ECCN.help – User Guide

Introduction

Welcome to the official user guide for ECCN.help — an AI-powered regulatory technology platform designed to assist compliance professionals, exporters, and advisory firms with U.S. export control classification and screening.

Version V.3.0 (April 2026) introduces a new 7-step Guided Classification Workflow that walks you end-to-end from product information through ECCN determination, license requirement, OFAC & restricted-party screening, and a final sealed report — with full draft save, resume, and case history. The nine Quick Lookup Tools from earlier versions remain available for fast standalone checks, and the ELENA chatbot is available throughout for general export control questions.

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What's New in V.3.0

If you used an earlier version of ECCN.help, the most important changes to know about are:

Change	Summary
New 7-Step Guided Workflow	After logging in, the default workspace is now a case-based workflow that walks you from product information through the final report in seven structured steps.
Persistent Case IDs	Every workflow run is saved as a case with a unique identifier (format ECC-YYYY-MMDD-NNNN). Cases auto-save, can be exited and resumed anytime, and appear in your Classification History.
Technical Datasheet Upload	Step 1 now accepts up to 5 technical attachments (PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PNG, JPG). The platform extracts and summarises their technical parameters and uses them throughout the analysis.
Email Your Questions to an Engineer	In Step 2 (Compliance Q&A), if you need technical help, you can email the clarification questions to an engineer. They answer via a one-time link — no account required — and answers auto-fill into your case.
Top-3 Candidate ECCNs + ELENA Consultation	Step 3 presents the top 3 candidate ECCNs for your review. If you're unsure which to pick, open the per-case ELENA Consultation — an interactive chat that asks targeted questions until a confident ECCN is reached, or up to 12 rounds.
Expert Review with User Approval	In Step 4 you can send the case to any external expert via email (no account required). If the expert proposes a different ECCN from yours or the AI's, the case waits for your explicit approval before that ECCN becomes effective.
End-Use Declaration & End-User Statement	Step 5 (License) now requires a written end-use declaration and a signed End-User Statement PDF (End User Certificate / DLA Form / equivalent).
Multi-Party OFAC & Restricted Party Screening	Step 6 screens every named party in the transaction (End User, Ultimate Consignee, Intermediate Consignee, Purchaser, Freight Forwarder) against OFAC SDN, Consolidated Sanctions, BIS Entity List, Unverified List, DPL, and the 50% Rule.
Sealed Final Report with PDF & Audit Trail	Step 7 generates a final report with a complete audit trail that can be printed, copied, or downloaded as PDF. Each determination is valid for 365 days from issue.
Classification History	All your cases — drafts, in-progress, awaiting engineer, awaiting expert, and completed — are searchable and filterable from the History panel.
Quick Lookup Tools Retained	The nine Quick Lookup tools (ECCN Classification, CCL Index, EAR99 vs. ECCN, ITAR vs. EAR, ITAR Workflow, License Requirement, License Exception, Encryption, OFAC) remain available in the sidebar and work the same way as before.

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A. User Journey

Every user follows a structured onboarding process. Authentication and the one-time registration form must be completed before accessing any tool or the workflow.

Authentication Options

ECCN.help offers two authentication methods — LinkedIn OAuth and Email-based registration/login. Click the "Login / Register" button in the top navigation bar to open the authentication popup. The popup presents three options:

1. Register / Login with LinkedIn — Passwordless OAuth-based authentication.
2. Register with Email — Create a new account using your name and email address.
3. Login with Email — Sign in with your email and password (or OTP for first-time login).

Option 1 — Register / Login with LinkedIn

This option uses LinkedIn OAuth 2.0 for secure, passwordless authentication.

1. Click "Register / Login with LinkedIn" in the popup.
2. You will be redirected to LinkedIn to authorise ECCN.help.
3. Grant permission to share your name and email address.
4. You will be redirected back to ECCN.help automatically.

First-time users will be directed to complete a one-time registration form (see section A.vi below). Returning users are taken directly to the 7-Step Guided Workflow dashboard.

Option 2 — Register with Email

Create an account using your name and email address. A One-Time Password (OTP) is sent to your email for secure first-time login.

1. Click "Register with Email" in the popup.
2. Enter your Full Name and Email Address.
3. Accept the Privacy Policy checkbox.
4. Complete the human verification (simple math captcha).
5. Click "Register Now".
6. A 6-digit OTP will be sent to your registered email address.
7. After registration, switch to "Login with Email" to sign in using the OTP.

Option 3 — Login with Email

1. Click "Login with Email" in the popup.
2. Enter your registered email address and either your password or your current OTP.
3. Click Sign In.
4. On first successful OTP login, you will be prompted to set a permanent password that meets the password policy (minimum 12 characters, upper & lower case, a number, and a special character).

Forgot Password

If you have forgotten your password:

1. Click "Forgot Password?" on the Email Login tab.
2. Enter your registered email address.
3. Check your email for a secure reset link. The link is valid for 60 minutes.
4. Click the link, set a new password that meets the password policy, and confirm.

Registration Form (One-Time Only)

First-time users — whether they logged in via LinkedIn or via email — must complete a short registration form before accessing the workflow or tools. Required fields are your organisation name, role, country, and intended use. This form appears only once.

Delete Account

1. Go to "Profile & Settings" and click "Request Account Deletion".
2. Confirm in the browser dialog that you want to proceed.
3. A confirmation email with a secure deletion link is sent to your registered email.
4. Click the link in the email to confirm permanent deletion.

Your account is only deleted after you click the confirmation link. If you change your mind, click "No, Keep My Account" on the confirmation page.

Important Notes

#	Note
1	ECCN.help supports two authentication methods: LinkedIn OAuth (passwordless) and email-based registration with OTP and password login.
2	All new users must complete both steps (authentication + registration form) before accessing the workflow or any tool.
3	LinkedIn users: to update your name or email, update them on LinkedIn and sign in again. Email users: contact ask@eccn.help for profile changes.
4	Email support response time may take up to 72 hours. Contact ask@eccn.help for assistance.
5	All system timestamps are displayed in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
6	Email-registered accounts: your account is locked for 15 minutes after 5 consecutive failed login attempts.
7	A classification determination issued in the final report remains valid for 365 days from issue.

Usage Limits & Fair Access Policy

Limit Type	Threshold
Global Request Limit	Up to 100 requests within a rolling 60-minute window
Step 1 Attachments	Up to 5 files, each max 20 MB, per case
End-User Statement (Step 5)	1 file, max 10 MB, signed PDF only
ELENA Consultation (per case)	Up to 12 rounds of Q&A per case

If the request threshold is exceeded, temporary access restrictions are applied automatically. Access restores after the restriction window expires.

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B. The 7-Step Guided Classification Workflow

The 7-Step Guided Workflow is the primary way to classify a product end-to-end on ECCN.help V.3.0. Each run is saved as a case that you can exit and resume at any time. Every answer, correction, and decision is recorded in an audit trail which becomes part of the final report.

Workspace Overview

After logging in, you land directly on the workflow workspace. Three elements are always visible:

Area	What It Shows
Top Progress Bar	The 7 steps — Product Info, Compliance Q&A, ELENA Consultation, Classification Review, License, OFAC, Final Report — with the current step highlighted. Earlier steps are clickable once you've reached them; later steps are locked until unlocked in sequence.
Left Sidebar	A step list mirroring the top bar, the 9 Quick Lookup tools, and your 5 most recent cases for one-click resume.
Main Panel	The form / questions / results for the current step.

The top navigation bar also provides:

• History — opens the full list of your cases (see §B.10).
• Feedback — open the feedback form in a new tab.
• Profile — your account, password, and deletion settings.
• Home — return to the public home page.
• Logout — end your session.

Step 1 — Product Information

Provide the primary information about the item you want to classify. Fields marked with * are required.

Field	Description
Material / Part Number *	Manufacturer part number, internal SKU, or any unique identifier.
Product / Item Name *	Short, specific product name (e.g., "RF Power Amplifier", "Fiber Laser Cutter").
Manufacturer / Vendor *	Company that makes or supplies the item.
HS Code / Schedule B	Harmonised System code, if known. Optional but helpful.
Product Description *	A few sentences explaining what the product does, how it is used, and its primary function.
Additional Technical Parameters	Frequency, power, bandwidth, semiconductor technology, operating temperature, or any other control-relevant parameters.
Attached Technical Datasheets	Drop or browse up to 5 files (PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PNG, JPG). Max 20 MB each. Attachments are summarised and used throughout the analysis.

When you are ready, click Submit for Q&A Review →. The platform performs an initial analysis and then branches automatically:

• If additional information is required → you move to Step 2 (Compliance Q&A).
• If the information you provided is already sufficient → you skip directly to Step 3 (ELENA Consultation & Candidates).

At the bottom of Step 1 you also have:

• 💾 Save as Draft — save progress and return later (see §B.9).
• Exit — leave the workflow; any unsaved fields will not persist until you save a draft or submit.

Step 2 — Compliance Q&A

If the initial analysis needs more information, you will see a short set of clarification questions tailored to your product — typically covering items like encryption capabilities, operating frequency, intended end use, or military-vs-civilian design intent.

Option A — Answer yourself

Answer each required question directly in the form and click Submit Answers → AI Analysis. You move straight to Step 3.

Option B — Ask an Engineer

If the questions are technical and you prefer a product engineer to answer them, use the Ask to Engineer card:

1. Enter the engineer's email address.
2. Choose a priority (Standard, Urgent, or Low).
3. Optionally add a short note for context.
4. Click ✉ Send Questions to Engineer.

The engineer receives an email with a one-time link — no ECCN.help account is required. When they submit their answers, those answers flow directly into your case and the workflow automatically advances. While you wait, the platform redirects you to start a new case; your pending case appears in History under the Awaiting Engineer filter.

Step 3 — ELENA Consultation & Candidate ECCNs

After your answers are submitted, the platform produces a top-3 candidate ECCN shortlist — the three most likely ECCN classifications for your item, ranked and with a short justification for each.

Reviewing the Candidates

Each candidate card shows:

• The candidate ECCN code.
• A confidence indicator.
• A brief regulatory justification.
• Any relevant flags (e.g., possible ITAR jurisdiction, possible mass-market eligibility).

If one of the three clearly applies to your product, select it and click Proceed to Classification Review →. That selection becomes the working ECCN for the case.

Opening the ELENA Consultation

If you are not sure which of the three candidates fits best — or none seem quite right — click 💬 Consult with ELENA. The ELENA Consultation is an interactive per-case chat that asks targeted follow-up questions one at a time, narrowing in on the correct ECCN.

Feature	Description
Round-by-round Q&A	ELENA asks one question per turn; you answer, and it decides the next most informative question.
Confidence target	The consultation keeps asking questions until it reaches a confident ECCN recommendation.
Round cap	Up to 12 rounds per case. If no confident ECCN is reached by round 12, the consultation escalates to expert-review recommendations.
Consultation summary	When the consultation concludes, a concise summary (75–125 words) is saved with your case and included in the final report.

The ELENA Consultation here is per-case and lives entirely inside your workflow; it is separate from the global ELENA chatbot described in §D.

Step 4 — Classification Review

Step 4 consolidates every classification opinion on your case in one place so you can review before committing to license and OFAC screening. At minimum you will see the AI-determined ECCN. Additional cards appear as needed:

Card	When It Appears
AI Classification	Always shown — the ECCN produced by the AI analysis and ELENA Consultation.
User Classification	Shown only if you used Incorrect Classified to override the AI result.
Expert Classification	Shown only after an expert has responded to an expert-review request.
User Approval of Expert	Shown only if the expert proposed a different ECCN. You must approve or reject before the expert ECCN becomes effective.

Marking a Result as Incorrect

If you believe the classification is wrong, click ⚠ Incorrect Classified and fill in:

• Your ECCN — the code you believe applies (e.g., EAR99, 3A001.b.3).
• Your Justification — a regulatory reason (minimum 15 words).

Your correction becomes the effective ECCN on the case and will autofill on Step 5.

Submitting for Expert Review

If you would like an external expert to validate the classification, click 👥 Submit for Expert Review:

1. Enter the expert's email address — any email, no ECCN.help account required.
2. Add a short comment on what you want them to check.
3. Click Send to Expert →.

The expert receives an email with a one-time link showing the case so far. They can:

• Agree with the current ECCN,
• Request additional information, or
• Propose a different ECCN, with their justification.

If the expert agrees or only adds comments, the case continues. If the expert proposes a different ECCN, the case enters a pending approval state:

1. The Expert Classification card shows the expert's proposed ECCN and justification.
2. You see an Approve Expert's Proposed ECCN? box with Approve and Reject buttons.
3. If you approve, the expert's ECCN becomes the effective classification and autofills on Step 5.
4. If you reject, the previously effective ECCN (AI-determined or your own correction) remains in effect. In either case, your decision and any comment you added are recorded in the audit trail.

When you are satisfied with the classification, click Proceed to License & Other Requirements →.

Step 5 — License & Other Requirements

Step 5 determines whether an export license is required for your item to the chosen destination and end-use.

Field	Notes
ECCN	🔒 Pre-filled from the effective classification in Step 4. Read-only.
Destination Country *	Start typing the country name or ISO code and select from the autocomplete list. Typing alone is not enough — you must click a suggestion.
End Use Type	Grouped as Low Risk (commercial), Moderate Risk (civil gov/research/medical), and High Risk (military, military-intelligence, nuclear, missile, CBW, supercomputer/semi). Select the most accurate option.
End User Type	Private Company, Trading Company, University, Research Institute, Foreign Gov — Civilian, Foreign Gov — Military, U.S. Government/Contractor, International Organisation, etc.
Item Value (USD)	Optional. Used for LVS (Low-Value Shipment) exception screening.
Re-export / Temporary / Replacement	Quick selectors for transaction type.
Additional Context	Optional free-text (up to 500 characters) for prior license references or specific compliance concerns.
End Use Declaration *	Required. A written description of the specific end use at the destination, including any end-user, end-use, or technology restrictions.
End-User Statement *	Required. A signed PDF (End User Certificate, DLA Form, or equivalent). Max 10 MB.

Click Check Requirements to generate a license determination. The determination explains whether a license is required, identifies any applicable license exception, and lists the applicable country-group and reason-for-control triggers.

If you do not need a license determination for this case (for example, when the case is for internal review only), click ⏭ Skip this Step in the top-right of Step 5.

Step 6 — OFAC & Restricted Party Screening

Step 6 screens every party involved in the transaction against the major U.S. export-restriction lists.

Adding Parties

A first End User party card is pre-added and required. Click + Add Another Party to add any of the following additional roles:

• End User
• Ultimate Consignee
• Intermediate Consignee
• Purchaser
• Freight Forwarder

For each party provide:

• Legal entity type — Company, Individual, Government Entity, Partnership, NGO, Other.
• Legal name, DBA / Trade Name, Aliases.
• Website / Domain.
• Registered address — street, city, state/province, postal code, country.

Running the Screening

Click 🔍 Screen to run the screening without advancing the workflow (useful if you want to review before committing), or click Run Screening & Generate Final Report → to screen and proceed to Step 7.

Each party is checked against:

List / Rule	Source
OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	U.S. Treasury — OFAC
OFAC Consolidated Sanctions (non-SDN)	U.S. Treasury — OFAC
BIS Entity List	U.S. Commerce — BIS
Unverified List (UVL)	U.S. Commerce — BIS
Denied Persons List (DPL)	U.S. Commerce — BIS
50% Rule (indirect ownership)	U.S. Treasury — OFAC guidance

The screening result card shows each party's match status and any list(s) on which they appear. Statuses you may see include:

Status	Meaning
BLOCKED	Direct match on a prohibiting list. Transaction is prohibited.
BLOCKED UNLESS LICENSED	Prohibited unless a specific OFAC or BIS license applies.
REVIEW REQUIRED	Possible match or elevated-risk indicator. Human review required.
NO MATCHES FOUND	No matches identified in current data as of the data timestamp. Not a clearance.

If screening is not applicable to your case, click ⏭ Skip this Step in the top-right.

Step 7 — Final Report

Step 7 presents the final classification determination for the case. The report consolidates:

• The product information you submitted (including attachment summaries).
• Compliance Q&A responses (and the engineer's identity if applicable).
• The top-3 candidate shortlist, the candidate you selected, and — if used — the ELENA Consultation summary.
• The AI, user, and (if applicable) expert classifications, plus your approval decision if the expert proposed a different ECCN.
• The license requirement determination and end-use declaration (if Step 5 was completed).
• The OFAC & restricted-party screening result (if Step 6 was completed).
• A full audit trail of every action on the case with UTC timestamps.

Four actions are available on the final report:

Button	Action
🖨 Print	Open the browser print dialog.
📋 Copy	Copy the report content to your clipboard.
⬇ Download PDF	Download the report as a PDF for your records.
➕ Save & Start New Classification	Finalise this case and start a new one.

Save as Draft & Resume

At virtually every step you will see a 💾 Save as Draft button. Saving a draft stores your case with its assigned case ID and returns you to the dashboard. You can resume later from:

• The Recent Cases list in the left sidebar (your 5 most recent cases, one click to resume).
• The History page, which shows every case you own.
• A direct link to the case (for example from an email notification).

The workspace also auto-saves in the background. You will see a small save strip near the top of the workspace indicating when the case was last saved and showing the case ID.

Classification History

Click History in the top navigation bar (or the History item in the Recent Cases section) to open the Classification History page. It shows every case you own.

Search & Filters

Use the search box at the top to search by Part Number or Product Name. The filter pills let you narrow the list:

• All Cases
• ✓ Completed — final report issued.
• ⏳ In Progress — active cases you are currently working on.
• 👷 Awaiting Engineer — Step 2 sent to an engineer and not yet answered.
• 👥 Awaiting Expert — Step 4 sent for expert review and not yet answered.
• 📝 Drafts — saved drafts you have not submitted yet.

Actions per Case

Action	Description
View	Open the case in read-only mode. All form inputs are locked; you can navigate every step to review content, but cannot modify it. A banner at the top offers Switch to Edit →.
Resume	Open the case for continued editing at the step where you left off (drafts and in-progress cases).
Edit	Re-open a completed case to update fields. The audit trail records the edit.
Email	Email the final report as a PDF to any address.

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C. Quick Lookup Tools

Alongside the 7-Step Guided Workflow, ECCN.help continues to offer the nine Quick Lookup Tools for fast standalone checks that do not need to be part of a full workflow case. They are accessible from the Quick Lookups section of the left sidebar, and in most cases open as a modal over the workspace.

C.1  Quick ECCN Classification

The Quick ECCN Classification tool provides a short, conversational ECCN determination presented as a visual flow timeline — ideal when you need a quick answer without the full documentation that the 7-Step Guided Workflow produces. It uses a multi-model AI framework operating on fine-tuned regulatory datasets.

1) Starting a Classification

1. Open the ECCN Classification card from the sidebar.
2. Enter a short product identifier (1–3 words) in the input field — e.g., thermal camera, VPN router, IC chips, fiber laser.
3. Click Classify → or press Enter.

2) How the Guided Flow Works

After submitting your product identifier, a visual timeline progresses through these stages:

Stage	What You See	What to Do
Item Submitted	Your product name appears as the first node in the timeline.	Wait for the AI to process.
Analysing…	Animated loading indicator while AI interprets your product and retrieves regulatory data.	Wait — typically a few seconds.
Question (Q1, Q2…)	A targeted question with clickable answer buttons (2–4 custom options + a "Not Sure" fallback) appears in an alternating left/right flow.	Click the answer that best describes your product.
Final Result	The classification result card with ECCN, confidence, justification, and action buttons.	Review result and provide feedback.

The AI asks between 1 and 7 questions depending on product complexity. Questions cover encryption capabilities, operating frequencies, military vs. civilian design intent, mass-market availability, autonomous features, and other regulatory boundary criteria.

3) Good vs. Poor Starting Identifiers

4) Reviewing the Classification Result

Result Element	Description
ECCN Code	The suggested Export Control Classification Number, displayed prominently at the top.
Confidence Level	Color-coded badge: High (green), Medium (orange), Low (red).
ITAR Review Flag	If present, indicates the product may fall under ITAR jurisdiction rather than EAR.
Mass Market Flag	If present, indicates the product may qualify as mass-market under §740.17(b).
Justification	Detailed regulatory reasoning behind the ECCN determination.

Three action buttons appear below the result:

• ✓ Correct — Confirm the classification is accurate.
• ✗ Incorrect — Opens the feedback form to submit a correction (see below).
• Check License — Proceeds directly to the License Requirement tool with the ECCN pre-filled and locked.

5) Providing Feedback

If the result is correct: Click "✓ Correct". A confirmation message appears. No further action required.

If the result is incorrect:

1. Click "✗ Incorrect".
2. A feedback form expands with two fields: Your ECCN (the correct code you believe applies) and Your Justification (your regulatory reasoning — minimum 15 words).
3. Click "Submit".

6) Current Model Performance Transparency

The tool currently operates on ≤27% of the total fine-tuned regulatory dataset. The expected classification accuracy range is 73%–85%. No self-learning or adaptive training mechanisms are active — classification quality is driven entirely by the precision of the fine-tuned datasets.

C.2  CCL Index Search

This tool allows you to search the Commerce Control List (CCL) Index by entering a commodity name to find its corresponding ECCN reference. It is a direct lookup against the published BIS CCL Index — not an AI classification — so it returns results only for commodity terms that actually appear in the index.

How to Use

1. Open the CCL Index Search card from the sidebar.
2. Enter a relevant commodity name in the search field (e.g., "thermal imaging camera", "accelerometer", "optical fibre").
3. Click Search. The system searches the BIS CCL Index and returns matching ECCN references.
4. If no match is found, the entered term does not appear in the published CCL Index. Try alternative or broader terms.
5. Click Reset to clear the results and start a new search.

C.3  EAR99 vs. ECCN Determination

This tool uses a structured decision tree to help determine whether an item is controlled under a specific ECCN on the Commerce Control List, or whether it qualifies as EAR99 (subject to EAR but not listed on the CCL). Most commercial products fall under EAR99.

How to Use

1. Open the EAR99 vs. ECCN card. The decision tree loads automatically.
2. Read the question displayed and click Yes or No.
3. Continue answering questions as the tree progresses through each regulatory branch.
4. At the end of the tree, a determination is displayed along with a short explanation of the outcome.
5. Use the ← Back button to revise a previous answer if needed.

C.4  ITAR vs. EAR Jurisdiction Determination

This tool helps determine whether an item falls under ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations — administered by the State Department's DDTC) or EAR (Export Administration Regulations — administered by BIS). This jurisdiction question is the first and most critical step in any export control analysis.

Two modes are available:

Mode 1 — USML Category Search

Search the United States Munitions List by keyword to see whether any category explicitly covers your item.

1. Enter keywords describing your item in the search field (e.g., "missile guidance", "night vision", "body armor", "encryption for military").
2. Click Search USML Categories.
3. Matching USML categories and descriptions are returned for review.
4. If matches appear, your item is potentially ITAR-controlled and should be examined further under the corresponding USML category.

Mode 2 — Decision Tree

Walk through a structured ITAR/EAR decision tree when keyword search is inconclusive.

1. Click Use Decision Tree.
2. Answer Yes/No questions that walk through ITAR/EAR boundary criteria — including specific-design-for-military-use, commercial variant availability, and category-specific tests.
3. The tree produces a jurisdiction recommendation (ITAR / EAR / Further Analysis Needed).

C.5  ITAR Workflow Determination

The ITAR Workflow Determination tool uses an AI-powered guided conversation to help identify the appropriate ITAR authorization pathway for a controlled transaction — including license type, applicable exemptions, DSP forms, and DDTC procedural requirements.

How to Use

1. Open the ITAR Workflow card and ensure AI Workflow mode is selected (default).
2. Describe your ITAR-controlled transaction in the text field — be specific about the item, destination country, end-user, and transaction type (e.g., export, re-export, temporary import, brokering).
3. Click Analyse → or press Enter.
4. The AI presents a visual Q&A flow. Answer each question by clicking the option that best describes your scenario.
5. After all questions are answered, the AI produces a workflow determination card showing: authorization type, applicable exemptions, required forms (e.g., DSP-5, DSP-73, DSP-85), and compliance recommendations.

A Legacy Workflow toggle is also available for reference-based static guidance without AI interaction — useful when you already know the authorization pathway and just want a quick checklist.

C.6  License Requirement

This tool determines whether an export license is required for a specific ECCN code exported to a specific destination country. It can be accessed directly from Card 6, or via the "Check License" button on a Quick ECCN Classification result (where the ECCN is pre-filled and locked).

How to Use

1. Open the License Requirement card (or access it from the Classification result).
2. Enter or confirm the ECCN code (e.g., 5A992.c, EAR99, 3A001.a.1).
3. Select the destination country from the searchable autocomplete dropdown. You must click a suggestion — typing alone is not sufficient.
4. Optionally fill in additional context fields (end-use, end-user, transaction type, item value, notes).
5. Click Submit to view the determination.

What the Output Contains

• License Required status: NO LICENSE REQUIRED / LICENSE REQUIRED / CONDITIONAL.
• Applicable license exceptions and their availability.
• Country-specific sanctions and embargo flags.
• Commerce Country Chart analysis.
• Mandatory screening reminders and regulatory disclaimers.

C.7  License Exception Eligibility

This tool checks whether a specific ECCN and destination country combination may be eligible for one or more EAR license exceptions — including LVS (Low-Value Shipments), TMP (Temporary Imports/Exports), STA (Strategic Trade Authorization), ENC (Encryption), GOV (Government), GBS (Group B Countries), TSU (Technology and Software Unrestricted), and APR (Additional Permissive Re-exports).

How to Use

1. Enter the ECCN code (e.g., 5A002).
2. Enter the Destination Country ISO code (2-letter ISO code, e.g., DE for Germany, CN for China, JP for Japan).
3. Click Check Exceptions.
4. Review the eligibility results for each applicable license exception category.

C.8  Encryption Classification

This tool assists in determining the correct ECCN classification for products with encryption capabilities, covering 5A002, 5D002, mass-market eligibility under §740.17(b), and the ENC license exception. Encryption classification involves several complex regulatory tests that this tool guides you through step by step.

How to Use

1. Open the Encryption Classification card. The decision tree loads automatically.
2. Read the introductory information node and click Continue →.
3. Answer each question as the tree progresses through the applicable encryption classification tests — covering the type of cryptography, key lengths, intended use, and mass-market distribution channels.
4. Use the ← Back button to revise previous answers at any point.
5. At the end of the tree, a classification result is displayed with the applicable ECCN, mass-market eligibility status, and ENC exception applicability.

C.9  OFAC & Denied Party Screening (Quick Mode)

This tool performs sanctions screening and denied party checks against OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN), non-SDN consolidated lists, and the Trade.gov Consolidated Screening List (CSL). It is designed for quick, ad-hoc screening of a single entity or transaction description. For multi-party transaction screening with all roles (End User, Ultimate Consignee, Intermediate Consignee, Purchaser, Freight Forwarder), use Step 6 of the 7-Step Guided Workflow instead.

Two modes are available: AI Screening and Name Lookup.

Mode 1 — AI Screening

The AI Screening mode uses a dual-engine pipeline: Engine A performs semantic search against OFAC program and sanctions regulation data; Engine B performs entity-name fuzzy matching against SDN, non-SDN, and CSL databases.

1. Ensure AI Screening is selected (default tab).
2. Enter a description of your screening need — an entity name, a transaction description, or a country of concern (e.g., "Samsung Electronics export transaction to Russia", "Iranian oil company", a specific entity name).
3. Click Screen → or press Enter.
4. The AI processes through multiple phases — interpreting your input, running entity matching, retrieving sanctions program data, and generating a determination.
5. Follow-up questions may appear to refine the screening — answer by clicking options or typing as directed.
6. The final result card displays: screening status, entity matches, applicable sanctions programs, compliance recommendations, and embargo tier.

Screening Status values:

Status	Meaning
BLOCKED	Transaction is prohibited. Subject is on the SDN or subject to comprehensive embargo.
BLOCKED UNLESS LICENSED	Prohibited unless a specific OFAC general or specific license applies (e.g., comprehensive embargo country).
REVIEW REQUIRED	Potential match found with elevated score, or subject falls in a targeted sanctions program. Human review required before proceeding.
NO MATCHES FOUND	No matches identified in current OFAC data as of the data timestamp. Not a clearance — see disclaimer below.

Mode 2 — Name Lookup

A direct name search against the screening database for fast yes/no matches.

1. Click the Name Lookup tab.
2. Enter the entity or person name to search directly against the screening database.
3. Review the results listing any matches found, their list source, and match details.

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D. The Global ELENA Chatbot

ELENA (Export Licensing & ECCN Navigation Assistant) is an interactive AI chatbot for general export control and ECCN-related queries. ELENA operates independently from the classification engine and is available throughout the platform.

How the Global ELENA Works

When you ask a question, ELENA searches a curated knowledge base of BIS/EAR regulatory content to find the most relevant regulatory passages and uses them as the primary reference. If the knowledge base does not contain a direct match, ELENA falls back to expert training knowledge.

How to Access ELENA

1. Click the "Ask ELENA" button in the bottom-right corner of the workspace.
2. Type your question and press Send or Enter.
3. Review ELENA's response. You can continue the conversation with follow-up questions in the same session.

What ELENA Can Help With

• General questions about ECCN structure and CCL categories (e.g., "What does Category 3A cover?", "What's the difference between 5A002 and 5A992?").
• Explanations of export control concepts (e.g., EAR99, dual-use, license exceptions, deemed exports, re-export rules).
• Guidance on approaching classification for specific product types.
• Overview of regulatory terminology and compliance procedures.
• Specific EAR regulatory questions grounded in retrieved regulatory passages.
• Navigation help — pointing you to the right Quick Lookup tool or workflow step for your question.

What ELENA Cannot Do

• Perform a formal ECCN classification — use the Quick ECCN Classification (§C.1) or the 7-Step Guided Workflow (§B) for that.
• Provide legally binding determinations or licensing decisions.
• Access your case history, account data, or any case in progress.
• Answer non-export-control questions (general chit-chat, unrelated regulatory regimes, etc.).

Session Isolation & Privacy

Each ELENA session is isolated — conversations do not carry over between sessions, and ELENA does not retain what you asked after the session ends. If you refresh the page, close the chat, or log out, the conversation is gone. If you need durable documentation of a classification outcome, use the 7-Step Guided Workflow, which produces a sealed, auditable PDF report.

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E. Error Reference Guide

This section lists the error and status messages you may encounter and how to resolve each one. Messages are grouped by where they appear: Login & Account, the 7-Step Guided Workflow, the Quick Lookup Tools, and General System messages.

Login & Account Errors

Error Message	When It Appears	What to Do
"Please fill all required fields"	Registration or login form submitted with empty fields.	Ensure all required fields (Name, Email, Password/OTP) are filled before submitting.
"LinkedIn login was cancelled."	User denied LinkedIn authorisation or closed the popup.	Click "Login / Register" again and complete the LinkedIn authorisation.
"Could not connect to LinkedIn. Please try again."	LinkedIn authentication failed or network error.	Check your internet connection and try again. Ensure pop-ups are not blocked.
"Could not retrieve your LinkedIn profile"	LinkedIn did not return the required profile information.	Ensure your LinkedIn profile has a visible email. Check privacy settings.
"Email already registered"	Registering with an email that already has an account.	Use "Login with Email" instead. Use "Forgot Password?" if needed.
"Invalid credentials"	Incorrect email/password or email/OTP.	Verify email and password. For first-time login, use the OTP from your registration email.
"Invalid or expired OTP"	The OTP has expired (> 24 hours) or is incorrect.	Try logging in again — a new OTP will be generated and sent.
"Account temporarily locked. Try later."	5 consecutive failed login attempts detected (email-registered accounts).	Wait 15 minutes for the lock to expire, then try again with correct credentials.
"Password does not meet security requirements"	New password fails the password policy during setup or reset.	Use at least 12 characters with uppercase, lowercase, a number, and a special character.
"Security validation failed. Please refresh the page."	Security token expired or invalidated.	Fully refresh the page (Ctrl+Shift+R) and try again.
"Invalid or expired token"	Password reset link expired or already used.	Request a new password reset link with "Forgot Password?".

7-Step Guided Workflow Errors

Error / Message	When It Appears	What to Do
"Please complete all required fields"	Step 1 (or any step) submitted with a required field empty.	Fill every field marked with * and try again.
"Attachment too large / unsupported type"	Step 1 upload exceeds 20 MB per file, more than 5 files total, or is not PDF/DOCX/XLSX/PNG/JPG.	Compress or split the file; confirm it is in a supported format and within the size limit.
"End-User Statement is required"	Step 5 submitted without uploading a signed End-User Statement PDF.	Upload the signed PDF (max 10 MB, PDF only) before submitting.
"End Use Declaration is required"	Step 5 submitted without filling in the end-use description.	Enter a written description of the specific end use, end-user, and any technology restrictions.
"Please select a destination country from the dropdown."	Step 5 — typed a country name but didn't pick from the autocomplete suggestions.	Click a country suggestion from the dropdown. Typing alone is not sufficient.
"ECCN code is required."	Step 5 submitted without the ECCN autofill populated (uncommon in normal flow).	Return to Step 4 and ensure a classification is selected or corrected, then re-open Step 5.
"Justification must be at least 15 words"	Submitting an "Incorrect Classified" correction in Step 4 without enough justification.	Expand your regulatory justification to at least 15 words.
"Expert Review Recommended"	Not an error — appears on the Step 4 result card when the item sits at a classification boundary or information was insufficient.	Either retry with more specific answers, use the per-case ELENA Consultation again, or submit the case for Expert Review.
"This review link has already been used."	An engineer or expert opened a one-time invitation link that was already consumed.	Ask the case owner to send a fresh invitation from Step 2 (engineer) or Step 4 (expert).
"This review link is invalid or no longer valid."	An engineer/expert link expired, or was revoked because the case owner answered the questions themselves.	Ask the case owner to send a fresh invitation.
"Case not found" / "Forbidden"	Trying to open a case ID that does not exist or does not belong to your account.	Return to History and open the case from the list — the direct link you used may be stale.
"Session expired or not found."	An interactive session (ELENA Consultation, OFAC AI screening) expired between turns.	Click Try Again or restart the step. Drafts already saved are not affected.
"Classification error: [details]"	The analysis encountered a processing issue during a workflow step.	Wait a moment and retry. If it persists, contact ask@eccn.help.
"Unexpected response. Please try again."	Temporary server response issue during a workflow step.	Refresh the page and retry. Your last saved draft is preserved.

Quick Lookup Tool Errors

Error / Message	When It Appears	What to Do
"Please enter a product identifier"	Quick ECCN Classification (C.1) — Classify clicked with the input empty.	Enter a 1–3 word product identifier before clicking Classify.
"Expert Review Recommended"	Quick ECCN Classification (C.1) — item at a classification boundary.	Not an error — retry with more specific answers, or run the case through the 7-Step Guided Workflow for expert review.
"No results found in the CCL Index"	CCL Index Search (C.2) — entered term does not appear in the published BIS CCL Index.	Try alternative or broader commodity terms. Avoid brand names and part numbers.
"ECCN code is required."	License Requirement (C.6) or License Exception (C.7) — form submitted without an ECCN.	Enter a valid ECCN (e.g., 5A992.c, EAR99, 3A001.a.1).
"Please select a destination country from the dropdown."	License Requirement (C.6) — typed a country name but didn't pick from the suggestions.	Click a country suggestion from the autocomplete list.
"Invalid ISO country code"	License Exception (C.7) — invalid or unrecognised 2-letter ISO code.	Enter a valid 2-letter ISO code (e.g., DE for Germany, JP for Japan).
"License determination failed."	License Requirement (C.6) — system cannot process the request.	Verify the ECCN format is valid. Refresh the page and retry.
"Please describe your screening need (at least 3 characters)."	OFAC AI Screening (C.9) — input empty or too short.	Enter a meaningful description — entity name, transaction description, or country of concern.
"Session expired or not found."	OFAC AI Screening (C.9) — follow-up submitted for an expired screening session.	Click Try Again or start a new screening.
"Justification must be at least 15 words"	Quick ECCN Classification (C.1) — submitting incorrect-result feedback without enough text.	Expand your regulatory justification to at least 15 words.

ELENA Chatbot Messages

Message	When It Appears	What to Do
"Please enter a question"	Send clicked with the ELENA input empty.	Type a question before pressing Send.
"Session expired. Starting a new session…"	ELENA chat was idle too long and the session has reset.	No action required — continue asking. Note that earlier turns are no longer in context.
"Unable to retrieve a response. Please try again."	Temporary issue generating an answer.	Retry. If it persists, refresh the page or contact support.

General System Errors

Error / Message	When It Appears	What to Do
Server error (HTTP 500)	The server encountered an internal processing issue.	Wait 1–2 minutes and retry. If it persists, contact support.
Page redirects to the Home page unexpectedly	Your session has expired or become invalid.	Log in again to continue. Saved drafts and completed cases are preserved.
Temporary access restriction applied	You exceeded the 100-request rolling limit within 60 minutes.	Wait until the restriction window expires — access restores automatically.
Network error displayed	Connection was lost during a server call.	Check your internet connection and click Try Again.
Auto-save failed / "Changes not saved"	The workspace auto-save strip shows an error.	Click 💾 Save as Draft manually. If the error persists, check your connection.

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F. Glossary of Key Terms

Terms are grouped into two lists — Platform & Workflow Terms (specific to ECCN.help V.3.0) and Regulatory Terms (U.S. export-control terminology used throughout the platform).

Platform & Workflow Terms

Term	Definition
7-Step Guided Workflow	The primary, case-based classification path introduced in V.3.0 — Product Info → Compliance Q&A → ELENA Consultation → Classification Review → License → OFAC → Final Report. See §B.
Quick Lookup Tools	The nine standalone tools in the left sidebar (ECCN Classification, CCL Index, EAR99 vs. ECCN, ITAR vs. EAR, ITAR Workflow, License Requirement, License Exception, Encryption, OFAC) for fast ad-hoc checks that are not saved to History. See §C.
Case	A single classification run in the 7-Step Guided Workflow, identified by a Case ID (ECC-YYYY-MMDD-NNNN) and saved in your Classification History.
Case ID	The unique identifier assigned to each workflow case. Format: ECC-YYYY-MMDD-NNNN. Appears on the auto-save strip and on every email the platform sends about that case.
Draft	A case that has been saved mid-workflow and not yet advanced to the Final Report.
Auto-Save	The background save mechanism that preserves your case progress as you work. A save strip shows the last save time and the Case ID.
Classification History	The page listing every case you own, filterable by Completed, In Progress, Awaiting Engineer, Awaiting Expert, and Drafts. See §B.10.
Read-Only View Mode	The locked-input view of a case opened from History with the View action. All forms are disabled; the banner offers Switch to Edit →.
Engineer Invitation	A one-time email link sent from Step 2 that lets an external engineer answer the compliance clarification questions for your case — no ECCN.help account required.
Expert Review	A Step 4 feature that sends a case to an external expert via a one-time email link for independent classification review — no ECCN.help account required.
User Approval of Expert	The approval gate that appears when an expert proposes an ECCN different from the current one. The expert's ECCN only becomes effective if you approve it.
Candidate ECCN / Top-3 Shortlist	The three most likely ECCN classifications surfaced in Step 3 after initial analysis, each with confidence and justification. You select one to continue — or open the ELENA Consultation if none fit.
ELENA Consultation	The per-case interactive chat in Step 3 that asks targeted follow-up questions to arrive at a confident ECCN. Capped at 12 rounds per case. Not the same as the global ELENA chatbot.
ELENA (Global Chatbot)	The floating chatbot available from the bottom-right of the workspace for general export-control questions. Ad-hoc only — does not affect any case. See §D.
End Use Declaration	A written description, required in Step 5, of the specific end use of the item at the destination including any end-user, end-use, or technology restrictions.
End-User Statement	A signed PDF document required in Step 5 — an End User Certificate, DLA Form, or equivalent (max 10 MB).
Party Roles (Step 6)	The transaction-party roles screened in Step 6 OFAC: End User, Ultimate Consignee, Intermediate Consignee, Purchaser, and Freight Forwarder.
Audit Trail	The chronological log of every action on a case — submissions, answers, corrections, engineer/expert decisions, approvals, screenings — included in the Final Report with UTC timestamps.
Final Report	The sealed record generated in Step 7, printable / copyable / downloadable as PDF, valid for 365 days from issue.
Confidence Level	A color-coded indicator on classification results — High (green), Medium (orange), Low (red).
"Expert Review Recommended"	A status surfaced when an item sits at a classification boundary or the information provided is insufficient for a confident determination. Not an error.
OAuth	Open Authorization — the secure protocol used for passwordless LinkedIn sign-in on ECCN.help.
OTP	One-Time Password — a 6-digit code sent to your email during email-based registration. Valid for 24 hours; used for first-time login before setting a permanent password.
UTC	Coordinated Universal Time — the global time standard used for every timestamp on ECCN.help.

Regulatory Terms

Term	Definition
ECCN	Export Control Classification Number — a five-character alphanumeric code used on the CCL to identify dual-use items for export control purposes.
EAR	Export Administration Regulations — U.S. federal regulations administered by BIS governing exports of dual-use items (15 CFR Parts 730–774).
EAR99	Items subject to the EAR but not listed under any specific ECCN on the CCL. Most commercial products fall under EAR99.
CCL	Commerce Control List — the regulatory list of items subject to export controls, organised into 10 categories (0–9) and 5 product groups (A–E).
CCL Index	The alphabetical index to the Commerce Control List published by BIS, used for commodity-to-ECCN lookups.
Commerce Country Chart	A BIS-published chart mapping destination countries against reasons-for-control columns to determine whether a license is required for a given ECCN.
BIS	Bureau of Industry and Security — the U.S. agency (within the Department of Commerce) responsible for administering export control regulations under the EAR.
ITAR	International Traffic in Arms Regulations — U.S. regulations governing the export of defense articles and services, administered by the State Department's DDTC (22 CFR Parts 120–130).
USML	United States Munitions List — the list of defense articles and services controlled under ITAR.
DDTC	Directorate of Defense Trade Controls — the State Department office that administers ITAR and the USML.
HS Code / Schedule B	Harmonised System classification codes used internationally (HS) and by the U.S. for export statistics (Schedule B). Optional in Step 1; helpful when known.
Dual-Use	Items that have both civilian and potential military applications.
Mass Market	Products widely available through standard commercial channels, often eligible for license exceptions under §740.17(b).
License Exception	An authorisation under the EAR allowing an export without a specific license, subject to defined conditions (15 CFR Part 740). Common exceptions: LVS, TMP, STA, ENC, GOV, GBS, TSU, APR.
OFAC	Office of Foreign Assets Control — the U.S. Treasury Department office that administers economic and trade sanctions programs.
SDN	Specially Designated Nationals List — OFAC's primary list of individuals, entities, and vessels subject to sanctions. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with SDN-listed parties.
CSL	Consolidated Screening List — Trade.gov's combined list of export-restricted parties from BIS, OFAC, DDTC, and other U.S. agencies.
DPL	Denied Persons List — BIS list of parties denied export privileges.
UVL	Unverified List — BIS list of parties whose bona fides BIS has been unable to verify through end-use checks.
Entity List	BIS list of foreign parties subject to specific license requirements for the export, re-export, or transfer of items subject to the EAR.
50% Rule	OFAC guidance under which an entity owned 50% or more (individually or collectively) by SDN-listed parties is itself treated as blocked, even if not itself on the SDN list.

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G. Contact & Support

Channel	Details
Email Support	ask@eccn.help — Response time: up to 72 hours.
Privacy Policy	Privacy Policy — Data handling, storage, and user rights.
LinkedIn	Follow ECCN.help on LinkedIn for platform updates and announcements.