The Defence and Strategic Goods List 2024 (DSGL) is a legislative instrument specifying goods, technology, and software regulated under Australian export control laws. The DSGL is amended to reflect changes in the various multilateral non‑proliferation and export control regimes of which Australia is a member.
Any person or entity wishing to export, supply, publish or broker ‘controlled’ DSGL items will need to lodge a permit application with Defence (unless an exemption applies), while meeting obligations around reporting and compliance.
There are currently over 2,500 unique item codes across the DSGL, separated into 2 categories:
- Part 1 – Munitions List: items specially designed or modified for military use.
- Part 2 – Dual-use List: items generally used for commercial purposes, but with potential military and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) application.
The DSGL also contains controls for items such as firearms and explosives that are specific to Australia.
Rules for supplying DSGL technology within Australia (PDF, 837.71 KB)
Part 1 – Munitions List
The table outlines the types of items on the Munitions List (ML):
| Munitions list reference number | Description |
|---|---|
| ML1 | Smooth bore weapons calibre <20mm; Other weapons calibre ≤ 12.7mm (calibre 0.50 inches); Components and accessories |
| ML2 |
Smooth bore weapons >20mm; Other weapons calibre > 12.7mm (calibre 0.50 inches); Components and accessories |
| ML3 | Ammunition and components for ML1, ML2 & ML12, Fuze settings for ML3 |
| ML4 | Bombs, torpedoes, rockets, missiles,, other explosive devices and charges, components and accessories; Equipment for launching, deploying, decoying, disruption, detection and jamming |
| ML5 | Fire control systems, components and accessories and their countermeasure equipment; Radar, surveillance, tracking systems, and their countermeasure equipment |
| ML6 | Ground vehicles and components |
| ML7 | Chemical or biological toxic agents, “riot control agents”, radioactive materials, related equipment, components and materials |
| ML8 | “Energetic materials” (explosives & chemicals) and related substances |
| ML9 | Vessels of war, special naval equipment, accessories, components and other surface vessels |
| ML10 | Aircraft, unmanned airborne vehicles, aero‐engines and aircraft equipment, and related equipment and components |
| ML11 | Electronic equipment not specified elsewhere on the Munitions List specially designed for military use and components |
| ML12 | High velocity kinetic energy weapon systems and related equipment and components |
| ML13 | Armour plates, helmets, body armour and components |
| ML14 | Simulators and training equipment; Components and accessories |
| ML15 | Imaging or countermeasure equipment, infrared, thermal imaging, image intensifier equipment and cameras; Components and accessories |
| ML16 | Forgings, castings and other unfinished products specially designed for any items specified by ML1 ‐ ML4, ML6, ML9, ML10, ML12 or ML19 |
| ML17 | Miscellaneous goods, including diving equipment, robots, ferries, containers specially designed or modified for military use, goods treated for or providing signature suppression |
| ML18 | Production and test equipment and components |
| ML19 | Directed energy weapon systems, countermeasure and related equipment and test models (e.g. lasers and particle beam systems) |
| ML20 | Cryogenic and superconductive equipment and specially designed components and accessories |
| ML21 | Software associated with any item listed in the Munitions List |
| ML22 | Technology associated with any item listed in the Munitions List |
| ML901-910 | Specific Australian only controls on firearms and explosives not covered elsewhere |
Part 2 – Dual-use List
The table outlines the 10 categories included in the Dual-use List.
| Dual-use category | Description |
|---|---|
| Category 0 | Nuclear materials |
| Category 1 | Materials, chemical, micro-organisms and toxins |
| Category 2 | Materials processing |
| Category 3 | Electronics |
| Category 4 | Computers |
| Category 5 | Telecommunications and 'information security' |
| Category 6 | Sensors and lasers |
| Category 7 | Navigation and avionics |
| Category 8 | Marine |
| Category 9 | Aerospace and propulsion |
Certain items (goods, equipment, software and technology) may be captured under multiple Dual-use categories.
Within the 10 Dual-Use categories (0-9), there are 5 sub-categorisations:
- A. Goods
- B. Test, Inspection, and Production Equipment
- C. Materials
- D. Software
- E. Technology.
DSGL assessment
Defence has created a self-help tool, accessible via My Australian Defence Exports portal, which can:
- clarify the control status of various goods, technology, or services
- point towards recommended forms.
Goods or technology not on the DSGL
Exports of non-controlled goods, services, software and/or technology may still fall under export control catch-all legislation. This can occur where there is a suspicion that they may be used for a military end-use or WMD program.
Where this possibility exists, exporters should contact Defence for advice on the control status of their goods, technology or services.
Exemptions for DSGL technology
The DSGL contains exemptions that may apply to otherwise controlled technology.
Technology in the public domain
If the technology is already available to the public, then it is not controlled. For example, the technology may be published in publications, product brochures and public blogs, websites, podcasts or databases. This exemption applies to all software and technology listed in the DSGL.
Fundamental research
This is basic or applied research conducted in circumstances where the results of the research:
- are intended for public disclosure, or would ordinarily be published or shared broadly
- are not subject to any restrictions on disclosure (however imposed) for purposes connected with the security or defence of Australia or any foreign country.
The minimum necessary information for patent applications
This exemption does not apply to nuclear technology listed in Category 0. This exemption applies to the supply of DSGL technology where it is done for the purpose of seeking a patent in Australia or overseas.
Seeking a patent includes lodging a patent application and the supply of DSGL technology to a person or organisation, such as
- a patent office
- patent attorney
- research collaborator
- patent review panel.
The person or organisation should be directly associated with the lodging (or potential lodging) of a patent application, or acting as a result of the patent examination process.
Supply for a purpose that is not directly related to seeking a patent will generally require a permit (unless other exemptions apply). This includes:
- supply of DSGL technology to a research collaborator located overseas before a decision is made to seek a patent. Once a provisional patent application is filed, any supplies of DSGL technology to further develop an invention prior to preparing/submitting a complete patent application will require a permit.
- supplies of DSGL technology to locate investors and determine overseas markets (including forwarding a recently-filed provisional application) will require a permit.
- the process of publishing a patent (or an unsuccessful application) into the public domain is covered by this exemption. Until such time as that information exists in the public domain, it is still controlled and would require a permit to be supplied if it is not for the purpose of 'seeking a patent' and no other exemptions applied.
Medical equipment specially designed for medical end-use
This exemption does not include equipment that has a solely medical end-use. For example, certain cryocoolers that are part of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) machines are controlled. The NMR machine is specifically designed for medical end-use and therefore does not require a permit for export even though it contains that controlled item.
Clinical trials
Clinical trials involving a therapeutic product which is entered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods or is proposed to be the subject of an exemption or approval pursuant to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 or Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices) Regulations 2002, are not controlled.
Other exemptions may apply.