National and international legislation

The legitimate global defence and security industry is carefully regulated by international legislation – and the additional legislation in operation in the UK means the UK industry and defence shows are among the most stringently regulated in the world.

The UK defence sector must comply with the following legislation:

•Export Control Act 2002 (updated April 2009)
•Trade in Goods (Control) Order 2003
•Trade in Controlled Goods (Embargoed Destinations) Order 2004
Exhibitors must also comply with other international treaties such as the Oslo Treaty (Convention on Cluster Munitions), which delegations from 111 UN member states adopted in Dublin in 2008.

At defence exhibitions exhibitors are also expressly prohibited from displaying or promoting in any way Weapons of Mass Destruction, all forms of anti-personnel mines, and any equipment designed to be used for torture or repression.

EU member states and companies are also subject to the 1998 EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports (the 1998 EU Code), which is widely recognised as one of the most developed multilateral regional arms export control mechanisms in the world. It was developed from the Common Criteria agreed at the Luxembourg and Lisbon European Councils in 1991 and 1992. The 1998 Code is reviewed annually by the Member States in the Council of the European Union.

The EU has also taken Joint Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). Joint Actions fall under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The Joint Action on SALW is implemented on behalf of the Member States by the European Commission (DG RELEX).

These rules apply to anyone in the UK, wherever they come from. All of the visitors, exhibitors and delegates to DSEi are bound by them and Clarion Events itself is bound by the law wherever it operates.