As well as education, these developments mean there is a need for greater tailored support for businesses.
“It's about understanding that if your goods weren't [affected by export controls] before, they could be now. It's about trying to highlight across to different companies that they still should be carrying out due diligence on their goods, their suppliers and their customers and considering the importance of end use and end user.
“I'm excited about the new Advisory Practice because, coming from an export control background, I’ve noticed how much there's a lack of training and support in this area.
“A lot of people have been thrown into these export control roles, and it's only on finding out following an audit that there is more that you need to know to ensure compliance. We are here to support that process.”