Controlled goods

Controlled goods are goods, components and technical data with military or national-security significance that the Government of Canada controls domestically. They are defined by reference to the Defence Production Act. The term covers more than finished military equipment: tangible parts, printed material and electronic data all fall within it. See the Government of Canada overview of controlled goods for the official explanation.

The term comes from the Controlled Goods Program (CGP), which is administered by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). The program is a registration and compliance program for businesses and individuals. It regulates the examination, possession and transfer of controlled goods in Canada, as set out on the Controlled Goods Program page.

The Schedule to the Defence Production Act

The authoritative Canadian list of controlled goods is the Controlled Goods List, which is contained in the Schedule to the Defence Production Act. It covers defence articles, components and associated technologies with military or national-security significance. PSPC publishes a guide to the Schedule to the Defence Production Act to help businesses read the list, including an introduction to the guide. If an item is on the list, it is a controlled good in Canada.

Parts, printed material and electronic data

Controlled goods are not limited to hardware. PSPC's security plan guideline treats controlled goods as including physical parts or components, printed material and electronic data. Controlled technical information can therefore arrive as blueprints, technical specifications or electronic files, and each format needs to be safeguarded.

Registered businesses must also protect these items through a security plan. PSPC supplies a security plan template for that purpose.

U.S.-origin defence articles and ITAR technical data

Canadian controlled goods overlap with certain U.S. controls. They include U.S.-origin defence articles listed on the U.S. Munitions List, and goods manufactured from technical data controlled by the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). A supplier handling American-origin defence material in Canada may therefore be dealing with controlled goods even when the item is not made in Canada. The Controlled Goods Program remains separate from export-control regimes.

Registration in the Controlled Goods Program

Any individual or organization that needs to examine, possess or transfer controlled goods or controlled technology in Canada must register in the CGP, unless an exemption or exclusion applies. The registration page sets out who needs to register. Registered suppliers must comply with the Defence Production Act and the Controlled Goods Regulations, including the safeguarding requirements described under program requirements.

Controlled-goods requirements show up in solicitations involving defence articles, military equipment, weapons, communications equipment, satellite positioning systems and related intellectual property, as discussed in the PSPC evaluation of the Controlled Goods Program.

What controlled goods mean for bidders

• Registration can be required before you receive bid-solicitation documents that contain controlled goods or controlled technology, so the requirement can apply before contract award.
• Check whether a solicitation includes blueprints, technical specifications or electronic data that fall under the Controlled Goods List.
• If you plan to examine, possess or transfer controlled goods, confirm your registration status and whether an exemption applies.
• Build the cost of a security plan and safeguarding into your bid planning.
• Subcontractors who will handle controlled goods need to meet the same requirements.