One of the main challenges in Export Compliance is the determination (Classification) if an "Export" Transaction or interaction is subject to legal control in accordance with applicable jurisdiction's definitions.

Transactions can encompass virtually any kind of interaction, including but not limited to selling, purchasing, loaning, licensing, renting, quoting, returning, repairing, providing services, providing samples, visiting, meeting, training, making or receiving payment, hiring, mergers and acquisitions, accessing controlled data and collaborating in research involving controlled data.

Export control regulations change periodically (in case of Sanctions changes may occur any time)

The key features are:

Recognition of items/technology: match with regulations Pattern recognition
Capable of maintaining or modifying the Classification when Regulations change and warning in case of significant changes in the classification of products.

EIFEC since 2011 has developed and activated an Expert System for verification, classification and certification (EIFEC Standard EC1001.02:ECP and additional for Sanctions), aimed at assessing and determining the compliance of products and services with European and U.S. regulations.

The Expert System has been developed in collaboration with the leading European Technology Universities and coordinated for Italy by the Politecnico di Torino; it can be used to support both National Authorities and individual exporters.

EIFEC Classification Expert System has been included among the 9 key initiatives adopted in Europe as part of the commitment made at the 2012 G8 Summit in Camp David by the European Union to implement and update E.U. export control policies (
see "Final Compliance Report" by the G8 Research Group - page 146).