Federal Office of Economics and Export Control

The predecessor Bundesamt für Wirtschaft (BAW) (Federal Office of Economics) was founded in 1954. Its original name was Bundesamt für gewerbliche Wirtschaft (Federal Office for Industrial Economics). In 1975 it moved to Eschborn, where in 1975 the Bundesausfuhramt (Federal Office of Export) came into being. Eventually both offices got combined.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bmwi.de/English/Navigation/Ministry/agencies,did=161220.html|title=The Federal Office of Export Control and the Federal Office of Economics were merged to form the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control on 1 January 2001.|access-date=2012-06-08|location=Berlin|work=German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616120358/http://bmwi.de/English/Navigation/Ministry/agencies,did=161220.html|archive-date=16 June 2012|url-status=dead}}

BAFA's parent agency is the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

All items listed by the Australia Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, Nuclear Suppliers Group, and Wassenaar Arrangement are subject to export control in Germany. Germany implements the European Dual Use Export Control Annex. All these control documents are the responsibility of BAFA.{{Include-USGov|source={{cite news |title=GERMANY EXPORT CONTROL INFORMATION |url=https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/all-articles/220-eco-country-pages/1041-germany-export-control-information |agency=Bureau of Industry and Security |publisher=US Department of Commerce |date=2020}}|inline=yes}}{{cite news |title=ATT-BAP Survey: Germany |url=http://www.armstrade.info/countryprofile/germany/ |publisher=ATT Baseline Assessment Project |date=2014}}

The BAFA is tasked with oversight of the Arms Trade Treaty in Germany, and the domestic Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz (War weapons control act).{{cite news |title=THE EU ATT OUTREACH PROJECT |url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/research/disarmament/dualuse/pdf-archive-att/pdfs/eu-the-att-outreach-project.pdf |publisher=BAFA}}{{cite news |title=FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY - INITIAL REPORT ON MEASURES UNDERTAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE ARMS TRADE TREATY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS ARTICLE 13(1) |url=https://thearmstradetreaty.org/download/b53fdb98-7912-39df-92d7-259131de677e |publisher=thearmstradetreaty.org}} The BAFA has been entrusted by the Council of the EU with the technical implementation of the EU ATT Outreach Project.

The BAFA receives arms and dual-use export license applications and also uses a consolidated list to determine how the item should be controlled. Germany's consolidated Export List includes a section for arms and one for dual-use items. Some items in the arms section, contained in a specific list known as "war weapons," are subject to additional prohibitions and licensing requirements under the War Weapons Control Act, and are reviewed and approved by another part of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. When applying for an export license to BAFA, applicants have to submit a copy of the war weapons license granted by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology if the export is subject to the War Weapons Control Act.{{Include-USGov|source={{cite news |title=Export Controls: Observations on Selected Countries' Systems and Proposed Treaties |url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/a305066.html |work=GAO-10-557 |publisher=U.S. Government Accountability Office |date=28 June 2010}}|inline=yes}}

The office oversees German exports in general and the export of weaponry and dual-use technology in particular.{{Cite news|url= http://www.deutschland.de/en/economy/foreign-trade/details/article/bundesamt-fuer-wirtschaft-und-ausfuhrkontrolle.html?no_cache=1&cHash=551f814b9436cebf189ed11a5d1453f7|title= As its contribution to international peacekeeping, for example, the BAFA keeps a close check on the export of arms and munitions.|access-date= 2012-08-06|location= Berlin|work= deutschland.de, Das Deutschland-Portal}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The BAFA keeps detailed lists of goods which have to be scrutinized before a consent is possible. Hereby it considers embargos and international regulations such as the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

On behest of the European Union the BAFA also enforces the Union's regulations concerning the import of specific goods including textile and steel.{{Cite news|url=http://europa.eu/youreurope/business/profiting-from-eu-market/selling-goods/germany/index_en.htm|title= The Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) issues import authorisations and control documents in respect of certain goods from non-EU countries which are subject to an obligation of approval or control under EU regulations|access-date=2012-08-06

|work=europa.eu, European Commission}}

Moreover, the office supports countries outside the European Union in case they are about to establish their own export control systems.{{Cite news|url= http://exportcontrol.org/library/conferences/1379/Update_on_Recent_ITT_Conference_(Pietsch,_George).pdf |title= How to approach controls on intangible technology transfer (ITT) |access-date=2004-11-03|location=Washington|work=ExportControl.org, a web site officially sponsored by the Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance program|first=Georg|last=Pietsch}}

The BAFA strives to improve the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises. It promotes management consulting, helps companies to present their products at international trade fairs etc.

The main goal is to promote efficient energy use as well as establishing a sustainable energy supply. The office's programmes for that matter pursue for example a growing use of cogeneration. This includes incentives for evolvements in the field of renewable energy on the grounds of solar thermal energy, biomass and heat pumps. The BAFA also offers professional certification for appropriate constructions and consultants for energy conservation.{{Cite news|url= http://www.erneuerbare-energien.de/english/renewable_energy/government_funding/doc/42399.php|title= If you have specific questions about the "Market Incentive Programme" regarding the application for an investment grant, please send your inquiry directly to the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) in Eschborn|access-date= 2012-08-06|location= Berlin|work= Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120803101733/http://www.erneuerbare-energien.de/english/renewable_energy/government_funding/doc/42399.php|archive-date= 2012-08-03|url-status= dead}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.bafa.de/EN/Home/home_node.html}}
• [http://www.bafa.de/EN/Foreign_Trade/Export_Control/export_control_node.htmll BAFA page on export control]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080828025417/http://www.eu-outreach.info/ BAFA on EU Cooperation in Dual-Use Export Control]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Economy of Germany

Category:German federal agencies

Category:Government agencies established in 1954

Category:1954 establishments in West Germany

Category:Foreign trade of Germany

Category:Military regulatory authorities of Germany