# Regulation (EU) 2021/821 — EU dual-use export control regime (recast) > *This is the official text of EU Regulation 2021/821, published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ L 206, 11.6.2021), establishing the Union-wide regime for controlling exports of "dual-use items" — goods, software and technology usable for both civil and military purposes. It is the primary/official legal source for the dual-use export-control framing of ELSAG ALPR (automated license-plate reader) hardware/software: ALPR/surveillance items manufactured within the EU by a Leonardo-group entity fall within the EU export-control system this Regulation defines. Relevant to the Arkansas surveillance investigation as the regulatory backdrop against which a European parent (Leonardo) exports surveillance technology.* ## Source metadata - **Publisher:** European Parliament and Council of the EU, via EUR-Lex / Official Journal of the European Union (OJ L 206, 11.6.2021, pp. 1–461) - **URL:** https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/821/oj/eng - **Archived:** 2026-06-07 via WebFetch (the full OJ text with annexes exceeds tool size limits; key operative articles extracted verbatim below) - **Tier:** 2 (primary/official — EU legislation) ## Extract — verbatim (lightly cleaned) **Full official title:** "Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items (recast)" **Article 2(1) — definition of "dual-use items":** "'dual-use items' means items, including software and technology, which can be used for both civil and military purposes, and includes items which can be used for the design, development, production or use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or their means of delivery" **Article 1 — subject matter:** The Regulation creates "a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items." **Article 3(1) — authorisation requirement:** "An authorisation shall be required for the export of dual-use items listed in Annex I." **Application / entry into force:** Published in the Official Journal on 11.6.2021 (OJ L 206). The Regulation has applied since 9 September 2021, repealing and replacing Regulation (EC) No 428/2009. (A consolidated version dated 15 November 2025 reflects subsequent amendments.)