European Commission Updates Dual-Use Export Control List
The Commission has adopted a regulation updating the European Union list of dual-use items, adding semiconductor manufacturing equipment, advanced computing, and additive manufacturing.
On September 14, 2026, the European Commission adopted a delegated regulation updating the European Union list of dual-use items and materials, building on decisions made in 2025 by the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group, and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the multilateral mechanisms that determine export-controlled items.
The updated list adds items including semiconductor manufacturing and testing equipment and materials, such as atomic layer deposition equipment used for molybdenum and ruthenium, research and inspection equipment for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography masks, and single-wafer cleaning equipment, as well as certain integrated circuits for advanced computing containing one or more digital processing units.
The regulation also expanded the scope of control to include advanced high-temperature ceramic matrix composites, rotary inductive encoders, additive manufacturing equipment for energetic materials, chemical vapor deposition equipment for silicon carbide fiber production, and technology for developing axial flow compressors for gas turbine engines. Additionally, certain control parameters and technical definitions were revised.
This impacts manufacturers, exporters, and importers of sensitive technologies, as the list specifies what requires a license prior to export outside the Union. The amendments do not take effect immediately; they first undergo a two-month review period by the European Parliament and the Council following standard procedure, and will enter into force upon publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
What do these terms mean?
Dual-use items: Items, technology, and software with both civilian and military or security applications that require a license before being exported.
Wassenaar Arrangement: An international alliance establishing common control lists for exports of conventional arms and dual-use technologies.
Australia Group: An international grouping coordinating export controls on chemical and biological agents and materials that could be used in weapons of mass destruction.
Nuclear Suppliers Group: An international grouping establishing guidelines for exporting materials and equipment that could be used in nuclear programs.
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