Mineral export permission (MEP)

Under regulation 9 of the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958, you must have a mineral export permission (MEP) to export:

  • controlled ores
  • other nuclear material.

The Minister for Resources or an authorised person in the department grants these permissions.

A MEP applies for the following materials:

Materials Common examples
Controlled ores containing 500 parts per million (ppm) or more of uranium, thorium or a combination of these materials.
  • zircon  
  • heavy mineral sands or heavy mineral concentrate 
  • leucoxene 
  • ilmenite 
  • rare earth elements
Other nuclear materials or radioactive substances generally used in industrial, medical or research applications.
  • depleted uranium transport containers 
  • other fissionable materials like americium, curium, and californium 
  • small amounts of uranium or plutonium from research laboratories or organisations 
  • any other materials, like laboratory reagents, that have 500 ppm (equivalent to 0.05% by weight) or more of uranium, thorium or a combination of these materials

If you want to export uranium ore concentrate (UOC) from Australia, you must hold a different permission.

If you want to export thorium for use in nuclear energy, contact us at uranium@industry.gov.au

Application process

  • Request access

    Submit an access form to the Export Permissions Portal (EPP), if you don’t already have access.

    Once we receive your form, we will register your EPP account and send you a link to the portal. This process may take up to 5 business days. You can then apply for permissions to export controlled ores and other nuclear material.

  • Apply

    Use the EPP to apply for permissions to export controlled ores and other nuclear material.

    You will need to submit:

    • company details
    • project details
    • a chemical data sheet outlining the uranium and thorium content (as a % or ppm)
    • signed and stamped end user statement (EUS) templates (with a company seal or equivalent).


    We treat all information, including our initial discussion with you, as commercial-in-confidence. All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.

  • Review

    The department will review your application.

    The regulations don’t specify timeframes for making a MEP decision. MEP assessment timelines vary due to the:

    • export material type
    • destination of exports
    • accuracy and completeness of the application.


    We aim to provide an outcome 20 business days after you submit a complete application that needs no further information. If you submit an incomplete application or one that requires clarification, we will contact you.

End user statement (EUS) templates

Use these EUS templates when applying for permission to export controlled ores and other nuclear material via the EPP.

If you are exporting a controlled ore to China or understand it will be re-exported to China, you need to use a special EUS for processors or manufacturers. This is to satisfy Australia’s reporting obligations in Annex D of the Australia-China Nuclear Transfer Agreement.

Select the relevant EUS template below.

More information

Read about other minerals with export controls
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