Goods · Dual-use · Category 5

Category 5: Telecommunications and information security

Part 1: telecommunications equipment with special features. Part 2: information security — equipment and software that use cryptography.

Typical items in this category

  • hardened or special-purpose radio equipment
  • phased-array and jamming equipment
  • products with encryption functions

What decides: Telecom features and environmental hardening (Part 1); cryptographic functions for data confidentiality (Part 2). A product is only listed if it meets the exact description and values of an entry.

How entries are numbered

Entries in this category start with 5, followed by a letter:

  • 5A — Systems, equipment and components
  • 5B — Test, inspection and production equipment
  • 5C — Materials
  • 5D — Software
  • 5E — Technology

How control numbers are built →

Related high-priority goods

Product groups on the EU high-priority list where specialised types may fall under this category. The sanctions apply to them by HS code either way.

All categories

  1. 0Nuclear materials, facilities and equipment
  2. 1Special materials and related equipment
  3. 2Materials processing
  4. 3Electronics
  5. 4Computers
  6. 5Telecommunications and information security
  7. 6Sensors and lasers
  8. 7Navigation and avionics
  9. 8Marine
  10. 9Aerospace and propulsion

Sources

  1. [1]European Union: Regulation (EU) 2021/821 — EU dual-use regulation, Annex I (as amended by Delegated Regulation 2025/2003) (Annex I in force 15 Nov 2025).
  2. [2]Swiss Federal Council: Goods Control Ordinance (GKV), SR 946.202.1 — Annex 2 (dual-use goods) (status 1 Jul 2026).
  3. [3]Export Control Joint Unit (UK): UK Strategic Export Control Lists — consolidated list of strategic military and dual-use items (16 Dec 2025).
  4. [4]Bureau of Industry and Security (US): Classify your item (ECCN, Commerce Control List, EAR99).

General information on how export controls work — not legal advice and not an export-control classification. Classification needs the product's technical data; the official texts and the competent authority prevail.

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