This Regulation lays down Union rules governing trade with third countries in goods that could be used for the purpose of capital punishment or for the purpose of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and rules governing the supply of brokering services, technical assistance, training and advertising related to such goods.

Article 2 - Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation:

(a) ‘torture’ means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from that person or from a third person information or a confession, punishing that person for an act that either that person or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing that person or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted either by or at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of, a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not, however, include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to, lawful penalties. Capital punishment is not deemed a lawful penalty under any circumstances;

(b) ‘other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment’ means any act by which pain or suffering attaining a minimum level of severity, whether physical or mental, is inflicted on a person, when such pain or suffering is inflicted either by or at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of, a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not, however, include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to, lawful penalties. Capital punishment is not deemed a lawful penalty under any circumstances;

(c) ‘law enforcement authority’ means any authority responsible for preventing, detecting, investigating, combating and punishing criminal offences, including, but not limited to, the police, any prosecutor, any judicial authority, any public or private prison authority and, where appropriate, any of the state security forces and military authorities;

(d) ‘export’ means any departure of goods from the customs territory of the Union, including the departure of goods that requires a customs declaration and the departure of goods after their storage in a free zone within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( ¹ );

(e) ‘import’ means any entry of goods into the customs territory of the Union, including temporary storage, the placing in a free zone, the placing under a special procedure and the release for free circulation within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013;

(f) ‘technical assistance’ means any technical support related to repairs, development, manufacture, testing, maintenance, assembly or any other technical service, and may take forms such as instruction, advice, training, transmission of working knowledge or skills or consulting services. Technical assistance includes verbal forms of assistance and assistance provided by electronic means;

(g) ‘museum’ means a non-profit making, permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, and open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study, education and enjoyment, material evidence of people and their environment;

(h) ‘competent authority’ means an authority of one of the Member States, as listed in Annex I, which is, in accordance with Article 20, entitled to make a decision on an application for an authorisation or to prohibit an exporter from using the Union general export authorisation;

(i) ‘applicant’ means:

(1) the exporter, in the case of exports referred to in Article 3, 11 or 16;

(2) the natural or legal person, entity or body transporting the goods within the customs territory of the Union, in the case of transit referred to in Article 5;

(3) the supplier of technical assistance, in the case of supplies of technical assistance referred to in Article 3;

(4) the museum that will display the goods, in the case of imports and supplies of technical assistance referred to in Article 4;

(5) the supplier of technical assistance or the broker, in the case of supplies of technical assistance referred to in Article 15 or brokering services referred to in Article 19;

(j) ‘customs territory of the Union’ means the territory as laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013;

(k) ‘brokering services’ means:

(1) the negotiation or arrangement of transactions for the purchase, sale or supply of relevant goods from a third country to any other third country, or

(2) the selling or buying of relevant goods that are located in a third country for their transfer to another third country.

For the purposes of this Regulation, the sole provision of ancillary services is excluded from this definition. Ancillary services are transportation, financial services, insurance or re-insurance, or general advertising or promotion;

(l) ‘broker’ means any natural or legal person, entity or body, including a partnership, resident or established in a Member State that supplies services defined under point (k) from within the Union; any natural person having the nationality of a Member State, wherever resident, who supplies such services from within the Union; and any legal person, entity or body incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State, wherever established, that supplies such services from within the Union;

(m) ‘supplier of technical assistance’ means any natural or legal person, entity or body, including a partnership, resident or established in a Member State that supplies technical assistance defined under point (f) from within the Union; any natural person having the nationality of a Member State, wherever resident, who supplies such assistance from within the Union; and any legal person, entity or body incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State, wherever established, that supplies such assistance from within the Union;

(n) ‘exporter’ means any natural or legal person, entity or body, including a partnership, on whose behalf an export declaration is made, that is to say the person, entity or body, who, at the time when the export declaration is accepted, holds a contract with the consignee in the third country concerned and has the necessary power for determining the sending of the goods out of the customs territory of the Union. If no such contract has been concluded or if the holder of that contract does not act on its own behalf, the exporter means the person, entity or body who has the necessary power for determining the sending of the goods out of the customs territory of the Union. Where the benefit of a right to dispose of the goods belongs to a person, entity or body resident or established outside the Union pursuant to that contract, the exporter shall be considered to be the contracting party resident or established in the Union;

(o) ‘Union General Export Authorisation’ means an authorisation for exports as defined under point (d) to certain countries which is available to all exporters who respect conditions and requirements for its use as listed in Annex V;

(p) ‘individual authorisation’ means an authorisation granted to:

(1) one specific exporter for exports as defined under point (d) to one end-user or consignee in a third country and covering one or more goods;

(2) one specific broker for the supply of brokering services as defined under point (k) to one end-user or consignee in a third country and covering one or more goods; or

(3) a natural or legal person, entity or body transporting goods within the customs territory of the Union for transit as defined under point (s);

(q) ‘global authorisation’ means an authorisation granted to one specific exporter or broker in respect of a type of goods listed in Annex III or in Annex IV, which may be valid for:

(1) exports as defined under point (d) to one or more specified end-users in one or more specified third countries;

(2) exports as defined under point (d) to one or more specified distributors in one or more specified third countries, where the exporter is a manufacturer of goods included in point 3.2 or 3.3. of Annex III or in Section 1 of Annex IV;

(3) the supply of brokering services related to transfers of goods which are located in a third country, to one or more specified end-users in one or more specified third countries;

(4) the supply of brokering services related to transfers of goods which are located in a third country, to one or more specified distributors in one or more specified third countries, where the broker is a manufacturer of goods included in point 3.2 or 3.3. of Annex III or in Section 1 of Annex IV;

(r) ‘distributor’ means an economic operator performing wholesale activities in relation to goods listed in point 3.2 or 3.3 of Annex III or in Section 1 of Annex IV, such as procuring such goods from manufacturers or holding, supplying or exporting such goods; wholesale activities of such goods do not include procurement by either a hospital, a pharmacist or a medical professional for the sole purpose of supplying such goods to the public;

(s) ‘transit’ means a transport within the customs territory of the Union of non-Union goods which pass through the customs territory of the Union with a destination outside the customs territory of the Union.

Chapter 2 - Goods which have no practical use other than for the purposes of capital punishment, torture and other cruel, inhumain or degrading treatment or punishment

Article 3 - Export prohibition

1. Any export of goods listed in Annex II shall be prohibited, irrespective of the origin of such goods.

Annex II shall comprise goods which have no practical use other than for the purpose of capital punishment or for the purpose of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

A supplier of technical assistance shall be prohibited from supplying technical assistance related to goods listed in Annex II to any person, entity or body in a third country, whether for consideration or not.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the competent authority may authorise an export of goods listed in Annex II, and the supply of related technical assistance, if it is demonstrated that, in the country to which the goods will be exported, such goods will be used for the exclusive purpose of public display in a museum in view of their historic significance.

Article 4 - Import prohibition

1. Any import of goods listed in Annex II shall be prohibited, irrespective of the origin of such goods.

The acceptance by a person, entity or body in the Union of technical assistance related to goods listed in Annex II supplied from a third country, whether for consideration or not, by any person, entity or body shall be prohibited.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the competent authority may authorise an import of goods listed in Annex II, and the supply of related technical assistance, if it is demonstrated that, in the Member State of destination, such goods will be used for the exclusive purpose of public display in a museum in view of their historic significance.

Article 5 - Prohibition of transit

1. Any transit of goods listed in Annex II shall be prohibited.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the competent authority may authorise a transit of goods listed in Annex II, if it is demonstrated that, in the country of destination, such goods will be used for the exclusive purpose of public display in a museum in view of their historic significance.

Article 6 - Prohibition of brokering services

A broker shall be prohibited from supplying to any person, entity or body in a third country, brokering services in relation to goods listed in Annex II, irrespective of the origin of such goods.

Article 7 - Prohibition of training

A supplier of technical assistance or a broker shall be prohibited from supplying or offering to any person, entity or body in a third country, training on the use of goods listed in Annex II.

Article 8 - Trade fairs

It shall be prohibited for any natural or legal person, entity or body, including a partnership, whether resident or established in a Member State or not, to display or offer for sale any of the goods listed in Annex II in an exhibition or fair taking place in the Union, unless it is demonstrated that, given the nature of the exhibition or fair, such display or offering for sale is neither instrumental in nor promotes the sale or supply of the relevant goods to any person, entity or body in a third country.

Article 9 - Advertising

It shall be prohibited for any natural or legal person, entity or body, including a partnership, that is resident or established in a Member State and sells or purchases advertising space or advertising time from within the Union, for any natural person who has the nationality of a Member State and sells or purchases advertising space or advertising time from within the Union, and for any legal person, entity or body incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State, that sells or purchases advertising space or advertising time from within the Union, to sell to or purchase from any person, entity or body in a third country advertising space in print media or on the Internet or advertising time on television or radio in relation to goods listed in Annex II.

Article 10 - National measures

1. Without prejudice to the applicable Union rules, including the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of nationality, Member States may adopt or maintain national measures restricting transportation, financial services, insurance or re-insurance, or general advertising or promotion in relation to goods listed in Annex II.

2. Member States shall notify the Commission of any measures adopted pursuant to paragraph 1, or amendments and repeals thereof, before they enter into force.

Chapter 3 - Goods that could be used for the purpose of torture or other cruel, inhumain or degrading treatment or punishment

Article 11 - Export authorisation requirement

1. For any export of goods listed in Annex III, an authorisation shall be required, irrespective of the origin of such goods. However, no authorisation shall be required for goods which only pass through the customs territory of the Union, namely those which are not assigned a customs approved treatment or use other than the external transit procedure under Article 226 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013, including storage of non-Union goods in a free zone.

Annex III shall only comprise the following goods that could be used for the purpose of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment:

(a) goods which are primarily used for law enforcement purposes;

(b) goods which, taking into account their design and technical features, present a material risk of use for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Annex III shall not include:

(a) firearms controlled by Regulation (EU) No 258/2012;

(b) dual-use items controlled by Regulation (EC) No 428/2009;

2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to exports to those territories of Member States which are both listed in Annex VI and are not part of the customs territory of the Union, provided that the goods are used by an authority in charge of law enforcement in both the country or territory of destination and the metropolitan part of the Member State to which that territory belongs. Customs or other relevant authorities shall have the right to verify whether this condition is met and may decide that, pending such verification, the export shall not take place.

3. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to exports to third countries, provided that the goods are used by military or civil personnel of a Member State, if such personnel is taking part in an EU or UN peace keeping or crisis management operation in the third country concerned or in an operation based on agreements between Member States and third countries in the field of defence. Customs and other relevant authorities shall have the right to verify whether this condition is met. Pending such verification, the export shall not take place.

Article 12 - Criteria for granting export authorisations

1. Decisions on applications for authorisations in respect of the export of goods listed in Annex III shall be taken by the competent authorities, taking into account all relevant considerations, including in particular whether an application in respect of an essentially identical export has been dismissed by another Member State in the preceding three years and considerations about intended end-use and the risk of diversion.

2. The competent authority shall not grant any authorisation when there are reasonable grounds to believe that goods listed in Annex III might be used for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including judicial corporal punishment, by a law enforcement authority or any natural or legal person in a third country.

The competent authority shall take into account:

(a) available international court judgements;

(b) findings of the competent bodies of the UN, the Council of Europe and the EU, and reports of the Council of Europe's European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment and of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Other relevant information, including available national court judgements, reports or other information prepared by civil society organisations and information on restrictions on exports of goods listed in Annexes II and III applied by the country of destination, may be taken into account.

3. The rules laid down in the second and third subparagraphs shall apply to the verification of the intended end-use and the risk of diversion.

If the manufacturer of goods listed in point 3.2 or 3.3 of Annex III requests an authorisation for exporting such goods to a distributor, the competent authority shall make an assessment of the contractual arrangements made by the manufacturer and the distributor and of the measures that they are taking to ensure that these goods and, if applicable, the products in which they will be incorporated will not be used for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

If an authorisation is requested for exporting goods listed in point 3.2 or 3.3 of Annex III to an end-user, the competent authority may, when assessing the risk of diversion, take into account the contractual arrangements that apply and the end-use statement signed by the end-user, if such a statement is provided. If no end-use statement is provided, it shall be up to the exporter to demonstrate who will be the end-user and what use will be made of the goods. If the exporter fails to provide sufficient information on the end-user and the end-use, the competent authority shall be deemed to have reasonable grounds to believe that the goods might be used for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

4. In addition to the criteria set out in paragraph 1, when assessing an application for a global authorisation, the competent authority shall take into consideration the application by the exporter of proportionate and adequate means and procedures to ensure compliance with the provisions and objectives of this Regulation and with the terms and conditions of the authorisation.

Article 13 - Prohibition of transit

A natural or legal person, entity or body, including a partnership, whether resident or established in a Member State or not, shall be prohibited from executing the transit of goods listed in Annex III, if he, she or it knows that any part of a shipment of such goods is intended to be used for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in a third country.

Article 14 - National measures

1. Notwithstanding Articles 11 and 12, a Member State may adopt or maintain a prohibition on the export and import of leg irons, gang chains and portable electric shock devices.

2. A Member State may impose an authorisation requirement on the export of handcuffs which have an overall dimension including chains, measured from the outer edge of one cuff to the outer edge of the other cuff, exceeding 240 mm when locked. The Member State concerned shall apply Chapters III and V to such handcuffs.

3. Member States shall notify the Commission of any measures adopted pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 before they enter into force.

Article 15 - Authorisation requirement for certain services

1. An authorisation shall be required for any supply, by a supplier of technical assistance or a broker, respectively, of one of the following services to any person, entity or body in a third country, whether for consideration or not:

(a) technical assistance related to goods listed in Annex III, irrespective of the origin of such goods; and

(b) brokering services related to goods listed in Annex III, irrespective of the origin of such goods.

2. When deciding on applications for an authorisation for the supply of brokering services concerning goods listed in Annex III, Article 12 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

When deciding on applications for an authorisation for the supply of technical assistance related to goods listed in Annex III, the criteria set out in Article 12 shall be taken into account to assess:

(a) whether the technical assistance would be supplied to a person, entity or body that might use the goods to which the technical assistance relates for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and

(b) whether the technical assistance would be used to repair, develop, manufacture, test, maintain or assemble goods listed in Annex III for, or to supply technical assistance to, a person, entity or body that might use the goods to which the technical assistance relates for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

3. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to the supply of technical assistance, if

(a) the technical assistance is supplied to a law enforcement authority of a Member State or to military or civil personnel of a Member State as described in the first sentence of Article 11(3);

(b) the technical assistance consists of providing information that is in the public domain; or

(c) the technical assistance is the minimum necessary for the installation, operation, maintenance or repair of those goods listed in Annex III whose export has been authorised by a competent authority in accordance with this Regulation.

4. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, a Member State may maintain a prohibition on the supply of brokering services related to leg irons, gang chains and portable electric shock devices. Where a Member State maintains such a prohibition, it shall inform the Commission if measures previously adopted and notified in accordance with Article 7a(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 are amended or repealed.

Chapter 4 - Goods that could be used for the purpose of capital punishment

Article 16 - Export authorisation requirement

1. For any export of goods listed in Annex IV, an authorisation shall be required irrespective of the origin of such goods. However, no authorisation shall be required for goods which only pass through the customs territory of the Union, namely those which are not assigned a customs approved treatment or use other than the external transit procedure under Article 226 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013, including storage of non-Union goods in a free zone.

Annex IV shall only comprise goods that could be used for the purpose of capital punishment and have been approved or actually used for capital punishment by one or more third countries that have not abolished capital punishment. It shall not include:

(a) firearms controlled by Regulation (EU) No 258/2012;

(b) dual-use items controlled by Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 and

2. Where the export of medicinal products requires an export authorisation pursuant to this Regulation and the export is also subject to authorisation requirements in accordance with international conventions controlling narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, such as the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, Member States may use a single procedure to carry out the obligations imposed on them by this Regulation and by the relevant convention.

Article 17 - Criteria for granting export authorisations

1. Decisions on applications for authorisations in respect of the export of goods listed in Annex IV shall be taken by the competent authorities, taking into account all relevant considerations, including in particular whether an application in respect of an essentially identical export has been dismissed by another Member State in the preceding three years and considerations about intended end-use and the risk of diversion.

2. The competent authority shall not grant any authorisation when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the goods listed in Annex IV might be used for capital punishment in a third country.

3. The rules in the second, third and fourth subparagraphs shall apply to the verification of the intended end-use and the risk of diversion.

If the manufacturer of goods listed in Section 1 of Annex IV requests an authorisation for exporting such products to a distributor, the competent authority shall make an assessment of the contractual arrangements made by the manufacturer and the distributor and of the measures that they are taking to ensure that the goods will not be used for capital punishment.

If an authorisation is requested for exporting goods listed in Section 1 of Annex IV to an end-user, the competent authority may, when assessing the risk of diversion, take into account the contractual arrangements that apply and the end-use statement signed by the end-user, if such a statement is provided. If no end-use statement is provided, it shall be up to the exporter to demonstrate who will be the end-user and what use will be made of the goods. If the exporter fails to provide sufficient information on the end-user and the end-use, the competent authority shall be deemed to have reasonable grounds to believe that the goods might be used for capital punishment.

The Commission, in cooperation with competent authorities of the Member States, may adopt best practice guidelines on the assessment of end-use and of the purpose for which technical assistance would be used.

4. In addition to the criteria set out in paragraph 1, when assessing an application for a global authorisation the competent authority shall take into consideration the application by the exporter of proportionate and adequate means and procedures to ensure compliance with the provisions and objectives of this Regulation and with the terms and conditions of the authorisation.

Article 18 - Prohibition of transit

A natural or legal person, entity or body, including a partnership, whether resident or established in a Member State or not, shall be prohibited from executing the transit of goods listed in Annex IV, if he, she or it knows that any part of a shipment of such goods is intended to be used for capital punishment in a third country.

Article 19 - Authorisation requirement for certain services

(a) technical assistance related to goods listed in Annex IV, irrespective of the origin of such goods; and

(b) brokering services related to goods listed in Annex IV, irrespective of the origin of such goods.

2. When deciding on applications for an authorisation for the supply of brokering services concerning goods listed in Annex IV Article 17 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

When deciding on applications for an authorisation for the supply of technical assistance related to goods listed in Annex IV, the criteria set out in Article 17 shall be taken into account to assess:

(a) whether the technical assistance would be supplied to a person, entity or body that might use the goods to which the technical assistance relates for capital punishment; and

(b) whether the technical assistance would be used to repair, develop, manufacture, test, maintain or assemble goods listed in Annex IV for, or supply technical assistance to, a person, entity or body that might use the goods to which the technical assistance relates for capital punishment.

3. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to the supply of technical assistance, if

(a) the technical assistance consists of providing information that is in the public domain; or

(b) the technical assistance is the minimum necessary for the installation, operation, maintenance or repair of those goods listed in Annex IV whose export has been authorised by a competent authority in accordance with this Regulation.

Chapter 5 - Authorisation procedures

Article 20 - Types of authorisations and issuing authorities

1. A Union General Export Authorisation for certain exports as set out in Annex V is established by this Regulation.

The competent authority of the Member State where the exporter is resident or established may prohibit the exporter from using this authorisation, if there is reasonable suspicion about the exporter's ability to comply with the terms of this authorisation or with a provision of the export control legislation.

The competent authorities of the Member States shall exchange information on all exporters deprived of the right to use the Union General Export Authorisation, unless they determine that a specific exporter will not attempt to export goods listed in Annex IV through another Member State. A secure and encrypted system for exchange of information shall be used for this purpose.

2. An authorisation for exports other than those referred to in paragraph 1 for which an authorisation is required under this Regulation shall be granted by the competent authority of the Member State where the exporter is resident or established, as listed in Annex I. Such authorisation may be an individual or a global authorisation, if it concerns goods listed in Annex III or in Annex IV. An authorisation concerning goods listed in Annex II shall be an individual authorisation.

3. An authorisation for transit of goods listed in Annex II shall be granted by the competent authority of the Member State where the natural or legal person, entity or body transporting the goods within the customs territory of the Union is resident or established, as listed in Annex I. If that person, entity or body is not resident or established in a Member State, an authorisation shall be granted by the competent authority of the Member State in which the entry of goods into the customs territory of the Union takes place. Such an authorisation shall be an individual authorisation.

4. An authorisation for imports for which an authorisation is required under this Regulation shall be granted by the competent authority of the Member State where the museum is established, as listed in Annex I. An authorisation concerning goods listed in Annex II shall be an individual authorisation.

5. An authorisation for the supply of technical assistance related to goods listed in Annex II shall be granted by:

(a) the competent authority of the Member State where the supplier of technical assistance is resident or established, as listed in Annex I, or, if there is no such Member State, the competent authority of the Member State of which the supplier of technical assistance is a national or under whose law it has been incorporated or constituted, if the assistance is to be supplied to a museum in a third country; or

(b) the competent authority of the Member State where the museum is established, as listed in Annex I, if the assistance is to be supplied to a museum in the Union.

6. An authorisation for the supply of technical assistance related to goods listed in Annex III or in Annex IV shall be granted by the competent authority of the Member State where the supplier of technical assistance is resident or established, as listed in Annex I, or, if there is no such Member State, the competent authority of the Member State of which the supplier of technical assistance is a national or under whose law it has been incorporated or constituted.

7. An authorisation for the supply of brokering services related to goods listed in Annex III or in Annex IV shall be granted by the competent authority of the Member State where the broker is resident or established, as listed in Annex I, or, if there is no such Member State, the competent authority of the Member State of which the broker is a national or under whose law it has been incorporated or constituted. Such an authorisation shall be granted for a set quantity of specific goods moving between two or more third countries. The location of the goods in the originating third country, the end-user and its exact location shall be clearly identified.

8. Applicants shall supply the competent authority with all relevant information required for their applications for an individual or global authorisation for exports or for brokering services, for an authorisation for technical assistance, for an individual import authorisation or for an individual authorisation for transit.

As regards exports, the competent authorities shall receive complete information in particular on the end-user, the country of destination and the end-use of the goods.

As regards brokering services the competent authorities shall in particular receive details of the location of the goods in the originating third country, a clear description of the goods and the quantity involved, third parties involved in the transaction, the third country of destination, the end-user in that country and its exact location.

The granting of an authorisation may be subject to an end-use statement, if appropriate.

9. By way of derogation from paragraph 8, where a manufacturer or a manufacturer's representative is to export or to sell and transfer goods included in point 3.2 or 3.3 of Annex III or in Section 1 of Annex IV to a distributor in a third country, the manufacturer shall provide information on the arrangements made and the measures taken to prevent the goods included in point 3.2 or 3.3 of Annex III from being used for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or to prevent the goods included in Section 1 of Annex IV from being used for capital punishment, on the country of destination and, if available, information on the end-use and the end-users of the goods.

10. Upon request of a national preventive mechanism established under the Optional Protocol to the 1984 United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the competent authorities may decide to make the information they have received from an applicant on the country of destination, the consignee, the end-use and the end-users or, where relevant, the distributor and the arrangements and measures referred to in paragraph 9, available to the requesting national preventive mechanism. The competent authorities shall hear the applicant before the information is made available and may impose restrictions on the use that can be made of the information. The competent authorities shall make their decisions in accordance with national laws and practice.

11. Member States shall process requests for individual or global authorisations within a period of time to be determined by national law or practice.

Article 21 - Authorisations

1. Authorisations for export, import or transit shall be issued on a form consistent with the model set out in Annex VII. Authorisations concerning brokering services shall be issued on a form consistent with the model set out in Annex VIII. Authorisations concerning technical assistance shall be issued on a form consistent with the model set out in Annex IX. Such authorisations shall be valid throughout the Union. The period of validity of an authorisation shall be from three to twelve months, with a possible extension of up to twelve months. The period of validity of a global authorisation shall be from one year to three years with a possible extension of up to two years.

2. An authorisation for export granted in accordance with Article 12 or with Article 17 implies an authorisation for the exporter to supply technical assistance to the end-user to the extent that such assistance is necessary for the installation, operation, maintenance or repair of those goods whose export is authorised.

3. Authorisations may be issued by electronic means. The specific procedures shall be established on a national basis. Member States availing themselves of this option shall inform the Commission.

4. Authorisations for export, import, transit, the supply of technical assistance or the supply of brokering services shall be subject to any requirements and conditions the competent authority deems appropriate.

5. The competent authorities, acting in accordance with this Regulation, may refuse to grant an authorisation and may annul, suspend, modify or revoke an authorisation which they have already granted.

Article 22 - Customs formalities

1. When completing customs formalities, the exporter or importer shall submit the duly completed form set out in Annex VII as proof that the necessary authorisation for the export or import concerned has been obtained. If the document is not filled out in an official language of the Member State where the customs formalities are being completed, the exporter or importer may be required to provide a translation into such official language.

2. If a customs declaration is made concerning goods listed in Annex II, III or IV and it is confirmed that no authorisation has been granted pursuant to this Regulation for the intended export or import, the customs authorities shall detain the goods declared and shall make the exporter or importer aware of the possibility to apply for an authorisation pursuant to this Regulation. If no application for an authorisation is made within six months of the detention, or if the competent authority dismisses such an application, the customs authorities shall dispose of the detained goods in accordance with applicable national law.

Article 23 - Notification and consultation requirement

1. A Member State shall notify the other Member States and the Commission if its competent authorities, as listed in Annex I, take a decision dismissing an application for an authorisation under this Regulation or if they annul an authorisation they have granted. Such notification shall be made not later than 30 days following the date of the decision or annulment.

2. The competent authority shall, through diplomatic channels where required or appropriate, consult the authority or authorities which, in the preceding three years, dismissed an application for authorisation of an export, a transit, the supply of technical assistance to a person, entity or body in a third country or the supply of brokering services under this Regulation, if it receives an application concerning an export, a transit, the supply of technical assistance to a person, entity or body in a third country or the supply of brokering services involving an essentially identical transaction referred to in such earlier application and considers that an authorisation should, nevertheless, be granted.

3. If, after the consultations referred to in paragraph 2, the competent authority decides to grant an authorisation, the relevant Member State shall immediately inform the other Member States and the Commission of its decision and explain the reasons for its decision, submitting supporting information as appropriate.

4. Where a refusal to grant an authorisation is based on a national prohibition in accordance with Article 14(1) or Article 15(4), it shall not constitute a decision dismissing an application within the meaning of paragraph 1 of this Article.

5. All notifications required under this Article shall be made via a secure and encrypted system for exchange of information.

Chapter 6 - General and final provisions

Article 24 - Amendment of Annexes

The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 29, to amend Annexes I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX. The data in Annex I regarding competent authorities of the Member States shall be amended on the basis of information supplied by the Member States.

Where, in the case of amendment of Annex II, III, IV or V, imperative grounds of urgency so require, the procedure provided for in Article 30 shall apply to delegated acts adopted pursuant to this Article.

Article 25 - Requests for adding goods to one of the lists of goods

1. Each Member State may address a duly substantiated request to the Commission to add goods designed or marketed for law enforcement to Annex II, Annex III or Annex IV. Such a request shall include information on:

(a) the design and characteristics of the goods;

(b) all the purposes for which they can be used; and

When addressing its request to the Commission, the requesting Member State shall also forward that request to the other Member States.

2. The Commission may, within three months of the receipt of the request, ask the requesting Member State to provide supplementary information, if it considers that the request fails to address one or more relevant points or that additional information on one or more relevant points is necessary. It shall communicate the points on which supplementary information needs to be provided. The Commission shall forward its questions to the other Member States. The other Member States may also provide the Commission with further information for the assessment of the request.

3. If it considers that there is no need to ask for supplementary information or, where applicable, upon receipt of the supplementary information it has requested, the Commission shall, within 20 weeks of the receipt of the request or the receipt of supplementary information, respectively, commence the procedure for the adoption of the requested amendment or inform the requesting Member State of the reasons for not doing so.

Article 26 - Exchange of information between Member States' authorities and the Commission

1. Without prejudice to Article 23, the Commission and the Member States shall, upon request, inform each other of the measures taken under this Regulation and supply each other with any relevant information at their disposal in connection with this Regulation, in particular information on authorisations granted and refused.

2. Relevant information on authorisations granted and refused shall comprise at least the type of decision, the grounds for the decision or a summary thereof, the names of the consignees and, if they are not the same, of the end-users as well as the goods concerned.

3. Member States, if possible in cooperation with the Commission, shall make a public, annual activity report, providing information on the number of applications received, on the goods and countries concerned by these applications, and on the decisions they have taken on these applications. This report shall not include information the disclosure of which a Member State considers to be contrary to the essential interests of its security.

4. The Commission shall prepare an annual report comprised of the annual activity reports referred to in paragraph 3. That annual report shall be made publicly available.

5. Except for the supply of information mentioned in paragraph 2 to the authorities of the other Member State and to the Commission, this Article shall be without prejudice to applicable national rules concerning confidentiality and professional secrecy.

6. The refusal to grant an authorisation, if it is based on a national prohibition adopted in accordance with Article 14(1), shall not constitute an authorisation refused within the meaning of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article.

Article 27 - Processing of personal data

Personal data shall be processed and exchanged in accordance with the rules laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.

Article 28 - Use of information

Without prejudice to Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( ² ) and national legislation on public access to documents, information received pursuant to this Regulation shall be used only for the purpose for which it was requested.

Article 29 - Exercise of the delegation

1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 24 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 16 December 2016. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.

3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 24 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.

5. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 24 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Article 30 - Urgency procedure

1. Delegated acts adopted under this Article shall enter into force without delay and shall apply as long as no objection is expressed in accordance with paragraph 2. The notification of a delegated act to the European Parliament and to the Council shall state the reasons for the use of the urgency procedure.

2. Either the European Parliament or the Council may object to a delegated act in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 29(6). In such a case, the Commission shall repeal the act immediately following the notification of the decision to object by the European Parliament or by the Council.

Article 31 - Anti-Torture Coordination Group

1. An Anti-Torture Coordination Group chaired by a representative of the Commission shall be established. Each Member State shall appoint a representative to that group.

2. The Anti-Torture Coordination Group shall examine any questions concerning the application of this Regulation, including, without limitation, the exchange of information on administrative practices and any questions which may be raised either by the chair or by a representative of a Member State.

3. The Anti-Torture Coordination Group may, whenever it considers it to be necessary, consult exporters, brokers, suppliers of technical assistance and other relevant stakeholders concerned by this Regulation.

4. The Commission shall submit an annual report in writing to the European Parliament on the activities, examinations and consultations of the Anti-Torture Coordination Group.

The annual report shall be drawn up paying due regard to the need not to undermine the commercial interests of natural or legal persons. The discussions in the Anti-Torture Coordination Group shall be kept confidential.

Article 32 - Review

1. By 31 July 2020, and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall review the implementation of this Regulation and present a comprehensive implementation and impact assessment report to the European Parliament and to the Council, which may include proposals for its amendment. The review will assess the need to include the activities of Union nationals abroad. Member States shall provide to the Commission all appropriate information for the preparation of the report.

2. Special sections of the report shall deal with:

(a) the Anti-Torture Coordination Group and its activities. The report shall be drawn up paying due regard to the need not to undermine the commercial interests of natural or legal persons. The discussions in the group shall be kept confidential;

(b) information on the measures taken by the Member States pursuant to Article 33(1) and notified to the Commission pursuant to Article 33(2).

Article 33 - Penalties

1. Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

2. Member States shall notify the Commission without delay of any amendment affecting rules on penalties notified in accordance with Article 17(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005.

Article 34 - Territorial scope

1. This Regulation shall have the same territorial scope of application as the Treaties, except for the first subparagraph of Article 3(1), the first subparagraph of Article 4(1), Articles 5, 11, 13, 14, 16 and 18, Article 20(1) to (4) and Article 22, which shall apply to:

— the customs territory of the Union;

— the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla;

— the German territory of Helgoland.

2. For the purpose of this Regulation Ceuta, Helgoland and Melilla shall be treated as part of the customs territory of the Union.

Article 35 - Repeal

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 is repealed.

References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex XI.

Article 36 - Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Annex I- List of authorities referred to in articles 20 and 23, and address for notifications to the European commission

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Annex II - List of goods referred to in articles 3 and 4

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Annex III - List of goods referred to in article 11

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Annex IV - Goods that could be used for the purpose of capital punishment referred to in article 16

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Annex VIII - Authorisation form for the supply of brokering services referred to in article 21(1)

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Annex IX - Authorisation form for the supply of technical assistance referred to in article 21(1)

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Annex X - Repealed regulation with list of its successive amendments

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Annex XI - Correlation table

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Initial version

Regulation (eu) 2019/125 of the European Parliament and of the council of 16 January 2019 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

Official Journal of the European Union L 030 of 31 January 2019, p 1

Modified by

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/621 of 18 February 2020 amending annexes I and V to Regulation (EU) 2019/125 of the European Parliament and of the council concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment	Official Journal of the European Union L 144 of 7 May 2020, p 1
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/139 of 4 December 2020 amending annexes I and V to rRegulation (EU) 2019/125 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment to take into account the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union	Official Journal of the European Union L 43 of 8 February 2021, p 5

What's Next

Directive 2024/1226 - FR

Table of contents

Regulation (EU) 2019/125 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 January 2019 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (codification)
Summary
Coordinated version (1 September 2022)
Initial version
Modified by