Your contract is signed, the invoice issued, and the truck is already loaded. Then suddenly customs stops the shipment.

What went wrong? In many cases, the answer is simple: your product may fall under dual-use export controls.

In a new video, “Customs Stopped Your Export? It Might Be Dual-Use,” Wiktor Galusiński, Associate at Dudkowiak & Putyra, explains why shipments leaving Poland are sometimes halted at the border and what exporters should understand before sending controlled technology abroad.

For companies trading internationally, export controls can be an unexpected obstacle. Products that appear purely civilian may still require government authorisation if they meet certain technical parameters or raise concerns about their potential use.

In this short legal briefing, Wiktor Galusiński explains:

  • What dual-use goods are and why seemingly civilian products can still be subject to export controls
  • When exporting outside the EU requires authorisation from Poland’s Ministry of Development and Technology
  • Why export licences are not one-size-fits-all and how individual, global, and general licences differ
  • When EU general licences such as EU001, EU003, or EU004 may simplify the export process
  • What compliance obligations still apply when using general licences, including reporting duties to authorities
  • Why even products not explicitly listed may require authorisation depending on the end-use or destination

The key message is simple: export compliance should happen before the shipment leaves your warehouse, not at the customs checkpoint. A single incorrect assumption about classification or licensing can lead to shipment detention, costly delays, or regulatory exposure.

Could your export be stopped because of dual-use rules?
Watch the full video on our YouTube channel or contact info@dudkowiak.com if you need help classifying your products or selecting the right export licence.

For a broader overview of the regulatory framework, explore our comprehensive guides on defense and military law in Poland:

English: https://www.dudkowiak.com/defense-military-law-in-poland/

Polish: https://dudkowiak.pl/prawo-zbrojeniowe-i-wojskowe/

German:https://dudkowiakputyra.de/konzessionen-fuer-sprengstoffe-polizei-und-militaerbedarf/