Revision of Firearms License Requirements, 34680-34716 [2024-08813]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
15 CFR Parts 732, 734, 738, 740, 742,
743, 748, 750, 758, 762, 772, and 774
[Docket No. 240419–0113]
RIN 0694–AJ46
Revision of Firearms License
Requirements
Bureau of Industry and
Security, Commerce.
ACTION: Interim final rule.
AGENCY:
In this interim final rule (IFR),
the Bureau of Industry and Security
(BIS) is amending the Export
Administration Regulations (EAR) to
enhance the control structure for
firearms and related items. These
changes will better protect U.S. national
security and foreign policy interests,
which include countering the diversion
and misuse of firearms and related items
and advancing human rights. This rule
identifies semi-automatic firearms
under new Export Control Classification
Numbers (ECCNs); adds additional
license requirements for Crime Control
and Detection (CC) items, thereby
resulting in additional restrictions on
the availability of license exceptions for
most destinations; amends license
review policies so that they are more
explicit as to the nature of review that
will accompany different types of
transactions and license exception
availability (including adding a new list
of high-risk destinations); updates and
expands requirements for support
documentation submitted with license
applications; and better accounts for the
import documentation requirements of
other countries (such as an import
certificate or other permit prior to
importation) when firearms and related
items are authorized under a BIS license
exception. BIS is publishing this rule as
an IFR to solicit comments from the
public on additional changes to export
controls on firearms and related items
that would better protect U.S. national
security and foreign policy interests.
DATES: This rule is effective May 30,
2024. Comments must be received by
BIS no later than July 1, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this rule may
be submitted to the Federal rulemaking
portal (www.regulations.gov). The
regulations.gov ID for this rule is: BIS–
2024–0003. Please refer to RIN 0694–
AJ46 in all comments.
All filers using the portal should use
the name of the person or entity
submitting the comments as the name of
their files, in accordance with the
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SUMMARY:
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instructions below. Anyone submitting
business confidential information
should clearly identify the business
confidential portion at the time of
submission, file a statement justifying
nondisclosure and referring to the
specific legal authority claimed, and
provide a non-confidential version of
the submission.
For comments submitted
electronically containing business
confidential information, the file name
of the business confidential version
should begin with the characters ‘‘BC.’’
Any page containing business
confidential information must be clearly
marked ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’
on the top of that page. The
corresponding non-confidential version
of those comments must be clearly
marked ‘‘PUBLIC.’’ The file name of the
non-confidential version should begin
with the character ‘‘P.’’ Any
submissions with file names that do not
begin with either a ‘‘BC’’ or a ‘‘P’’ will
be assumed to be public and will be
made publicly available through https://
www.regulations.gov. Commenters
submitting business confidential
information are encouraged to scan a
hard copy of the non-confidential
version to create an image of the file,
rather than submitting a digital copy
with redactions applied, to avoid
inadvertent redaction errors which
could enable the public to read business
confidential information.
The Firearms Guidance Memorandum
is available at www.bis.gov/guidance_
memorandum and at
www.regulations.gov under the
regulations.gov ID BIS–2024–0003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Anthony Christino, Acting Director,
Office of Nonproliferation and Foreign
Policy Controls; tel. (202) 482–3825 or
email NFPC_firearms@bis.doc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
BIS is amending the EAR (15 CFR
parts 730–774) by revising the license
requirements and review policies, as
well as other aspects of the control
structure (e.g., license exceptions
eligibility and export clearance
requirements) for firearms, shotguns and
related items (e.g., discharge type arms,
optical devices, ammunition, and
related technology and software)
controlled under the following ECCNs:
0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505, 0A506,
0A507, 0A508, 0A509, 0B501, 0B505,
0D501, 0D505, 0E501, 0E504, and 0E505
(collectively referred to as firearms and
related items for the purposes of this
IFR). Background regarding these
changes is detailed below.
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1. History of EAR Firearms Controls
Firearms and related items have been
controlled in the current structure by
the Commerce Department (Commerce)
under the EAR since March 9, 2020,
when jurisdiction over certain end-item
firearms and related items was
transferred from the State Department’s
(State) United States Munitions List
(USML) (see 22 CFR part 121) to the
Commerce Control List (CCL),
supplement no. 1 to part 774 of the
EAR, maintained by BIS. See the
January 23, 2020, BIS final rule,
‘‘Control of Firearms, Guns,
Ammunition and Related Articles the
President Determines No Longer
Warrant Control Under the United
States Munitions List (USML)’’ (85 FR
4136) (January 2020 EAR final rule;
effective date: March 9, 2020) and the
January 20, 2020, State final rule,
‘‘International Traffic in Arms
Regulations: U.S. Munitions List
Categories I, II, and III.’’ (85 FR 3819;
effective date: March 9, 2020). Notably,
BIS controlled long barrel shotguns
prior to the publication of those rules.
For the past almost four years, BIS has
required that authorization be obtained
for all exports and reexports of these
firearms and related items to all
destinations, including Canada. This
worldwide license requirement under
the EAR for firearms and certain related
items is more restrictive than the license
requirement that applies to other items
whose jurisdiction transferred from the
USML to the CCL as part of the Export
Control Reform initiative (i.e., the ‘‘600
series’’ military items and 9x515
spacecraft items), as the license
requirement for those other items in
most cases does not extend to Canada.
In addition to the worldwide license
requirement, since March 9, 2020, BIS
has maintained other requirements with
respect to firearms and related items.
These include certain export clearance
requirements that provide increased
transparency regarding the specific
items being exported; limitations on the
availability of license exceptions;
certain recordkeeping requirements; and
requirements to address temporary
imports into the United States. As
referenced in the January 2020 EAR
final rule, these requirements were
imposed to ensure, as much as possible,
that the EAR control structure for
firearms and related items would
protect U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests, which include
countering diversion and misuse of
firearms and related items and
advancing human rights. As part of this
control structure, BIS included
provisions to ensure that U.S. export
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controls under the EAR account for the
firearms-related import controls of other
countries; specifically, the use of BIS
licenses is predicated on having an
Import Certificate or other permit (if
required) by the importing country.
2. Firearms Licensing Pause
On October 27, 2023, Commerce
paused the issuance of new BIS export
licenses involving certain firearms,
related ‘‘parts’’ and ‘‘components,’’ and
ammunition (detailed under ECCNs
0A501, 0A502, 0A504, and 0A505) to
non-governmental end users not located
in Ukraine, Israel, and most Wassenaar
Arrangement Participating States (i.e.,
Country Group A:1, supplement no. 1 to
part 740). During this ‘‘pause,’’
Commerce assessed export control
review policies for firearms and related
items to determine whether any changes
to the regulatory measures implemented
in March 2020 were warranted to
advance U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests. The review
focused on assessing and mitigating the
risk of firearms being diverted to entities
or activities that promote regional
instability, abuse or violate human
rights, or fuel criminal activities,
including terrorism, extortion, and
illicit trafficking of any kind.
This pause followed the identification
by Commerce over the past year of
several instances in which lawfully
exported firearms and related items
from the United States have been
diverted or misused in a manner
contrary to U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests; this includes
instances predating the transfer of
licensing authorities from State to the
Commerce Department. Because those
instances of diversion largely involved
commercial exports to nongovernmental end users, Commerce
tailored the pause to apply only to
exports involving non-governmental
end users.
Leading up to the pause, Commerce
reviewed aggregate data showing that a
substantial number of firearms
recovered by foreign law enforcement
agencies were lawfully exported from
the United States. For example, a GAO
report published in January 2022
identified concerns that the U.S.
government is licensing firearm exports
that fuel criminal activity and gun
violence, enable human rights abuses,
and destabilize government institutions
in foreign countries, particularly in
Central America.1 The report explained
1 United States Government Accountability
Office, Firearms Trafficking: More Information is
Needed to Inform U.S. Efforts in Central America
(Jan. 2022) (‘‘GAO Report’’), https://www.gao.gov/
assets/gao-22-104680.pdf.
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that in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala,
and Honduras, transnational criminal
organizations and other violent
criminals frequently use firearms to
commit murders for hire, carry out
extortion schemes, and resist local
police forces. The report further
explained that, between 2015 and 2019,
nearly 20% of approximately 27,000
firearms recovered and traced by law
enforcement agencies in those four
countries were U.S.-origin firearms
diverted from legitimate commerce (i.e.,
they were not illicitly smuggled from
the United States, but rather lawfully
exported).
The 2023 National Firearms
Commerce and Trafficking Assessment
provides additional data regarding the
diversion of lawfully exported firearms.
As described in that report,
participating law enforcement agencies
in foreign countries can submit firearm
trace requests to ATF’s eTrace system to
help determine the purchase or
ownership history of a recovered crime
gun. ATF’s analysis of all international
crime gun trace requests received
between 2017 and 2021 indicates that at
least 11% (18,749) of traced firearms
were lawfully exported from the United
States and later recovered in a foreign
country. For countries outside of North
America, at least 37% of firearms
submitted to ATF were lawful exports;
for countries in Central America, at least
19% of firearms submitted to ATF were
lawful exports.2 These data are of
particular concern given that ATF was
working with a limited set of
international crime guns for which a
trace request was submitted. Together,
these reports indicate that a sizeable
portion of international crime guns are
diverted from lawful exports.
Commerce also identified specific
cases in which lawful exports of
firearms and related items were misused
or diverted in a manner that adversely
impacted U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests. In one case, a
firearm that was licensed for export to
one country was subsequently diverted
to a bordering country and used in a
political assassination. In another, a
license exception was used to export
parts for the unlawful assembly of
firearms in Taiwan. BIS also identified
instances of firearms and ammunition
exports being diverted to Russia via
2 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives, ‘‘National Firearms Commerce and
Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Guns—
Volume Two, Part IV: Crime Guns Recovered
Outside the United States and Traced by Law
Enforcement,’’ January 2023, pg 5, https://
www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/nfcta-volume-iipart-iv-crime-guns-recovered-outside-us-andtraced-le/download.
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commercial resellers in third countries;
such firearms and ammunition may be
used to support Russia’s further
invasion of Ukraine.
In addition, partner governments,
particularly those in the Western
Hemisphere, have expressed, and have
continued to express, concern to
Commerce with respect to illicit
firearms trafficking, including the
diversion of lawfully exported firearms.
For example, governments in the
Caribbean region expressed concern that
individuals are using license exceptions
to bring firearms, particularly semiautomatic handguns, to their countries,
and that those firearms are being
diverted to violent criminals. These
partner governments have sought U.S.
assistance in addressing diversion,
which is fueling violence, criminal
activity, and instability within their
countries or regions.
Commerce takes seriously its
responsibility to regulate the export of
firearms and related items consistent
with U.S. national security and foreign
policy interests, which include
countering diversion and misuse of
firearms and advancing human rights.
Given the lethality of these items, the
significant volume and value of the
applications being processed, and the
risk of diversion or misuse associated
with them, Commerce is committed to
ensuring that controls for these items
appropriately protect the security of the
United States and our allies and
partners. Thus, during the pause,
Commerce conducted a thorough review
to assess the risk factors that contribute
to the diversion and misuse of firearms
and related items, evaluate whether
existing review policies sufficiently
account for those factors, and determine
whether those policies could be
improved. As part of that review,
Commerce closely reexamined the data
and case studies that led to the pause.
It supplemented those data and case
studies by studying reports and other
empirical evidence regarding the
conditions and risk factors that enable
diversion and misuse of U.S. firearms
and related items. Additionally,
Commerce continued to engage with
stakeholders and partner governments
to gather different perspectives on
addressing the risks associated with the
diversion of firearms and related items.
As part of this review, Commerce,
together with interagency export control
partners in the Departments of Defense,
Energy, and State, as well as other
federal agencies with technical expertise
in firearms and related items, assessed
current U.S. firearms export control
policies to determine whether updates
to BIS’s review process and procedures
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would further U.S. foreign policy and
national security interests and how to
appropriately implement those updates.
In particular, as discussed further
below, Commerce worked extensively
with State, which is a key participant in
the review process for license
applications involving items subject to
Commerce’s jurisdiction. At the outset
of the review process, Commerce drew
upon its extensive experience reviewing
applications for exports and reexports of
firearms and related items and outlined
an initial set of factors that increase the
risk of these items being diverted or
misused in a manner contrary to U.S.
national security and foreign policy.
Commerce consulted with State about
these risk factors and, upon further
review of the data and case studies as
informed by State’s experience, the
agencies determined the key risk factors.
In light of the fact that many of the
factors concern conditions in
destination countries, Commerce
requested that State, which has deep
expertise in evaluating such conditions,
determine whether there are specific
destinations where there is a substantial
risk that firearms and related items will
be diverted or misused in a manner
contrary to U.S. national security and
foreign policy. After conducting a
thorough analysis that included
consultation with U.S. Government
stakeholders, State responded by
developing a list of destinations in
which it determined that there is a
substantial risk that lawfully exported
firearms sold to non-government end
users will be diverted or misused in a
manner contrary to U.S. national
security and foreign policy.
Commerce also engaged with certain
counterparts in Country Group A:1
destinations that export firearms and
related items to understand the export
license application requirements and
risk factors considered under their
firearms export control authorities and
related policies. Because governments
in A:1 destinations have demonstrated a
commitment to export controls as
participants in the Wassenaar
Arrangement on Export Controls for
Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods
and Technologies and share our interest
in countering diversion or misuse of
firearms and related items, advancing
human rights, and promoting mutual
security, BIS found it helpful to consult
their processes and policies in making
the regulatory updates outlined in this
IFR.
Commerce also continued regular
engagement with the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) to identify
specific actions the U.S. could take to
minimize the diversion to unauthorized
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end users of U.S. firearms and related
items that were lawfully exported to end
users in CARICOM member and partner
countries. For example, concerns were
raised that certain license exceptions,
including License Exception Shipments
of Limited Value (LVS) under § 740.3
and License Exception Baggage (BAG)
under § 740.14, may have been used to
bring firearms and related items into
these CARICOM countries that were
subsequently diverted in violation of
license exception terms, or to export
greater quantities of firearms and related
items than were legally available under
these two license exceptions. Note that
License Exception LVS is not available
for end-item firearms but is available for
certain ‘‘parts’’ and ‘‘components’’ of
firearms when for export or reexport to
a Country Group B destination.
Commerce also engaged with the U.S.
firearms industry, as well as a wide
variety of other stakeholders, to assess
current export control processes and
policies for firearms and related items
and seek recommendations on
effectively addressing diversion and
misuse risks.
3. Findings of Policy Review and
Engagement
As a result of this policy review and
engagement, Commerce identified
several concerns associated with export
controls that apply under the EAR to
firearms and related items. First,
Commerce determined that the existing
licensing procedures and requirements
did not provide it with sufficient
documentation and data to evaluate
national security and foreign policy
risks effectively. In particular, limited
documentation requirements made it
challenging to validate that firearms and
related items are exported only to
trustworthy foreign partners. Existing
data collection practices also limited
visibility of agencies that participate in
the license review process into trade
flows for different types of firearms
under its jurisdiction, rendering it
difficult to assess whether lawful
exports might be at a particularly acute
risk of diversion. In addition, these
practices limited the US Government’s
ability to monitor potentially high-risk
sales from distributors to third parties.
Second, Commerce concluded that
the existing EAR license application
requirements and review process for
firearms and related items did not
sufficiently enable identification of
transactions that pose a heightened risk
of diversion or misuse contrary to U.S.
national security and foreign policy.
Given that data and case studies show
that exports of U.S. firearm and related
items are at significant risk of being
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diverted or misused, Commerce
conducted an extensive analysis to
determine whether certain types of
license applications warrant more
scrutiny than others.
As an initial matter, Commerce
determined that the risk of diversion is
significantly higher for exports to nongovernment end users than for exports
to government end users and that
consequently applications involving
non-government end users warrant
additional scrutiny. Data show that
‘‘[g]lobally, the private civilian stockpile
is less accountable, far less strictly
guarded and three times as plentiful as
its state counterpart—all qualities that
support easy diversion of weapons to
the illegal sector.’’ 3 For example, as
ATF explained in a report on firearm
theft in the U.S., ‘‘more than 95% of
stolen guns originate via thefts from
private citizens.’’ 4 The case studies
reviewed by BIS provide additional
support for these general trends. Indeed,
in each of the case studies described
above, the diverted firearm had
originally been exported to a nongovernmental end user.
Commerce also determined that the
licensing process would benefit from
clarifying the specific national security
and foreign policy factors considered
when license applications are reviewed;
such factors are associated with the risk
of diversion or misuse of firearms and
related items and the potential impact to
U.S. national security and foreign policy
interests. While national security and
foreign policy concerns have always
been considered as part of the review
process, detailing transparent review
criteria will enable BIS, its interagency
partners, exporters, and reexporters to
more effectively and consistently assess
the potential risks associated with a
given transaction. The factors that will
be considered include, but are not
limited to: the nature of the end user;
destination-specific national security
and foreign policy risk factors,
including firearms trafficking, terrorism,
human rights concerns and political
violence, state fragility, corruption,
organized crime or gang activity, and
drug trafficking; instances of past
diversion or misuse; and the
capabilities, potential uses, and lethality
of the item. These factors are consistent
3 Rebecca Peters, ‘‘Small Arms: No Single
Solution,’’ United Nations Chronicle https://
www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/small-arms-nosingle-solution.
4 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives, ‘‘National Firearms Commerce and
Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Guns—
Volume Two, Part V: Firearm Thefts,’’ January
2023, pg 1 https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/
report/nfcta-volume-ii-part-v-firearm-thefts/
download.
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with U.S. National Security
Memorandum 18, Conventional Arms
Transfer Policy,5 as well as the criteria
that the United Kingdom and allies and
partners in European Union member
states apply to similar transactions,
including the consideration of human
rights; the preservation of regional
peace, security, and stability; internal
repression, tensions, or armed conflicts;
terrorism and organized crime risks; and
diversion risks. Notably, these key
review factors, which are set forth in a
new regulatory note to § 742.7(b)(3) of
the EAR, apply to applications
involving certain exports and reexports
of firearms and related items to both
government and non-government end
users in all destinations.
Each of the destination-specific
factors directly correlates with the risk
of diversion or misuse. In countries with
high rates of firearms trafficking, there
is an increased risk that criminals will
seek to divert U.S. firearms and sell
them to traffickers. There is a similar
risk in countries with high rates of drug
trafficking, as ‘‘illicit drugs are the most
common non-firearms-related
commodities seized together with
firearms.’’ 6 Drug traffickers and
producers frequently seek to obtain
diverted firearms, both to further their
core operations 7 and to establish illicit
firearms markets.8
Organized crime, human rights
abuses, and terrorist activity are strong
indicators of diversion risk because the
‘‘interface between organized crime,
violent extremism and terrorism, as well
as state actors, allows regions to become
flush with weapons looted from
government stockpiles and weapons
legally procured but sold on the black
5 U.S. National Security Memorandum 18,
Memorandum on United States Conventional Arms
Transfer Polic, (Feb 2023), https://www.whitehouse.
gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/02/23/
memorandum-on-united-states-conventional-armstransfer-policy/.
6 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,
‘‘Global Study on Firearms Trafficking 2020,’’ page
77 (Mar. 2020) (‘‘UN Global Study’’), https://
www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/
Firearms/2020_REPORT_Global_Study_on_
Firearms_Trafficking_2020_web.pdf.
7 UN Global Study, page 36 (‘‘Firearms are
instrumental to organized crime and gangs as they
can convey the sense of threat and power which
allow the protection of the group, the territory and
eventually their illicit markets.’’).
8 Global Initiative Against Transnational
Organized Crime, Arms Trafficking and Organized
Crime: Global trade, local impacts, page 13 (Aug.
2022) (‘‘GI–TOC Report’’) (explaining that ‘‘drugs
and firearms markets tend to benefit and reinforce
each other’’ because drug operations ‘‘[use] profits
from the drug trade to buy and sell firearms not
only to their members but also other criminal
groups at huge mark-ups’’), https://
globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/
GI-TOC-policy-brief_Arms-trafficking-web-1.pdf.
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market.’’ 9 As discussed, the GAO report
on arms trafficking in Belize, El
Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras
provides empirical evidence that
countries with high degrees of organized
crime, human rights abuses, and violent
extremism also have high degrees of
firearm diversion.10
A high degree of corruption in a
country also increases diversion risk.11
Specifically, in countries where
corruption leads to reduced funding for
law enforcement agencies, those
agencies are less equipped to prevent
criminals from diverting U.S. firearms.
The risk of diversion is especially high
in countries where corrupt government
officials work directly with criminal
organizations to traffic diverted U.S.
firearms.12
Finally, state fragility correlates with
diversion risk because ‘‘strong states
should have greater ability to manage
and to control legal arms shipments
than their weaker counterparts.’’ 13
Diversion risk is especially high in
countries experiencing internal violent
conflict because conflict incentivizes
armed groups to stockpile weapons
through any means necessary, including
through the diversion of U.S. firearms.14
The destination-specific factors also
correlate with the risk that a diverted
firearm will be used to commit violent
acts that undermine U.S. national
security and foreign policy objectives.
As an initial matter, in countries with
high rates of firearms trafficking, there
is an increased risk that diverted
firearms and related items will end up
in the hands of cartels, gangs, terrorists,
paramilitary groups, and other criminal
organizations, all of which use firearms
and related items for activities that
directly undermine U.S. national
security and foreign policy.
In countries with high rates of drug
trafficking and organized crime, there is
an increased risk that the diversion or
9 GI–TOC
Report, page 3.
Report, page 16.
11 Trevor Thrall and Jordan Cohen, ‘‘2021 Arms
Sales Risk Index’’ (Jan. 18, 2022) (‘‘Cato Report’’),
https://www.cato.org/study/2021-arms-sales-riskindex#mapping-risk.
12 GI–TOC Report, page 4.
13 Carla Martinez Machain, Jeffrey Pickering,
‘‘The Human Cost of the Weapons Trade: Small
Arms Transfers and Recipient State Homicide’’
Journal of Global Security Studies (2020) (showing
that state strength mitigates the relationship
between small arms trade and rates of homicide)
https://academic.oup.com/jogss/article-abstract/5/
4/578/5592220.
14 UNODC Report page 37 (‘‘In conflict and postconflict countries, the accumulation of legal
stockpiles of weapons may create the potential for
firearms to reach the hands of non-state armed
groups, other criminal groups or even the general
population, especially if that very conflict weakens
the ability of the state infrastructure to manage
those stockpiles properly.’’).
10 GAO
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misuse of firearms and related items
will increase the ability of cartels, gangs,
and other criminal organizations to
undermine U.S. national security and
foreign policy by flooding the United
States with potentially deadly
substances, sparking regional conflict
that has spillover effects in the United
States, and establishing transnational
operations that extend into the U.S.15
Similarly, in countries where terrorist
groups have a significant presence, there
is an increased risk that the diversion of
firearms and related items will increase
the capability of those groups to carry
out attacks that undermine U.S. national
security.16 And in countries with high
rates of human rights abuses and
political violence, whether by
government-sponsored paramilitary
groups or non-state forces, there is an
increased risk that the diversion of
firearms and related items will enable
further human rights abuses, which
directly undermines a key U.S. foreign
policy objective.17
The diversion and misuse of firearms
and related items in countries with high
degrees of corruption and state fragility
poses similar risks to national security
and foreign policy. In countries with
high degrees of corruption, there is an
increased risk that the diversion of
firearms and related items to criminal
organizations will further undermine
the ability of law enforcement agencies
to promote country stability, which is a
central U.S. foreign policy objective. In
turn, in a fragile state experiencing
violent internal conflict, ‘‘the influx of
arms not only fuels the fighting but it
contributes to the fragmentation and
spreading of conflict; increases the
number of criminal groups and their use
of violence as a vehicle for market
control; and strengthens armed groups
against state responses.’’ 18 Not only
does such conflict undermine U.S.
foreign policy by increasing country
instability, it causes spillover effects
that directly threaten U.S. national
security.
In addition to the destination-specific
factors, other important factors are the
capabilities, lethality, and potential uses
of different firearms and related items.
BIS controls a diverse range of firearms
and related items, including optics and
15 U.S. Department of Defense, ‘‘Framework to
Counter Drug Trafficking and Other Illicit Threat
Networks,’’ page 1 (May 2019), https://policy.
defense.gov/Portals/11/Documents/
DoD%20Framework%20to%20Counter%20
Drug%20Trafficking%20and%20Other
%20Illicit%20Threat%20Networks
%20May%202019.pdf; GI–TOC Report, page 10.
16 Cato Report.
17 GI–TOC Report, page 10; Cato Report.
18 GI–TOC Report, page 3.
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scopes, antique firearms, non-automatic
and semi-automatic firearms, and
ammunition. The potential for diversion
or misuse of each of these categories of
items should be carefully considered
during the review of an export
application.
The capabilities, lethality, and
potential use of an item have numerous
implications for U.S. national security
and foreign policy interests. To begin
with, certain items under BIS
jurisdiction have characteristics that
may render them either more or less
dangerous in criminal, terrorist, or other
adversaries’ hands. For example,
buckshot, blank ammunition, or antique
firearms regulated by BIS under the
EAR, have relatively limited capacity to
pose harm to U.S. interests if they are
diverted or misused. By contrast, some
items subject to the EAR, such as certain
semiautomatic firearms, may pose a
higher risk to U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests if diverted to
criminals, terrorists, and cartels. For
example, ATF studies on the import of
semiautomatic rifles and shotguns have
found that certain characteristics can
render such firearms ‘‘particularly
suitable for the military or law
enforcement’’ use.19 Firearms that could
be used to give cartels, terrorist
organizations, and other non-state actors
parity with law enforcement agencies,
including those of the U.S. and their
allies, could pose a unique risk if
diverted or misused. Furthermore, data
from ATF indicates that weapons with
these characteristics have, in fact, been
diverted and misused in criminal
activities,20 and that certain types of
weapons may be particularly appealing
to cartels that seek to destabilize regions
and engage in drug trafficking activities.
Such factors are important to consider
alongside other indicia of the end user’s
credibility and a destination’s risk
profile.
The capabilities, lethality, and
potential uses of an item can also render
it more amenable to diversion than
other comparable items. In the context
of drug trafficking and other criminal
activity in the CARICOM region, for
example, studies have indicated that
criminals rely on access to unlawfully
exported or diverted handguns. This is
19 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives, Study on the Importability of Certain
Shotguns,’’ January 2011, pages 8–9
20 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives, ‘‘National Firearms Commerce and
Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Guns—
Volume Two, Part IV: Crime Guns Recovered
Outside the United States and Traced by Law
Enforcement,’’ January 2023, pgs 10–14, https://
www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/nfcta-volume-iipart-iv-crime-guns-recovered-outside-us-andtraced-le/download.
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due to the fact that handguns are
‘‘concealable, easier to use in close
quarters, and just as effective for almost
every criminal task’’ as other firearms.21
Similarly, a study of diversion in the
CARICOM region showed both that
criminals use various methods of
concealment and that there is a
prevalence of 9mm semiautomatic
handguns in criminal activity.22 These
data are consistent with other studies
showing that Central American police
recovered and traced pistols at a greater
rate than other types of weapons in that
region.23 Foreign government law
enforcement agencies have likewise
identified instances in which
extraordinarily large quantities of
ammunition—which is small and often
can be repurposed for a large variety of
firearms—are illicitly trafficked.24 Put
simply, some items may be more
dangerous if they are diverted or
misused, and others might be easier to
divert or misuse. As such, the
capabilities, lethality, and potential uses
of certain items are closely linked to the
U.S. national security and foreign policy
interests that should be considered in
the context of reviewing licensing
applications.
Finally, in addition to specifying
certain key factors that will be
considered when reviewing license
applications to export firearms and
related items to any end user,
Commerce determined that destinationspecific factors should be used to
identify destinations where firearm
exports to non-government end users
entail a substantial risk of diversion or
misuse in a manner adverse to U.S.
national security and foreign policy.
Identifying those ‘‘high-risk
destinations’’ enables BIS to develop a
uniform review policy for license
applications, ensuring that the licensing
process consistently accounts for the
risks associated with various
transactions; provides transparency and
21 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,
‘‘Transnational Crime in Central America and the
Caribbean,’’ December 2012, page 59, unodc.org/
documents/data-and-analysis/Studies/TOC_
Central_America_and_the_Caribbean_english.pdf.
22 Small Arms Survey, ‘‘Weapons Compass: The
Caribbean Firearms Study,’’ April 2023, pages 67–
85, https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/sites/default/
files/resources/CARICOM-IMPACS-SAS-CaribbeanFirearms-Study.pdf.
23 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,
‘‘Transnational Crime in Central America and the
Caribbean,’’ December 2012, page 59, unodc.org/
documents/data-and-analysis/Studies/TOC_
Central_America_and_the_Caribbean_english.pdf;
GAO report, page 19.
24 Alessandro Ford, ‘‘Scandal at Haiti Customs
After Over 100,000 Rounds of Smuggled
Ammunition Seized,’’ Insight Crime, July 2022,
https://insightcrime.org/news/scandal-at-haiticustoms-after-over-100000-rounds-of-smuggledammunition-seized/.
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predictability to exporters, stakeholders,
and the public; and adequately
safeguards U.S. foreign policy and
national security interests.
As discussed above, Commerce
requested that State, which has
extensive expertise in evaluating
country-specific conditions and
associated national security and foreign
policy concerns, assist in developing a
list of high-risk destinations. In
response, State provided Commerce
with a guidance memorandum, which is
available on the BIS website at
www.bis.gov/guidance_memorandum
and on regulations.gov, outlining a
methodology to evaluate the risk that
firearms exports to specific destinations
will be diverted or misused in a manner
contrary to U.S. national security and
foreign policy (hereinafter, the
‘‘Firearms Guidance Memorandum’’).
As the Firearms Guidance
Memorandum explains, State leveraged
its expertise in foreign policy and in
subject matter areas, including human
rights, international counternarcotics,
counterterrorism, and arms control, and
the expertise of stakeholders from across
the U.S. Government in conducting its
analysis.
After working with Commerce to
determine the key risk factors, State
gathered data and other empirical
evidence relevant to assessing how
those factors apply to specific
destinations. That evidence came from a
diverse set of credible sources,
including reports produced by the U.S.
Government (e.g., the State
Department’s Country Reports on
Human Rights Practices and the
Presidential Determination on Major
Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug
Producing Countries) and reports
produced by reputable non-government
organizations (e.g., the Global Terrorism
Index and the Corruption Perceptions
Index). State also engaged in
consultations with U.S. Embassy
officials, including those with
significant experience working with
local law enforcement agencies, subject
matter experts, and regional experts.
Finally, State sought policy guidance
from stakeholders across the U.S.
Government to ensure that the
assessment incorporated relevant
aspects of U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests.
Based on that analysis, State
identified 36 countries in which there is
a substantial risk that lawful firearms
exports to non-governmental end users
will be diverted or misused in a manner
adverse to U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests. Commerce has
decided to apply a presumption of
denial review policy to firearm license
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applications involving non-government
end users in those destinations. That
uniform policy will ensure that the
licensing process consistently accounts
for the risks associated with those
transactions, provides transparency to
exporters and other stakeholders, and
safeguards U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests.
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4. Policy Changes
BIS has determined that the changes
described in this IFR will advance U.S.
national security and foreign policy
interests. As with all EAR controls,
these changes are designed to be as
targeted as possible to accomplish BIS’s
mission to protect the national security
and foreign policy interests of the
United States, including a full
consideration of this IFR’s economic
impact. The regulatory changes
implemented by this IFR will facilitate
more robust data tracking capabilities
for exports and re-exports of firearms
and related items. Updates to license
application requirements and applicable
review policies will enhance the ability
of BIS and its interagency partners to
review and process license applications
consistent with U.S. national security
and foreign policy interests. In addition,
this IFR creates greater transparency for
industry by identifying the risk factors
considered during the application
review process, as well as destinations
identified in the Firearms Guidance
Memorandum as presenting a
substantial risk of diversion or misuse
in a manner contrary to U.S. national
security and foreign policy.
B. New ECCNs for Semi-Automatic
Firearms and Certain Related Parts,
Components, Attachments, and
Accessories
Prior to this IFR, ECCN 0A501
controlled rifles, pistols, and related
‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ and certain
‘‘attachments,’’ and ‘‘accessories’’ on the
CCL, while ECCN 0A502 controlled
shotguns and related ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ and certain
‘‘attachments,’’ and ‘‘accessories.’’
Neither ECCN distinguished between
non-automatic and semi-automatic
firearms. BIS was unable to readily
identify what share of firearms exports
to a country were semi-automatic rifles
versus non-automatic pistols because
they were controlled under the same
item paragraph of ECCN 0A501.
Accordingly, BIS was unable to readily
disaggregate and review licensing and
export data for specific types of enditem firearms or specific ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ ‘‘attachments’’ and
‘‘accessories’’ of most concern. This data
gap limited BIS’s ability to efficiently
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evaluate the export, reexport, transfer
(in-country) and diversion of specific
types of rifles, pistols, shotguns, and
certain ‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’
‘‘attachments,’’ and ‘‘accessories’’ that
may pose risks to U.S. national security
and foreign policy. However, such
information is useful to assess the risk
of diversion.
To better track the export, reexport,
transfer (in-country) and diversion of
different types of firearms and related
items, this IFR adds four new ECCNs to
the CCL. ECCN 0A506 controls semiautomatic rifles, ECCN 0A507 controls
semi-automatic pistols, ECCN 0A508
controls semi-automatic shotguns, and
ECCN 0A509 controls certain ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ devices, ‘‘accessories,’’
and ‘‘attachments’’ for items controlled
under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and
0A508. The creation of these four new
ECCNs will enable BIS to better track
and more readily identify exports of
end-item semi-automatic firearms and
shotguns and certain related ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ ‘‘accessories,’’ and
‘‘attachments’’ of concern when
reviewing the Electronic Export
Information (EEI) that exporters file in
the Automated Export System (AES).
Pursuant to § 758.1(g)(1) and (2), an EEI
must specify the ECCN of the exported
item. In order to further enhance
transparency and the collection and
review of export data on these items,
this IFR also implements export
clearance changes as described below
under the heading Changes to make
identification of end-item firearms
mandatory in AES.
The addition of ECCNs 0A506, 0A507,
0A508, and 0A509 is not expected to
have an impact on the number of license
applications received by BIS, because
these items were previously controlled
under different ECCNs. Other changes
included in this IFR that are expected to
increase the number of licenses and
other support documents are described
elsewhere in this preamble.
1. Addition of ECCN 0A506 for SemiAutomatic Rifles
The commodities controlled under
ECCN 0A506 were controlled previously
under ECCN 0A501. BIS, supported by
an interagency working group,
consulted the Wassenaar Munitions List
(WAML1) as well as ATF’s non-sporting
firearm importation criteria to identify
specific features or accessories to
delineate in the ECCN 0A506 item
paragraphs. The item paragraph
structure will enable better tracking and
transparency for exports of various
types of end-item semi-automatic rifles.
ECCN 0A506 has two primary item
paragraphs. Item paragraph .a details
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34685
semi-automatic centerfire (non-rimfire)
rifles equal to .50 caliber (12.7 mm) or
less that have any of the following
characteristics (controlled under .a.1
through .a.4): the ability to accept a
detachable large capacity magazine
(more than 10 rounds) or may be easily
modified to do so; folding, telescoping,
or collapsible stock; separate pistol
grips; or a flash suppressor. Item
paragraph .b controls all other semiautomatic rifles equal to .50 caliber
(12.7 mm) or less, including all noncenterfire (rimfire) that are not
elsewhere specified (noted as ‘‘n.e.s.’’
on the CCL). ECCN 0A506 includes a
note to 0A506.a and .b that ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ that are ‘‘specially
designed’’ for a commodity classified
under .a or .b of 0A506, except those
controlled under ECCN 0A509, are
controlled under ECCN 0A501. ECCN
0A506 also includes a technical note
stating that firearms controlled in 0A506
include those chambered for the .50
BMG cartridge. The reasons for control
for new ECCN 0A506 mirror the reasons
for control that apply to ECCN 0A501
(with the addition of CC Column 2
reason for control outlined below).
Specifically, National Security (NS)
Column 1, Regional Stability (RS)
Column 1, Firearms Convention (FC)
Column 1, CC Column 2, United
Nations Security Council arms embargo
(UN), and Anti-Terrorism (AT) Column
1 apply to the entire entry. License
Exceptions LVS, Shipments to Country
Group B Countries (GBS), and License
Exception Strategic Trade Authorization
(STA) are not available for use with
commodities controlled under ECCN
0A506, as discussed in greater detail
below.
2. Addition of ECCN 0A507 for SemiAutomatic Pistols
The commodities controlled under
ECCN 0A507 were controlled previously
under ECCN 0A501. BIS, supported by
an interagency working group,
consulted the WAML1 and 27 CFR
478.12 to identify specific features or
accessories to delineate in the ECCN
0A507 item paragraphs. The item
paragraph structure will enable better
tracking and transparency for exports of
various types of end-item semiautomatic pistols. ECCN 0A507 has two
item paragraphs: paragraph .a controls
semi-automatic centerfire (non-rimfire)
pistols equal to .50 caliber (12.7 mm) or
less; and paragraph .b controls semiautomatic (rimfire) pistols equal to .50
caliber (12.7 mm) or less. ECCN 0A507
includes a note to 0A507.a and .b to
specify that ‘‘parts’’ and ‘‘components’’
that are ‘‘specially designed’’ for a
commodity classified under 0A507,
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except those controlled under ECCN
0A509, are controlled under ECCN
0A501.c, .d, .x, or .y. The ECCN also
includes a technical note stating that
firearms described in 0A507 includes
those chambered for the .50 BMG
cartridge, which clarifies that any
handgun that may be developed to fire
.50 BMG cartridges will be controlled
under this ECCN. The reasons for
control for new ECCN 0A507 mirror the
reasons for control that apply to ECCN
0A501 (with the addition of CC Column
2 reason for control outlined in D.2 of
this preamble in this IFR). Specifically,
NS Column 1, RS Column 1, FC Column
1, CC Column 2, UN, and AT Column
1 apply to the entire entry. License
Exceptions LVS, GBS, and STA are not
available for use with commodities
controlled under ECCN 0A507, as
discussed in greater detail below.
3. Addition of ECCN 0A508 for SemiAutomatic Shotguns
The commodities controlled under
ECCN 0A508 were controlled previously
under ECCN 0A502. BIS, supported by
an interagency working group,
consulted both the WAML1 and ATF’s
non-sporting importation criteria to
identify specific characteristics or
attachments and accessories to delineate
in the ECCN 0A508 item paragraphs.
The item paragraph structure will better
enable tracking and transparency for
exports of various types of end-item
semi-automatic shotguns. ECCN 0A508
has two item paragraphs. Item
paragraph .a controls semi-automatic
centerfire (non-rimfire) shotguns with
any of the of the following
characteristics (which are detailed in a.1
through a.6): folding, telescoping, or
collapsible stock; magazine over five
rounds; a drum magazine; a flash
suppressor; Excessive Weight (greater
than 10 lbs. for 12 gauge or smaller); or
Excessive Bulk (greater than 3 inches in
width and/or greater than 4 inches in
depth). Item paragraph .b controls all
other semi-automatic shotguns,
including all non-centerfire (rimfire)
shotguns that are not elsewhere
specified. The reasons for control for
new ECCN 0A508 mirror the reasons for
control that apply to ECCN 0A502
(except for CC Column 2, which now
applies to the entire 0A502 and 0A508
entry): Specifically, NS Column 1 and
RS Column 1 for 0A508 commodities
(with barrel length less than 18 inches),
FC Column 1, CC Column 2, UN for the
entire entry, and AT Column 1 for
0A508 commodities (with barrel length
less than 18 inches). LVS, GBS, and
License Exception STA are not available
for use with ECCN 0A508, as discussed
in greater detail below.
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4. Addition of ECCN 0A509 for Certain
‘‘Parts,’’ ‘‘Components,’’ Devices,
‘‘Accessories,’’ and ‘‘Attachments’’ for
Items Controlled Under ECCNs 0A506,
0A507, and 0A508
The commodities controlled under
ECCN 0A509 were controlled previously
under ECCNs 0A501 and 0A502. The
commodities controlled under 0A509
warrant separate tracking under a
distinct ECCN due to their sensitivity,
including the potential that these
firearms-related items are used to
illicitly assemble firearms or are
otherwise used to convert a nonautomatic firearm controlled by 0A501
or 0A502 into a semi-automatic firearm
or to accelerate the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm controlled by 0A506,
0A507, or 0A508. The item paragraph
structure will enable better tracking and
transparency for exports of certain
‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ devices,
‘‘accessories,’’ and ‘‘attachments’’
separate from the end-item semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns
controlled under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507,
and 0A508. ECCN 0A509 has four item
paragraphs. Item paragraph .a controls
any ‘‘part,’’ ‘‘component,’’ device,
‘‘attachment,’’ or ‘‘accessory’’ not
elsewhere specified on the USML that is
designed or functions to accelerate the
rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm
controlled under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507,
or 0A508. Item paragraphs .b and .c
control receivers (frames), including
castings, forgings, stampings, or
machined items thereof, ‘‘specially
designed’’ for an item controlled under
ECCNs 0A506 and 0A507, respectively.
Item paragraph .d of ECCN 0A509
controls receivers (frames) and
‘‘specially designed’’ ‘‘complete breech
mechanisms’’ for a commodity
controlled under ECCN 0A508. ECCN
0A509 has a note to item paragraphs .b
and .c stating that receivers (frames)
under 0A509.b and .c refers to any
‘‘part’’ or ‘‘component’’ of the firearm
that has or is customarily marked with
a serial number when required by law;
the ‘‘parts’’ and ‘‘components’’ in
paragraphs 0A509.b and .c are regulated
by ATF as firearms (see 18 U.S.C.
921(a)(3); 27 CFR parts 447, 478, and
479). The reasons for control for
commodities controlled under new
ECCN 0A509 are as follows: NS Column
1, RS Column 1, FC Column 1, CC
Column 2, UN, and AT Column 1 apply
to the entire entry. License Exceptions
LVS, GBS, and STA are not available for
use with commodities controlled under
ECCN 0A509, as discussed in greater
detail below.
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5. Other Changes for Existing 0x5zz
ECCNs
BIS also reevaluated the reasons for
control for rifles, pistols, shotguns,
ammunition, and related ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ ‘‘accessories,’’
‘‘attachments,’’ ‘‘software,’’ and
‘‘technologies’’ detailed under existing
ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505,
0D501, 0D505, 0E501, 0E504, and
0E505. BIS is applying or maintaining
CC column 2-based controls on most
items under these ECCNs, consistent
with BIS policy to apply CC controls on
items to address human rights-related
concerns. Certain specific ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ and ammunition
controlled under ECCNs 0A501.y and
0A505.c, 0A505.d, and 0A505.x are not
controlled for CC reasons (or certain
other reasons under the EAR), because
they raise relatively few concerns
related to human rights or other foreign
policy objectives. The CC changes
described in this paragraph, along with
the other CC changes described in this
preamble section B.5, are expected to
result in an increase of 1,115 license
applications received annually by BIS.
Prior to this IFR, either CC Column 1,
CC Column 2, or CC Column 3 applied
to shotguns controlled under ECCN
0A502 based on the barrel length and
particular end user (specifically, police
or law enforcement). This IFR revises
the CC reasons for control on 0A502 to
underscore their significant relationship
to U.S. foreign policy objectives,
including human rights. CC Column 2
applies to the entire entry of 0A502,
regardless of barrel length or end user.
Similarly, CC Column 2 applies to the
entire entry of 0A508, regardless of
barrel length or end user. These changes
implement a new license requirement
for the export of certain shotguns to
certain countries and end users. All
other existing reasons for control on
0A502 remain in effect under this IFR.
In particular, consistent with the
licensing policy for items controlled for
RS reasons, § 742.6(b)(1)(i), BIS will
continue to review these items to
determine whether the transaction is
contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests,
including promoting the observance of
human rights throughout the world.
Similarly, this IFR adds CC Column 2
reasons for control to software
controlled under ECCNs 0D501 and
0D505 and technology controlled under
0E501. Given that these ECCNs control
the software and technology that relate
to firearms and related items, the same
human rights concerns apply. Therefore,
as noted above, this change aligns the
reason for control for ECCNs 0D501,
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0D505, and 0E501 with BIS policy to
apply CC to firearms and related items.
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6. Other EAR conforming changes to
reflect the new ECCNs for semiautomatic firearms and semi-automatic
shotguns.
With the exception of those
commodities controlled under new
ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and
0A509 as described above, all firearms,
shotguns, and their ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ ‘‘accessories,’’
‘‘attachments,’’ and equipment remain
controlled under ECCNs 0A501 and
0A502 on the CCL. However, the
creation of the four new ECCNs requires
conforming changes throughout the EAR
to maintain enhanced restrictions on
end-item firearms where only ECCNs
0A501 and 0A502 were previously
referenced. This IFR adds references to
semi-automatic firearms and semiautomatic shotguns controlled under
ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508, as
well as the commodities controlled
under 0A509, where appropriate; these
conforming changes ensure that the
semi-automatic versions of end-use
firearms and shotguns controlled under
these three new ECCNs, as well as the
commodities controlled under 0A509,
continue to be subject to licensing
restrictions and limitations on licensing
exception availability.
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The conforming changes appear in the
following EAR provisions (referenced
here in the order in which they are
described under Table 1): §§ 732.2(b),
734.7(c), 740.2(a)(21), 740.2(a)(23),
740.9(a) and (b)(5) introductory text,
740.9(b)(5)(ii), 740.9, Note 1 to
paragraph (b)(5), 740.10(b)(1)
introductory text and (b)(4),
740.10(b)(4)(i), 740.10, Note 1 to
paragraph (b)(4), 740.11 introductory
text, 740.14(e)(1) introductory text,
740.14(e)(1)(i), 740.14(e)(3) introductory
text, 740.14(e)(3)(i), 740.14(e)(3)(iv),
740.14(e)(4), 740.20(b)(2)(ii)(A),
740.20(b)(2)(ii)(B), 742.6(b), 742.7(a)(5),
742.17(f), 743.4(c) (redesignated as
paragraph (b)), 743.6(a) introductory
text, (a)(1) and (2), (b), and (c),
748.12(a)(1), 748.12, Note 2 to paragraph
(d)(3), supplement no. 2 to part 748,
paragraph (z), supplement no. 2 to part
748, Note 1 to paragraph (z),
supplement no. 2 to part 748, paragraph
(bb) (redesignates as paragraph (aa)(1)),
758.1(b)(9), Note 1 to paragraph (c)(1),
and (g)(4)(i), 758.1(g)(4)(ii), 758.10(a)
introductory text, Note 1 to paragraph
(b)(1), and Note 2 to paragraph (b)(1),
758.11(a) and (b)(2), 762.2(a)(11),
762.3(a)(5), as well as ECCNs 0A501
heading, Related Controls paragraph,
Technical Note to 0A501.c, Note 5 to
0A501.e, and 0A501.x and .y, 0A502
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34687
heading, and Related Controls
paragraph, 0A505.a and .d, 0B501
heading and 0B501.e, 0D501 heading,
0E501 heading, 0E501.a and .b, 0E502
heading, and ECCN 2B018 text under
the heading. These changes are not
expected to have any impact on the
number of license applications received
by BIS.
There are a number of references to
the 0x5zz ECCNs in existing EAR
provisions that pertain to firearms
controls. However, no changes are
required to such references because the
four new ECCNs are also considered
0x5zz ECCNs.
Table 1—Identification of Conforming
Changes Made to Existing EAR
Regulatory References to Reflect the
Addition of ECCN 0A506, 0A507,
0A508, and 0A509
This table identifies the specific EAR
provision and type of conforming
changes required for consistency with
the addition of these four new ECCNs.
BIS welcomes comments in response to
this IFR on these conforming changes,
as well as any other conforming changes
that the public believes would be
warranted to reflect the addition of
these four new ECCNs.
BILLING CODE 3510–33–C
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EAR references
Conforming changes to add references to new
ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, 0A508[1], and 0A509, or
the items level classification for these ECCNs, as
aoolicablef21
§ 732.2(b)
§ 734.7(c)
§ 740.2(a)(21)
§ 740.2(a)(23)
0A506,
0A506,
0A506,
0A506,
§ 740.9(a) and (b )(5)
introductory text
§ 740.9(b)(5)(ii)
§ 740.9, Note 1 to paragraph
(b)(5)
§ 740 .1 0(b )( 1) introductory
text and (b)(4)
§ 740.10(b)(4)(i)
§ 740.10, Note 1 to paragraph
(b )(4)
§ 740 .11 introductory text
§ 740 .14(e)( 1) introductory
text
§ 740.14(e)(l)(i)
§ 740 .14(e)(3) introductory
text
§ 740.14(e)(3)(i)
or 0A509
and 0A509
and 0A508
and 0A508
Note: The reference to ECCN 0A501.a is removed
consistent with the fact that the semi-automatic
firearms previously controlled under that ECCN will
now be controlled under new ECCNs 0A506 and
0A507.
0A506, 0A507 and 0A508
0A506 and 0A507
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508
0A506 and 0A507
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509
0A508
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508
0A506, 0A507, and 0A509
0A501, 0A506 or 0A507, as well as shotguns
controlled under ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508
Note: The restrictionsfor ECCNs 0A502 and 0A508
apply to all shotguns controlled under these two
ECCNs
0A506, 0A507, and 0A509
0A506 and 0A507
0A506, 0A507, and 0A509
0A508
0A502, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509, 0D501, 0D505,
0E501, and 0E504
Note: This conforming change includes adding the
related software and technoloJ?V to the controls.
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§ 740.14(e)(3)(iv)
§ 740.14(e)(4)
§ 740.20(b)(2)(ii)(A)
§ 740.20(b )(2)(ii)(B)
§ 742.6(b)
§ 742.7(a)(5)
0A507,
0A507,
0A507,
0A507,
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
§ 742.17(f)
§ 743.4(c) (redesignated as
paragraph (b ))
§ 743 .6(a) introductory text,
(a)(l) and (2), (b), and (c)
§ 748.12(a)(l)
34689
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509
0A506.a. and .b and 0A507.a and .b
0A506 and 0A507
Commodities controls under 0x5zz
§ 748.12, Note 2 to paragraph
(d)(3)
Supplement no. 2 to part 748,
paragraph (z)
Note: instead of adding a conforming reference to
ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509, this !FR
adds the reference to 0x5zz because the specified
requirements will apply to all commodities under
these ECCNs. The phrase "ECCNs 0A501 (except
0A501.y), 0A502, 0A504 (except 0A504.f), or 0A505
(except 0A505.d)" is replaced with a conforming
reference to commodities controlled under 0x5zz.
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508 under the first reference in
the paragraph, and
0A506 and 0A507 under the second reference in this
paragraph.
§ 758. l0(a) introductory text,
Note 1 to paragraph (b)(l),
and Note 2 to paragraph (b )(I)
§ 758.ll(a) and (b)(2)
§ 762.2(a)(l 1)
§ 762.3(a)(5)
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0A506 and 0A507
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508
0A506.a or .b, 0A507.a and .b, 0A508.a.1 or .a.2, or
0A509.a, .b, .c, or .d.
Note: This !FR also adds two references to ECCNs
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or 0A509. However, the
requirement is specific to the items paragraphs
referenced in this parazraph.
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508
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Supplement no. 2 to part 748,
Note 1 to paragraph (z)
Supplement no. 2 to part 748,
paragraph (bb) (redesignated
as paragraph (aa)(l))
§ 758. l(b)(9), Note 1 to
paragraph (c)(l), and (g)(4)(i)
§ 758. l(g)(4)(ii)
Note: The second reference in paragraph (z) is to
Annex A to supplement no. 1 to part 740. Due to the
fact that this annex does not include shotguns
addin~ a reference to 0A508 is not needed
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
ECCN 0AS0 1 heading,
Related Controls paragraph,
Technical Note to 0A501.c,
Note 5 to 0A501.e, and
0A501.x and .y
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509, under the heading.
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509, and 0A509.a or .c
under the Related Controls paragraphs as applicable.
0A509.b or .c under Note 5 to 0A501.e
0A506 and 0A507 under Technical Note to 0A501.c
0A506, 0A507, and 0A509 under 0A501.x.
0A506 and 0A507 under 0A501.y
ECCN 0A502 heading, and
Related Controls paragraph
0A509.b or .c under Note 5 to 0A501.e
0A508 and 0A509 under the heading
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509 under Related
Controls paragraphs as applicable
0A506 and 0A507 under 0A505 .a
ECCN 0A505.a and .d
0A506, 0A507, and 0A508 under 0A505.d
0A506, 0A507, and 0A509 under the heading
ECCN 0B501 heading and
0B501.e
ECCN 0D501 heading
ECCN 0E501 heading,
0E501.a and .b
ECCN 0E502 heading
ECCN 2B018 text under the
heading
0A506, 0A507, and 0A509 under 0B501.e
0A506, 0A507, and 0A509 under the heading
0A506, 0A507, and 0A509 under the heading,
0E501.a, and .b
0A508 and 0A509 under the heading
0A506, 0A507, and 0A509 in the text under the
heading
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C. Changes to License Exceptions and
Related Changes
1. General restrictions on use of
license exceptions. Section 740.2 of the
EAR details restrictions in place on the
use of all License Exceptions. Paragraph
(a) enumerates these restrictions. This
IFR makes two changes to this section.
First, as a conforming change to the
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addition of the CC control under ECCNs
0A501, 0A506, and 0A507, this IFR
revises the general restriction on the use
of license exceptions under paragraph
(a)(4)(iii) in § 740.2 for CC items
identified in § 742.7 to remove the
parenthetical phrase that limited the
eligibility of License Exception BAG
under paragraph (e) to certain shotguns
and shotgun shells for personal use as
the only License Exception BAG
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authorization that could overcome the
general restriction in this paragraph
(a)(4)(iii). Because the other firearms
controlled under new ECCNs 0A506,
0A507, and 0A508 will require a license
for CC as of the effective date of this
IFR, all of these firearms and related
items that are authorized under
paragraph § 740.14(e) should be eligible
to overcome this general restriction on
the use of license exceptions under
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[l] Unless otherwise noted in the table, references to 0A508 are to shotguns with a barrel
length less than 18 inches to conform to the controls already in place on shotguns with a
barrel length less than 18 inches that are controlled under 0A502.
[2] These conforming changes include adding one reference to 0D501, 0D505, 0E501,
and 0E504 to reflect the addition of the four new ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and
0A509.
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
§ 740.2(a)(4). These changes are not
expected to have any impact on the
number of license applications received
by BIS.
Second, this IFR adds paragraph
(a)(24) in § 740.2. New paragraph (a)(24)
requires exporters to obtain a copy of an
import certificate or equivalent
document (if required by the
government of the importing country)
before the exporter can use any license
exception for items controlled under
ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505,
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or 0A509. This
new requirement parallels the new
policy detailed below related to
obtaining and submitting an import
certificate when applying for a license
for certain firearms and related items.
Although BIS anticipates that this
requirement could increase the burden
under this collection to some degree,
BIS believes that exporters, as part of
their current compliance programs,
already have processes in place to
confirm whether the firearms and
related items that are to be exported
may be imported into these foreign
countries. Therefore, this recordkeeping
requirement likely reflects practices and
processes exporters already have in
place and will therefore be of minimal
burden to exporters. As described below
under the Rulemaking section under
paragraph 2, BIS welcomes comments
from the public on this aspect of this
IFR.
2. LVS additional restrictions. License
Exception LVS is detailed under § 740.3.
BIS is further restricting the eligible
destinations for LVS under paragraph
(b). As amended by this IFR, LVS is no
longer available for commodities
controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502,
0A504 (except 0A504.g), 0A505, 0A506,
0A507, 0A508, and 0A509 when they
are destined for destinations in
‘‘CARICOM’’ or destinations specified
in both Country Groups B and D:5. The
addition to the EAR of the ‘‘CARICOM’’
as a defined term is detailed below.
License Exception LVS remains
available only for certain commodity
ECCNs. These changes are expected to
result in an increase of five hundred
license applications received annually
by BIS.
3. License Exception BAG new
restrictions and single trip limit.
i. BAG is detailed under § 740.14.
License Exception BAG authorizes
individuals leaving the United States
either temporarily (i.e., traveling) or
longer-term (i.e., moving) and crew
members of exporting or reexporting
carriers to take, as personal baggage,
certain items. This IFR revises § 740.14
such that destination eligibility under
License Exception BAG for items
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controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502,
0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508,
and 0A509 is limited to destinations
other than those specified in Country
Group D:5 (except for Zimbabwe) or
destinations in ‘‘CARICOM.’’
This IFR adds ‘‘CARICOM’’ as a
defined term in § 772.1, which lists the
definitions of terms used in the EAR.
The definition of ‘‘CARICOM’’ specifies
that for purposes of §§ 740.3 and 740.14
of the EAR, the term means an
intergovernmental organization that
consists of the following member states
and associate members: member states:
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada,
Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St.
Lucia, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, and
Trinidad and Tobago; associate
members: Anguilla, Bermuda, British
Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and
Turks and Caicos, as well as any other
state or associate member that has
acceded to membership in accordance
with Article 3 or Article 231 of the
Treaty of Chaguaramas for members or
associate members, respectively. The
definition of ‘‘CARICOM’’ includes a
note specifying that Anguilla, Bermuda,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands,
Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos are
treated as the United Kingdom under all
other EAR provisions that govern
licensing requirements and license
exceptions. These changes are expected
to result in an increase of five hundred
license applications received annually
by BIS.
ii. Limit BAG to three shotguns and
firearms in total for a single trip. This
IFR also revises § 740.14 to limit the
number of shotguns and firearms that an
individual may export using BAG.
Previously, paragraphs (e)(1)(i) and
(e)(3)(i), read together, permitted U.S.
citizens to export or reexport three
shotguns, three firearms, and 1,000
rounds of ammunition on any one trip.
This IFR limits U.S. citizens to three
firearms or shotguns in total on any one
trip. This change is expected to result in
an increase of 50 license applications
received annually by BIS.
D. Revisions to License Review Policies
As part of the BIS effort to review
firearms-related policies and address
concerns related to misuse or diversion
contrary to U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests, including
diversion to entities or activities that
promote regional instability, abuse or
violate human rights, and/or fuel
criminal activities, two control policies
were identified for revision. This IFR
revises the license review policies under
the Regional Stability (RS) and Crime
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34691
Control (CC) sections in part 742 of the
EAR pursuant to BIS’s findings. The
revisions to the RS and CC license
review policies, which impose
presumptions of denial for certain highrisk transactions, are expected to result
in a decrease of 650 license applications
received annually by BIS, due to certain
applicants likely being deterred from
applying for licenses.
1. Revisions to RS license review
policies. Under § 742.6(b)(1), licensing
policy for RS column 1 items, this IFR
makes several structural changes to
paragraph (b)(1)(i). To make the
paragraph more readily understandable,
this IFR sets forth each license review
policy in a separate paragraph,
(b)(1)(i)(A) through (G). This IFR also
makes conforming changes to clarify
which items are reviewed under the
policies set forth in each paragraph.
This IFR also makes substantive
revisions to RS reason for control, as
detailed below.
i. Adoption of policy of denial review
policy for D:5 for certain 0x5zz ECCNs.
BIS reviews applications for exports and
reexports of items classified under any
9x515 or ‘‘600 series’’ ECCN destined to
Country Group D:5, destinations subject
to a U.S. arms embargo, consistent with
United States arms embargo policies in
§ 126.1 of the ITAR (22 CFR 126.1). This
IFR amends § 742.6 of the EAR to
extend this licensing policy to include
all firearms and related items in ECCNs
0A501, 0A502, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507,
0A508, or 0A509 that are destined for
D:5 destinations. This change is detailed
in new paragraph (b)(1)(i)(D).
Furthermore, BIS previously reviewed
applications for items controlled under
certain firearms-related ECCNs and any
9x515 ECCN under a policy of denial
when destined for China or a Country
Group E:1 country. This IFR amends
§ 742.6 to extend this stringent review
policy to all items classified under
ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505,
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509, 0B501,
0B505, 0D501, 0D505, 0E501, 0E504, or
0E505, or any 9x515 ECCNs. This
change is detailed in new paragraph
(b)(1)(i)(F).
2. Revisions to CC license review
policies. As stated above, this IFR also
revises the CC licensing policy in
§ 742.7(b) to apply stricter scrutiny to
exports of firearms and related items to
destinations where diversion risks are
particularly acute, such as destinations
in which significant drug trafficking and
associated criminal activity occurs.
Previously, § 742.7(a) consisted of
paragraphs (a)(1) through (6). Under this
IFR, the firearms and shotgun related
items are listed in paragraph (a)(5)
(ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505.b,
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0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0E502, and
0E505). The contents of previous
paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) are removed as
a conforming change to the removal of
CC Column 2 and CC Column 3 from
shotguns. The non-firearms and shotgun
related items remain in (a)(1). Previous
paragraphs (a)(4) through (6) are now
paragraphs (a)(2) though (4). Paragraphs
(a)(2) and (a)(4) contain a sentence
showing that controls for these items
appear in each ECCN; a column specific
to these controls does not appear in the
Country Chart (supplement no. 1 to part
738 of the EAR).
Given that this IFR makes
§ 742.7(a)(5) solely pertain to firearms
and shotguns related items, BIS is
designating these items as having CC
Column 2 reasons for control. As a
result of this change, the public can
more easily identify firearms and
shotguns related items on the CCL. To
ensure easy understanding of the
applicability of license requirements for
CC Column 2 designated items, BIS in
this IFR is putting an X in the box on
the Commerce Country Chart
(supplement no. 1 to part 738) for all
countries except Canada. This change
does not impose licensing requirements
on exports or reexports to destinations
for which a license was not previously
required, as NS and RS requirements are
already in place for all destinations
other than Canada.
Previously, § 742.7(b) consisted of
paragraphs (b)(1) and (2). Under this
IFR, paragraph (b) consists of
paragraphs (b)(1) through (3).
Paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) remain, but
apply to (a)(1) through (4). Paragraph
(b)(3) applies to items controlled under
§ 742.7(a)(5). The review policy for
these items is broken out for two types
of end users as described in section
D.2.i and D.2.ii:
i. License review policies for
government end users. Paragraph
(b)(3)(i) describes policies for license
applications when the items are
destined for government end users.
These applications will be reviewed on
a case-by-case basis to determine the
risk that the items will be diverted or
misused in a manner that would
adversely impact U.S. national security
or foreign policy.
ii. License review policies for nongovernment end users. Paragraph
(b)(3)(ii) describes policies for license
applications when the items are
destined for non-government end users.
These license applications will also be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis. They
will additionally be reviewed under a
presumption of denial if one of two
conditions (detailed in paragraphs
(b)(1)(ii)(A) and (B)) are met: (A) the
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items are being exported or reexported
to a destination identified in the
Firearms Guidance Memorandum as a
destination in which it determined that
there is a substantial risk that firearms
exports to non-governmental end users
will be diverted or misused in a manner
adverse to U.S. national security and
foreign policy, or (B) there is otherwise
a substantial risk that the items will be
diverted or misused in a manner that
would adversely impact U.S. national
security or foreign policy.
The presumption of denial review
policy for license applications involving
exports and reexports to high-risk
destinations identified in the Firearms
Guidance Memorandum ensures that all
exports of firearms and related items to
those destinations are consistent with
U.S. national security and foreign
policy. As discussed above, to support
Commerce’s ongoing efforts to impose
export controls that further U.S.
national security and foreign policy,
State has developed a list of
destinations in which there is a
substantial risk that lawfully exported
firearms sold to non-governmental end
users could be diverted or misused in a
manner adverse to U.S. national security
and foreign policy. The Firearms
Guidance Memorandum, which is
available on the BIS website at
www.bis.gov/guidance_memorandum
and on regulations.gov, outlines the
methodology for evaluating destinationspecific risks and identifies 36 high-risk
destinations.
Having carefully reviewed the list and
methodology, which was developed by
national security and foreign policy
experts at State in consultation with
other experts from across the U.S.
Government, BIS has determined that a
presumption of denial should apply to
applications for the export and reexport
of firearms and related items involving
non-government end users in these 36
destinations. Thus, as part of this IFR,
BIS is adopting the list and adding it to
a supplement to the EAR (see below, in
this section of the preamble, for details).
A presumption of denial review
policy for exports and reexports to nongovernment end users to the
destinations identified in the Firearms
Guidance Memorandum will
significantly further U.S. national
security and foreign policy interests. As
described above, based on analysis of
destination-specific risk factors and
consultations with U.S. Embassy
officials and stakeholders across the
U.S. Government, State determined that
firearms and related items exported to
non-government end users in those 36
destinations face a substantial risk of
diversion or misuse in a manner adverse
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to U.S. national security and foreign
policy. In other words, there is a
substantial risk that firearms and related
items exported to those destinations
will fall into the hands of organizations
and individuals that will use those
items to expand transnational drug
operations, spark regional conflicts,
commit acts of terrorism, abuse human
rights, destabilize governments, or harm
communities. Applying a presumption
of denial to license applications for
those exports will ensure that the
licensing process fully and consistently
accounts for those risks, thereby
significantly furthering and
safeguarding U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests.
In addition, transparency with respect
to destinations of concern will promote
predictable and timely review of license
applications and will help industry and
other stakeholders understand the
licensing process. It will also make the
review process more efficient, thereby
allowing BIS to focus time and
resources on other license applications,
including applications for exports to
other destinations and applications to
government end users in all
destinations. Instead of reassessing the
risks associated with transactions
involving destinations identified in the
Firearms Guidance Memorandum as
presenting a substantial risk of diversion
or misuse, BIS will be able to focus on
assessing applications that present
other, varying risk factors or indicia of
reliability.
Moreover, exporters will have the
opportunity to overcome the
presumption of denial by demonstrating
that a specific transaction does not
present a substantial risk of diversion or
misuse. A presumption of denial, as
opposed to an absolute prohibition, will
provide BIS with the flexibility to tailor
its review to the individual facts and
related policy interests. For example,
BIS may recommend to approve a
transaction involving a non-government
security service charged with protecting
a third-country embassy in a destination
identified in the Firearms Guidance
Memorandum as presenting a
substantial risk of diversion or misuse.
Notably, a presumption of denial in the
firearms context is generally consistent
with BIS’s licensing review policies
under the EAR, including in connection
with other sensitive items and
destinations of concern.
State has also committed to lead an
interagency process to assess
periodically, the risk that exports of
firearms and related items to specific
destinations, including those identified
on the list, will be diverted or misused
in a manner adverse to U.S. national
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security and foreign policy. State will
also lead a periodic interagency review
of the factors and other aspects of in the
Firearms Guidance Memorandum, with
the goal of updating both the guidance
memorandum and its list of destinations
on an annual basis. State has also noted
that the Firearms Guidance
Memorandum and corresponding list of
destinations may be updated outside of
the annual window if there are exigent
circumstances (e.g., a coup) or if
updates are otherwise needed to
advance U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests.
BIS will review any changes
recommended as the result of the Stateled, interagency-informed assessment
process, and maintain the list in
supplement no. 3 to part 742 of the
EAR. BIS will publish any additions or
deletions to the list in the Federal
Register. As set forth in new supp. no.
3 to part 742, the list of countries for
which there is a presumption of denial
application review policy for exports
and reexports to non-governmental end
users is as follows: The Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Burkina
Faso, Burundi, Chad, Colombia,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana,
Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia,
Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname,
Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago,
Uganda, Vietnam, and Yemen.
iii. Addition of factors that will be
considered for all 0x5zz license
applications regardless of end user. For
all end users, paragraph (b)(3) details
specific factors that BIS will consider in
assessing the risk that firearms and
related items will be diverted or
misused in a manner that would
adversely impact U.S. national security
or foreign policy. For each license
application, BIS will specifically review
concerns in the destination associated
with state fragility, human rights and
political violence, terrorism, corruption,
organized crime or gang-related activity,
drug trafficking, and past diversion or
misuse of firearms; the nature of the end
user; the capabilities, potential uses,
and lethality of the item; and other
factors as needed. As always, license
applicants are strongly encouraged to
consider license review factors that are
detailed in the EAR when sourcing
potential customers abroad.
3. Revision to license review policies
for Exports of Firearms to Organization
of American States (OAS) Member
Countries.
Consistent with Commerce’s findings
during its policy review, this IFR revises
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the licensing policies for the export and
reexport of most firearms and related
items to all OAS member countries,
under § 742.17(b). There continue to be
two distinct licensing policies for
exports and reexports of firearms and
related items to OAS member countries:
a case-by-case review policy and a
policy of denial for applications linked
to drug trafficking, terrorism, and
criminal activities. These are further
discussed below under this section D.3.
Under this IFR, applications
supported by an FC Import Certificate or
equivalent official document issued by
the government of the importing
country will now be reviewed on a caseby-case basis, as opposed to the license
review policy of general approval that
applied before. This change matches the
text in other provisions in part 742 of
the EAR, which use the ‘‘case-by-case’’
text. Previously, applications supported
by an FC Import Certificate or
equivalent official document would
‘‘generally be approved.’’ With the
increased visibility into transactions
provided by other regulatory changes
discussed in this IFR, a ‘‘case-by-case’’
review policy more accurately reflects
the standards under which BIS will
assesses these applications going
forward. As part of the license review
process, BIS will continue utilizing a
variety of open-source and classified
resources and anticipates that the other
regulatory changes implemented by this
IFR will provide increased visibility
regarding these applications. These
changes are expected to result in a
decrease of 100 license applications
received annually by BIS, due to certain
applicants being deterred from applying
for licenses because of the case-by-case
license review policy.
This IFR does not change the review
policy of denial for applications linked
to drug trafficking, terrorism, and
criminal activities. Applications linked
to drug trafficking, terrorism, and
transnational organized crime activities
will continue to be reviewed under a
policy of denial. This retention of the
existing policy is not expected to have
any impact on the number of license
applications received by BIS.
E. Changes in Support Document
Requirements for Firearms License
Applications
1. Import Certificate Requirements
i. Require submission as part of the
license application for all firearms
license applications for Organization of
American States (OAS) member
countries and other destinations that
require an import certificate or
equivalent official document for the
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importation of firearms. Previously, BIS
required the submission of an import
certificate or other equivalent official
document only for OAS member states;
for non-OAS member states that require
an import certificate or equivalent
official document, the applicant was
required to obtain a copy of such
documentation but was not required to
submit it with the license application
unless specifically requested by BIS.
Under this IFR, the requirement that all
license applications for firearms and
related items include an import
certificate or equivalent official
document as part of the submission will
minimize the risk of an exporter failing
to obtain an import certificate or
equivalent official document if required
by the importing country. This
requirement will also help ensure that
the importing country’s government is
aware of the shipment and has
confirmed that the import is lawful.
This requirement applies to all firearms
and related items described under 0x5zz
ECCNs. These changes are expected to
result in an increase of 250 import
certificates or other equivalent official
documents that need to be submitted
with BIS licenses. BIS estimates that the
time to submit each document will be
1 minute. This will result in an increase
in burden hours of 4 hours.
ii. Combining the OAS and non-OAS
requirements to simplify the
requirements and improve
understanding. To facilitate this support
document requirement, this IFR revises
§ 748.12, which addresses requirements
for obtaining an import certificate or
import permit. Previously, paragraph (a)
specified the requirements for OAS
member states and paragraph (e)
specified the requirements for non-OAS
member states. Given the detail set forth
regarding the required documentation,
and the fact that all destinations will be
treated the same, this IFR removes
previous paragraph (e). All applicable
information in previous paragraph (e) is
moved to revised paragraph (a), and
conforming changes are included in
revised paragraphs (a) through (d).
These formatting and clarifying changes
are expected to facilitate compliance
and are not expected to have any impact
on the number of import certificates or
other equivalent official documents
received by BIS. Paragraph (a)(2)(i)
details OAS member countries; BIS is
taking this opportunity to add a
reference to this paragraph that OAS
member countries includes any member
country that has acceded in accordance
with Chapter III of the Charter of the
Organization of American States.
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2. Requiring Purchase Orders for Certain
Firearms License Applications
i. Conforming changes to provide
clarity and to make the requirements
easier to understand. To facilitate
understanding by the public regarding
the changes discussed in sections E.2.ii
and E.3 of this preamble, this IFR
redesignates paragraphs (aa) and (bb) to
supplement no. 2 to part 748 (Unique
Application and Submission
Requirements), such that previous (aa)
paragraph, detailing ‘‘600 Series Major
Defense Equipment,’’ is redesignated as
paragraph (bb). Previous paragraph (bb)
detailing ‘‘semi-automatic firearms
controlled under ECCN 0A501.a’’ is
redesignated as paragraph (aa), such that
it follows existing paragraph (z)
detailing ‘‘exports of firearms and
certain shotguns temporarily in the
U.S.’’ By making these changes so that
the contents of paragraphs (z) and
redesignated paragraph (aa) appear
sequentially, these requirements should
be clearer to the public.
This IFR also revises redesignated
paragraph (aa) to include the unique
application and submission
requirements that apply to exports of
other firearms, certain shotguns, and
related items. The contents of the
original paragraph, ‘‘semiautomatic
firearms controlled under ECCN
0A501.a,’’ are redesignated under
(aa)(1), with conforming revisions made
to the title corresponding to the addition
of new ECCNs detailed above. New
paragraph (aa)(2) requires the
submission of purchase documentation
for certain applications. New paragraph
(aa)(3) requires the submission of
passport or other national identity card
information for certain applications.
Requirements in new paragraphs (aa)(2)
and (3) are detailed below. These
formatting and clarifying changes are
not expected to have any impact on the
number of purchase orders received by
BIS.
ii. Addition of purchase order
requirement for non-A:1 countries. This
IFR amends the EAR to require that a
purchase order be submitted for exports
and reexports of firearms and related
items to non-A:1 countries. Previously,
exporters were not required to submit a
purchase order with BIS license
applications, unless requested during
the course of BIS’s review of a particular
application. This practice created a
number of challenges. First, BIS
processed and reviewed many
applications that did not result in actual
exports, thereby unnecessarily
expending staffing resources.
Previously, less than 20% of licensed
quantities were actually exported. In
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addition, such licensing that did not
result in exports offered limited
visibility into actual demand for U.S.
firearms abroad, which in turn made
effective monitoring of diversion risks
more difficult. Requiring purchase
orders for exports and reexports to nonA:1 countries will enable BIS to use
licensed quantities to estimate bona fide
local demand, thereby ensuring that BIS
can appropriately evaluate the national
security and foreign policy risks
associated with a given transaction and
effectively allocate review and
processing resources. This IFR specifies
that purchase orders must be dated
within 1 year of their submission with
a license application. Purchase orders
are required for certain items controlled
under ECCNs 0A501 (except 0A501.y),
0A502, 0A505 (except 0A505.c),
0A505.d, and 0A505.e), 0A506, 0A507,
and 0A508, and 0A509. Upon approving
a license for these items, BIS will
generally limit the licensed quantity to
the quantity specified on the purchase
order. However, applicants may request
up to a 10% increase in quantity from
the purchase order amount, which will
be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Additionally, parties may export or
reexport various model types under the
approved license, so long as the items
remain consistent with the ECCN and
ECCN item level paragraph specified on
the approved application. These
requirements appear in new paragraph
(aa)(2) of supplement no. 2 to part 748.
These changes are expected to result in
a net increase of 7,109 purchase orders
that will need to be submitted with
license applications. BIS estimates that
the time required to submit each will be
1 minute; this will result in an increase
in burden hours of 116 hours. That
estimate factors in that these changes
are expected to result in a decrease of
500 license applications received
annually because some exporters will be
unwilling or unable to provide purchase
orders.
3. Requiring Passport or National
Identity Card for Firearms License
Applications for Natural Persons
Located in Destinations Other Than in
Country Group A:1
Governmental purchasers and
commercial distributors constitute the
vast majority of end users identified on
firearms license applications. However,
in some cases, an exporter or reexporter
may apply for a license to export or
reexport firearms to a natural person
(individual) abroad. This IFR amends
the EAR to require that a passport or
national identity card be submitted for
exports and reexports of firearms and
related items to natural persons in non-
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A:1 countries. Previously, passports or
other national identity cards were not
required with submission of
applications for export to individuals
unless requested by BIS for a specific
license application. Based on its history
of reviewing applications destined for
individual recipients, BIS has
determined that a passport or national
identity card would help ensure robust
vetting of the appropriate end user
identified on the application, including
vetting by local law enforcement in the
recipient country, particularly to
address any potential diversion risks.
For example, BIS might use a national
identity card to distinguish between
individuals with the same name. Under
this IFR, license applications for items
controlled under ECCNs 0A501 (except
0A501.y), 0A502, 0A504, 0A505 (except
0A505.c, 0A505.d, and 0A505.e),
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509 for
individuals in destinations other than
Country Group A:1 require the
submission of passport or other national
identity card information for all named
individual recipient end users of those
items. This requirement is detailed
under new paragraph (aa)(3) to
supplement no. 2 to part 748. These
changes are expected to result in an
increase of 3,160 passports or other
national identity card information that
will be submitted annually. BIS
estimates that the time required to
submit each document is 1 minute;
resulting in an increase in burden hours
of 57 hours. That estimate factors in that
these changes are expected to result in
a decrease of 100 license applications
received annually by BIS, because some
individuals will not want to provide
such information to exporters or
reexporters as part of the license
application process.
F. Adoption of Formalized Interagency
Working Group for Firearms License
Application To Enhance the Existing
Interagency License Review Process
BIS license applications involving
0x5zz items are reviewed by the
longstanding interagency review
processes specified under part 750 of
the EAR. Accordingly, BIS has
consulted with interagency partners
regarding the review of license
applications for exports and reexports of
these items since their respective
additions to the CCL. Additionally, BIS
has participated in an informal
interagency working group with
representatives from State since summer
2023 to ensure appropriate focus on
firearms license applications. This
interagency review process is an
important mechanism in ensuring that
U.S. national security and foreign policy
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interests are adequately considered in
all licensing decisions.
This IFR builds on the existing review
process by formalizing an interagency
working group, chaired by State, to
evaluate firearm diversion and misuse
risks. By formalizing an interagency
working group on the review process for
licensing involving firearms and related
items, BIS seeks to ensure proactive
tracking across relevant stakeholder
agencies of licensing and export data,
ongoing review of licenses or pending
applications of concern, and
collaboration on addressing issues in
various countries or with specific end
users. Formalizing this process will help
ensure its longevity and showcase the
U.S. Government’s commitment to its
success. The creation of a formal
interagency working group will help
ensure that the risk factors outlined in
this IFR (including terrorism, state
fragility, corruption, human rights,
political violence, and past diversion or
misuse) are thoroughly vetted by
interagency experts when reviewing
firearms-related license applications.
State has also committed to lead
interagency efforts to use this working
group to assess the determinations set
out in the Firearms Guidance
Memorandum, with the goal of revising
the memorandum and updating its list
of high-risk destinations annually and
as needed. Interagency licensing
working groups are detailed under
§ 750.4(d) of the EAR. This IFR will add
§ 750.4(d)(2)(v), which describes a new
working group called ‘‘The Safeguard.’’
The Safeguard will be chaired by State
and will review license applications
involving firearm-related items
controlled under 0x5zz ECCNs. These
changes are not expected to have any
impact on the number of license
applications received by BIS.
G. Reduction in General License
Validity Period (1-Year License Validity
for Firearms Licenses)
This IFR amends the EAR to reduce
the general validity period from four
years to one year for all future licenses
involving firearms and related items.
Because national security and foreign
policy considerations (including human
rights-related considerations) in
destinations abroad can change rapidly,
the risks or potential benefits associated
with certain transactions can be difficult
to predict several years in advance.
Limiting the length of the license
validity period will lead to more
frequent reviews of exports and thus
enable BIS to account for developments
and often fluid circumstances in
destinations; doing so enables more
precise and timely consideration of
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diversion risk and national security and
foreign policy interests. A shortened
validity period also reduces the risk of
shipments on an expired import
certificate, as well as the risk that BIS
has to suspend or revoke a license based
on rapidly developing national security
and foreign policy concerns.
Previously, the general license
validity period for a BIS license (with
limited exceptions) was four years.
Under this IFR, items controlled under
ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505,
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509 are
generally limited to a 12-month validity
period under revised § 750.7(g).
Licenses extending beyond 12 months
for firearms and related items may still
be granted in certain limited
circumstances, such as transactions
involving intra-company transfers of
items (e.g., from a subsidiary to a parent
company) or government contracts that
require a period of performance longer
than 12 months. This IFR does not make
any other changes to § 750.7(g), and all
other aspects of the license validity
period (such as expiration date)
continue to apply to firearms and
related items. This change is expected to
result in an increase of 500 license
applications received annually by BIS.
H. Changes To Make Mandatory in the
Automated Export System the
Identification of End-Item Firearms and
Shotguns, Along With Certain ‘‘Parts,’’
‘‘Components,’’ Devices, ‘‘Accessories,’’
and ‘‘Attachments’’ for Semi-Automatic
Firearms and Semi-Automatic
Shotguns, and Conforming Changes to
Conventional Arms Reporting
Requirements
As referenced above under section C
of this preamble, this IFR creates four
new ECCNs, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and
0A509, to help distinguish between
non-automatic and semi-automatic
firearms exports in AES EEI filings,
along with the export of certain ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ devices, ‘‘accessories,’’
and ‘‘attachments’’ for semi-automatic
firearms and semi-automatic shotguns.
However, in order to further enhance
the export data to distinguish between
end-item firearms exports and other
firearms ‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’
devices, ‘‘accessories, or ‘‘attachments’’
exports, as well as simplify the
conventional arms reporting
requirements for firearms under the
EAR (§ 743.4), this IFR revises the
requirement in § 758.1(g)(4)(ii), which
previously allowed exporters to
complete their conventional arms
reporting requirements without
submitting conventional arms reports to
BIS. This IFR revises this reporting
requirement by making conventional
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arms reporting information in the EEI
filing in AES mandatory; it does this by
specifying that exporters must include
the items-level classification or other
items-level descriptor in the Commodity
description block in the EEI filed in
AES. Section I further describes the
conventional arms reporting-related
changes to the EAR that are being made
by this IFR.
Specifically, this IFR revises
paragraph (g)(4)(ii) to expand the scope
of the heading to include certain
‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ devices,
‘‘accessories,’’ and ‘‘attachments’’
controlled under new ECCN 0A509.
Because of the importance of these
commodities for semi-automatic
firearms and semi-automatic shotguns,
additional visibility is needed regarding
these ‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ devices,
‘‘accessories,’’ and ‘‘attachments’’
controlled under new ECCN 0A509, as
well as the commodities controlled
under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and
0A508, for the export clearance
requirement under paragraph (g)(4)(ii).
This IFR revises the paragraph
(g)(4)(ii) introductory text to make the
requirements of this paragraph
mandatory instead of optional for all
shipments that meet the specified
criteria. It also expands the scope of this
mandatory export clearance requirement
to include not just ECCNs 0A501.a or .b
and shotguns with a barrel length less
than 18 inches controlled under ECCN
0A502, but also to include items
controlled under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b,
0A506.a or .b, 0A507.a and .b, shotguns
with a barrel length less than 18 inches
controlled under ECCNs 0A502 or
0A508.a. or .b, or ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ devices, ‘‘accessories,’’
or ‘‘attachments’’ controlled under
0A509.a, .b, .c, or .d, as of the effective
date of this IFR. To assist exporters in
identifying the information that must be
included in the Commodity description
block in the EEI filing in AES, this IFR
also adds new paragraphs (g)(4)(ii)(A)
through (F). This information will be
particularly helpful for certain ECCNs,
such as new ECCN 0A506.a, which
controls any semi-automatic centerfire
(non-rimfire) rifles equal to .50 caliber
(12.7 mm) or less that has any of the
characteristics that will be specified
under 0A506.a.1 through .a.6. New
paragraph (g)(4)(ii)(C) specifies that, in
that case, .a will appear as the first text
in the Commodity description block in
the EEI filing in AES. These changes are
not expected to result in an increase in
burden; a commodity description was
already required to be provided in the
EEI in AES prior to the effective date of
this IFR, so including this additional
information as part of the commodity
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description will not change the burden
hours for exporters.
I. Conventional Arms Reporting—
Related Changes
This IFR revises the conventional
arms reporting requirements in § 743.4
to make a conforming change for new
ECCNs 0A506.a. and .b and 0A507.a.
and .b. This IFR also revises § 743.4 to
specify that BIS will be relying solely on
the alternative submission method for
obtaining the required information for
the conventional arms reporting, as was
also referenced above under section F of
this preamble.
1. Conforming change to add 0A506.a
and .b and 0A507.a and .b to the
conventional arms reporting
requirements. This IFR revises § 743.4 to
add references to the end-item firearms
controlled under ECCNs 0A506.a and .b
and 0A507.a, .b, and .c, to specify that
these semi-automatic rifles and pistols
are included for the conventional arms
reporting for the Wassenaar
Arrangement semi-annual reporting and
the United Nations annual report
described under § 743.4. This approach
is consistent with how these items were
previously reported when controlled
under ECCN 0A501.a or .b. The changes
discussed below regarding BIS’s use of
EEI data to meet conventional arms
reporting requirements affect both the
existing ECCNs and the newly added
ECCNs referenced in § 743.4 (i.e.,
ECCNs 0A501.a and .b, 0A506.a and .b,
and 0A507.a. and .b).
2. Specifying that BIS will use AES
EEI data to meet the conventional arms
reporting requirements of 0A501.a and
.b, 0A506.a and .b, and 0A507.a and .b.
In preparing this IFR, BIS reevaluated
the conventional arms reporting
requirements under existing § 743.4 and
the alternative submission method for
ECCN 0A501.a and .b referenced under
§§ 743.4(h) and 758.1(g)(4)(ii) based on
its experience since ECCNs 0A501.a and
.b were added to the EAR on March 9,
2020. BIS determined, based on this
review, that the conventional arms
reporting requirements could be
simplified by making the alternative
submission method the sole method that
exporters use to submit the information
to meet the conventional arms reporting
requirement for ECCN 0A501.a or .b, as
well as for semi-automatic rifles
controlled under ECCN 0A506.a and .b
and semi-automatic pistols controlled
under 0A507.a and .b.
Previously, BIS added the alternative
submission method in § 743.4(h) of the
EAR as part of the January 2020 EAR
final rule to reflect exporters’
recommendation that BIS use AES EEI
data to obtain the information required
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for these two conventional arms reports.
The alternative submission method gave
exporters the option of including the
additional .a or .b information as the
first characters to appear in the
commodity description block in AES,
rather than requiring submission of
information on end-item firearms under
ECCN 0A501.a and .b in separate reports
to BIS. Based on data reviewed by BIS,
nearly all exporters have been using this
alternative submission method to meet
their conventional arms reporting
requirements since March 9, 2020, the
effective date of the January 2020 rule.
The alternative submission method has
also been an efficient method for
extracting the data needed by BIS to
prepare these reports.
In addition, consistent with BIS’s
interest in increasing transparency
regarding exports and reexports of the
semi-automatic firearms and related
‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ devices,
‘‘accessories,’’ and ‘‘attachments,’’ this
IFR revises § 758.1(g)(4)(ii), as described
above under section F, to include the
‘‘items’’ level paragraph classification as
the first characters to appear in the
Commodity description block in the EEI
filed in AES mandatory for ECCNs
0A501.a and .b, 0A506.a and .b, 0A507.a
and .b, 0A508.a and .b. Given that a
commodity description was already
previously required in the EEI filing in
AES, including this additional
information as part of the commodity
description is not expected to change
the burden hours for exporters.
As a result of the requirement to
submit item paragraph information in
AES, the existing provisions in § 743.4
that require exporters to submit annual
and semi-annual reports for the
purposes of conventional arms reporting
via email (‘‘standard method’’) unless
the exporter provides the item
paragraph classification with the
exporter’s AES EEI filings (‘‘alternative
method’’) are no longer necessary,
because BIS will be able to rely on AES
data pursuant to the revisions to
§ 758.1(g)(4)(ii) addressing conventional
arms reporting for ECCN 0A501.a and
.b, as well as for 0A506.a and .b and
0A507.a and .b. These changes will
streamline the exporter’s reporting
obligations by limiting them to the AES
filing requirement. Because nearly all
exporters that were required to submit
conventional arms reports to BIS were
already using the alternative method,
the elimination of the submission of
email reports as an available method
under revised § 743.4 will not result in
a substantive change in the burden on
exporters.
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J. Revocations and Modifications to
Existing Licenses
Based on the policy rationale
identified above, BIS has determined
that it is necessary to revoke or modify
certain valid licenses for the export and
reexport of firearms and related items to
non-government end users. As
described below, on July 1, 2024, BIS
will revoke all currently valid licenses
to non-government end users in HighRisk Destinations for Firearms and
Related Items. (See supplement no. 3 to
part 742.) In addition, on May 30, 2024,
BIS will modify certain other valid
licenses with validity periods that end
more than one year from the effective
date of this IFR by rendering them
invalid one year from the effective date
of this IFR. These modified licenses
cover exports and reexports to nongovernment end users in destinations
outside High-Risk Destinations for
Firearms and Related Items, Country
Group A:1, Israel, and Ukraine.
1. License Revocations
On July 1, 2024, pursuant to § 750.8
of the EAR, BIS will revoke existing
licenses for the export and reexport of
firearms and related items to nongovernment end users in destinations
identified in supplement no. 3 to part
742 (High-Risk Destinations for
Firearms and Related Items). As
discussed above, the Firearms Guidance
Memorandum has identified that there
is a substantial risk that firearms and
related items exported or reexported to
non-government end users in these
destinations will be diverted or misused
in a manner adverse to U.S. national
security and foreign policy, including
for use in drug trafficking, regional
conflict, or human rights abuses.
Accordingly, as discussed above, this
IFR applies a presumption of denial to
all license applications submitted on or
after May 30, 2024 and seeking to export
or reexport firearms and related items to
non-government end users in these
destinations. Existing licenses for
exports and reexports to nongovernment end users in these
destinations were issued under previous
review criteria. Accordingly, failure to
revoke these licenses would allow
firearms and related items to continue to
be exported to these destinations for up
to several more years without review
under the new policy. Such ongoing
exports or reexports of firearms and
related items could create a substantial
risk of diversion and stockpiling in a
manner contrary to U.S. national
security and foreign policy interests.
BIS will issue these revocations on
July 1, 2024, 30 days after the effective
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date of this IFR, to ensure that planned
shipments may be completed without
disruption to ongoing trade. For any
license that is revoked, the license
holder may appeal a revocation to the
Under Secretary for Industry and
Security pursuant to § 756 of the EAR.
Procedures for filing such an appeal are
described in detail in § 756.2(b) of the
EAR and will be included in the letters
that BIS will send to notify license
holders of the pending revocation.
License holders whose license(s) are
revoked by BIS may reapply to export or
reexport the items covered by the
revoked license without prejudice under
BIS’s new licensing policy, as described
in this IFR.
2. License Modification
In addition to revoking the licenses
described above, BIS will, upon the
effective date of this IFR, May 30, 2024,
pursuant to § 750.8 of the EAR, modify
certain existing licenses for firearms and
related items to non-government end
users that have more than one year
remaining of their validity periods to
render them invalid on May 30, 2025.
These modifications will not affect
licenses to non-government end users in
Country Group A:1, Israel, and Ukraine
(which implement export controls
consistent with the Wassenaar
Arrangement), or to High-Risk
Destinations for Firearms and Related
Items. The affected licenses were not
reviewed under the new policies
established in this IFR, and were issued
with a four-year validity period rather
than the one-year general validity
period established in this IFR. As
discussed elsewhere in this IFR, BIS is
shortening the validity period of
licenses to export or reexport firearms
and related items to one year to enable
more precise consideration of the risk of
diversion or misuse, consistent with
national security and foreign policy
interests. Accordingly, BIS is modifying
the validity period of certain existing
licenses, not subject to revocation, in
furtherance of this effort.
The revocations and modifications
described in section J, are expected to
result in an increase of 270 license
applications received annually by BIS.
However, this is anticipated to be a onetime increase.
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K. Request for Public Comment
In addition to seeking public
comment on the changes reflected in
this IFR, including the four new ECCNs
and conforming changes (see Table 1
under section B.6 of this IFR), BIS is
specifically seeking public comment on
the issues below. See the ADDRESSES
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19:43 Apr 29, 2024
Jkt 262001
section of this rule for instructions on
how to submit comments.
(1) BIS seeks comments on the
expected impact on individuals, as well
as industry, should BIS impose a time
limit on the use of § 740.14 BAG License
Exception for firearms classified under
ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A506, 0A507,
and 0A508. Such limits would require
the items to be returned to the United
States or other country of re-export
within the specified time limit, or to
otherwise be disposed of in accordance
with the EAR, e.g., by obtaining a BIS
license to authorize a longer temporary
export or a permanent export. For
temporary exports or reexports longer
than the BAG time limit, a license
would be required to authorize the
export or reexport. In considering
revisions to BAG, BIS identified that
imposing a time limit of 45-, 60-, 90-, or
180-days on how long the exporter is
eligible to keep the firearms out of the
country could help address diversion
risks.
(2) BIS seeks comments on potential
additional revisions to § 740.14 of the
EAR to require exporters of applicable
firearms and related commodities
authorized under License Exception
BAG to submit EEI filings in AES under
§ 758.1(b)(9). This IFR does not make
changes to the exemption from the EEI
filing requirements for License
Exception BAG authorized exports or
the export clearance requirements under
§ 758.11, which will continue to require
submission of the CBP Form 4457.
However, BIS seeks comments on the
potential impact on individuals if BIS
were to remove the requirements in
§ 758.11 and instead require mandatory
EEI filing in AES. BIS is aware of
concerns about requiring individuals to
file EEI in AES for License Exception
BAG authorized exports; because of the
benefits to increasing transparency and
reducing the chance of diversion, BIS is
considering whether additional changes
may be warranted in this export
clearance area. BIS also welcomes
comments that provide alternative
suggestions for increasing transparency
and reducing diversion risk without
imposing a mandatory EEI filing
requirement in AES for exports
authorized under License Exception
BAG.
Export Control Reform Act of 2018
On August 13, 2018, the President
signed into law the John S. McCain
National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2019, which included the
Export Control Reform Act of 2018
(ECRA), 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852. ECRA, as
amended, provides the legal basis for
BIS’s principal authorities and serves as
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Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4700
34697
the authority under which BIS issues
this IFR.
Rulemaking Requirements
1. BIS has examined the expected
impact of this IFR as required by
Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and
14094, which direct agencies to assess
all costs and benefits of available
regulatory alternatives and, if regulation
is necessary, to select regulatory
approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic,
environmental, public, health, and
safety effects, distributive impacts, and
equity). This IFR is considered a
‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, as
amended by Executive Order 14094.
2. Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, no person may be
required to respond to or be subject to
a penalty for failure to comply with a
collection of information, subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.) (PRA), unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) Control Number. This regulation
involves five collections currently
approved by OMB.
• OMB Control Number 0694–0088,
Simplified Network Application
Processing System;
• OMB Control Number 0694–0096,
Five Year Records Retention Period;
• OMB Control Number 0694–0122,
Licensing Responsibilities and
Enforcement;
• OMB Control Number 0694–0137,
License Exceptions and Exclusions; and
• OMB Control Number 0607–0152,
Automated Export System (AES)
Program.
Additional information regarding
these collections of information—
including all background materials—can
be found at https://www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain by using the search
function to enter either the title of the
collection or the OMB Control Number.
With regard to control number 0694–
0088, Simple Network Application
Process and Multipurpose Application
Form. BIS expects an increase of 1003
burden hours for this collection;
however, 132 hours of this increase is
anticipated to be a one-time increase
related to the revocation and
modification of licenses for firearms and
related items described in section J of
this IFR. These additional burden hours
will be added during the current
renewal approval process for this
information collection.
For OMB control number 0694–0137,
License Exceptions and Exclusions, BIS
expects a slight increase in burden
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
hours for this collection because of the
new restriction on the use of License
Exceptions under § 740.2(a)(24). This
requires exporters to obtain a copy of an
import certificate or equivalent
document (if required by the importing
country) before the exporter can use any
license exception for items controlled
under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504,
0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and
0A509. Although BIS anticipates that
this requirement could increase
reporting burden to some degree under
this collection, BIS believes that
exporters, as part of their existing
compliance programs, likely already
have processes in place to confirm
whether the firearms and related items
that are to be exported may be imported
into these foreign countries. BIS
believes this requirement is likely
reflective of practices and processes
exporters already have in place and will
therefore be of a minimal burden to
exporters. BIS welcomes comments on
this information collection requirement
and on the assumptions that this
confirmation requirement is not a
deviation from exporters’ current
practices to ensure that exports of
firearms and related items that are
authorized under BIS license exceptions
may be imported into the respective
countries of import. In order to protect
U.S. national security and foreign policy
interests and to ensure that EAR license
exceptions are not used to authorize an
export of a firearm or related commodity
when a foreign government requires an
import certificate or other equivalent
document that has not been issued, this
IFR imposes a new general restriction
on the use of all EAR license exceptions
under § 740.2(a)(24). A similar type of
import certificate or other equivalent
document requirement applies for items
authorized under a BIS license.
The AES change included in this rule
under § 758.1(g)(4)(ii) is not anticipated
to result in a change in the burden
under the OMB control number 0607–
0152, Automated Export System (AES)
Program because exporters are already
required to provide a description in the
Commodity description block in the EEI
filing in AES. Similarly, changes
impacting OMB control numbers 0694–
0096 and 0694–0122, Five Year Records
Retention Period and Licensing
Responsibilities and Enforcement,
respectively, are not expected to result
in an increase in burden hours.
3. This rule does not contain policies
with federalism implications as that
term is defined under Executive Order
13132.
4. Pursuant to Section 1762 of ECRA
(50 U.S.C. 4821), this action is exempt
from the Administrative Procedure Act
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19:43 Apr 29, 2024
Jkt 262001
(APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) requirements for
notice of proposed rulemaking,
opportunity for public participation,
and delay in effective date.
5. Because neither the Administrative
Procedure Act nor any other law
requires notice of proposed rulemaking
and an opportunity for public comment
for this rule, the analytical requirements
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are not applicable.
Accordingly, no Final Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis is required and
none has been prepared.
List of Subjects
15 CFR Part 732, 738, 740, 750, and 758
Administrative practice and
procedure, Exports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
15 CFR Part 734
Administrative practice and
procedure, Exports, Inventions and
patents, Research, Science and
technology.
15 CFR Part 742
Exports, Terrorism.
15 CFR Part 743
Administrative practice and
procedure, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
15 CFR Part 748
Administrative practice and
procedure, Exports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Terrorism.
15 CFR Part 762
Administrative practice and
procedure, Business and industry,
Confidential business information,
Exports, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
2. Section 732.2 is amended by
revising paragraph (b) introductory text
to read as follows:
■
§ 732.2
Steps regarding scope of the EAR.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Step 2: Publicly available
technology and software. This step is
relevant for both exports and reexports.
Determine if your technology or
software is publicly available as defined
and explained at part 734 of the EAR.
The Bureau of Industry and Security
(BIS) website at https://www.bis.doc.gov
contains several practical examples
describing publicly available technology
and software that are outside the scope
of the EAR under the FAQ section of the
website. See the FAQs under the
heading, EAR Definitions, Technology
and Software, Fundamental Research,
and Patents FAQs at https://
www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/
compliance-training/exportadministrationregulations-training/
1554-ear-definitions-faq/file. The
examples are illustrative, not
comprehensive. Note that encryption
software classified under ECCN 5D002
on the Commerce Control List (refer to
supplement no. 1 to part 774 of the
EAR) is subject to the EAR even if
publicly available, except for publicly
available encryption object code
software classified under ECCN 5D002
when the corresponding source code
meets the criteria specified in
§ 740.13(e) of the EAR. The following
also remains subject to the EAR:
‘‘Software’’ or ‘‘technology’’ for the
production of a firearm, or firearm frame
or receiver, controlled under ECCNs
0A501, 0A506, 0A507, or 0A509, as
referenced in § 734.7(c) of the EAR.
*
*
*
*
*
PART 734—SCOPE OF THE EXPORT
ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS
15 CFR Part 772
Exports.
3. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 734 continues to read as follows:
■
15 CFR Part 774
Exports, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Terrorism.
Accordingly, parts 732, 734, 738, 740,
742, 743, 748, 750, 758, 762, 772 and
774 of the Export Administration
Regulations (15 CFR parts 730–774) are
amended as follows:
PART 732—STEPS FOR USING THE
EAR
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O.
12938, 59 FR 59099, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p.
950; E.O. 13020, 61 FR 54079, 3 CFR, 1996
Comp., p. 219; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3
CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR
44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; E.O.
13637, 78 FR 16129, 3 CFR, 2014 Comp., p.
223; Notice of November 8, 2022, 87 FR
68015 (November 10, 2022).
4. Section 734.7 is amended by
revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:
■
1. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 732 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O.
13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p.
228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001
Comp., p. 783.
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Fmt 4701
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§ 734.7
Published.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) The following remains subject to
the EAR: ‘‘software’’ or ‘‘technology’’ for
the production of a firearm, or firearm
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frame or receiver, controlled under
ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, 0A507, or 0A509,
that is made available by posting on the
internet in an electronic format, such as
AMF or G-code, and is ready for
insertion into a computer numerically
controlled machine tool, additive
manufacturing equipment, or any other
equipment that makes use of the
‘‘software’’ or ‘‘technology’’ to produce
the firearm frame or receiver or
complete firearm.
*
*
*
*
*
PART 738—COMMERCE CONTROL
LIST OVERVIEW AND THE COUNTRY
CHART
5. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 738 continues to read as follows:
■
34699
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 10 U.S.C.
8720; 10 U.S.C. 8730(e); 22 U.S.C. 287c; 22
U.S.C. 2151 note; 22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.; 22
U.S.C. 6004; 42 U.S.C. 2139a; 15 U.S.C. 1824;
50 U.S.C. 4305; 22 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.; 22
U.S.C. 7210; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR,
1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025,
3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783.
6. Supplement no. 1 to part 738 is
revised to read as follows:
■
SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO PART 738—COMMERCE COUNTRY CHART
[Reason for control]
Countries
Afghanistan ...........................
Albania 2 3 ..............................
Algeria ...................................
Andorra .................................
Angola ...................................
Antigua and Barbuda ............
Argentina ...............................
Armenia .................................
Aruba ....................................
Australia 3 ..............................
Austria 3 4 ..............................
Azerbaijan .............................
Bahamas, The ......................
Bahrain ..................................
Bangladesh ...........................
Barbados ...............................
Belarus 6 ................................
Belgium 3 ...............................
Belize ....................................
Benin .....................................
Bhutan ...................................
Bolivia ...................................
Bosnia and Herzegovina ......
Botswana ..............................
Brazil .....................................
Brunei ....................................
Bulgaria 3 ...............................
Burkina Faso .........................
Burma ...................................
Burundi ..................................
Cambodia ..............................
Cameroon .............................
Canada .................................
Cape Verde ...........................
Central African Republic .......
Chad .....................................
Chile ......................................
China .....................................
Colombia ...............................
Comoros ...............................
Congo (Democratic Republic
of the) 1 ..............................
Congo (Republic of the) .......
Costa Rica ............................
Cote d’Ivoire ..........................
Croatia 3 ................................
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Cuba .....................................
Curac¸ao ................................
Cyprus 2 3 4 ............................
Czech Republic 3 ..................
Denmark 3 .............................
Djibouti ..................................
Dominica ...............................
Dominican Republic ..............
Ecuador .................................
Egypt .....................................
El Salvador ...........................
Equatorial Guinea .................
Eritrea 1 .................................
Estonia 3 ................................
Ethiopia .................................
Fiji .........................................
Finland 3 4 ..............................
France 3 .................................
Gabon ...................................
Gambia, The .........................
Georgia .................................
Germany 3 .............................
Ghana ...................................
Greece 3 ................................
Grenada ................................
Guatemala ............................
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Chemical and biological
weapons
Nuclear
nonproliferation
National
security
Missile
tech
Regional
stability
Firearms
convention
Crime
control
Antiterrorism
CB 1
CB 2
CB 3
NP 1
NP 2
NS 1
NS 2
MT 1
RS 1
RS 2
FC 1
CC 1
CC 2
CC 3
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See part 746 of the EAR to determine whether a license is required in order to export or reexport to this destination.
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19:43 Apr 29, 2024
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30APR4
AT 1
AT 2
34700
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO PART 738—COMMERCE COUNTRY CHART—Continued
[Reason for control]
Countries
Guinea ..................................
Guinea-Bissau ......................
Guyana .................................
Haiti .......................................
Honduras ..............................
Hungary 3 ..............................
Iceland 3 ................................
India 7 ....................................
Indonesia ..............................
Iran 1 ......................................
Iraq 1
......................................
Ireland 3 4 ...............................
Israel .....................................
Italy 3 .....................................
Jamaica .................................
Japan3 ..................................
Jordan ...................................
Kazakhstan ...........................
Kenya ....................................
Kiribati ...................................
Korea, North 1 .......................
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES4
South 3 4
Korea,
....................
Kosovo ..................................
Kuwait ...................................
Kyrgyzstan ............................
Laos ......................................
Latvia 3 ..................................
Lebanon 1 ..............................
Lesotho .................................
Liberia ...................................
Libya 1 ...................................
Liechtenstein 5 .......................
Lithuania 3 .............................
Luxembourg 3 ........................
Macau ...................................
Macedonia (The Former
Yugoslav Republic of) .......
Madagascar ..........................
Malawi ...................................
Malaysia ................................
Maldives ................................
Mali .......................................
Malta 2 3 4 ...............................
Marshall Islands ....................
Mauritania .............................
Mauritius ...............................
Mexico ...................................
Micronesia (Federated State
of) ......................................
Moldova ................................
Monaco .................................
Mongolia ...............................
Montenegro ...........................
Morocco ................................
Mozambique .........................
Namibia .................................
Nauru ....................................
Nepal .....................................
Netherlands 3 ........................
New Zealand 3 ......................
Nicaragua ..............................
Niger .....................................
Nigeria ...................................
Norway 3 ................................
Oman ....................................
Pakistan ................................
Palau .....................................
Panama .................................
Papua New Guinea ..............
Paraguay ...............................
Peru ......................................
Philippines .............................
Poland 3 .................................
Portugal 3 ..............................
Qatar .....................................
Romania 3 .............................
Russia 6 .................................
Rwanda .................................
St. Kitts and Nevis ................
St. Lucia ................................
St. Vincent and the Grenadines ..................................
Samoa ...................................
San Marino ...........................
Sao Tome and Principe ........
Saudi Arabia .........................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Chemical and biological
weapons
Nuclear
nonproliferation
National
security
Missile
tech
Regional
stability
Firearms
convention
Crime
control
Antiterrorism
CB 1
CB 2
CB 3
NP 1
NP 2
NS 1
NS 2
MT 1
RS 1
RS 2
FC 1
CC 1
CC 2
CC 3
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30APR4
AT 1
AT 2
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
34701
SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO PART 738—COMMERCE COUNTRY CHART—Continued
[Reason for control]
Countries
Senegal .................................
Serbia ....................................
Seycheles .............................
Sierra Leone .........................
Singapore ..............................
Sint Maarten (the Dutch twofifths of the island of Saint
Martin) ...............................
Slovakia 3 ..............................
Slovenia 3 ..............................
Solomon Islands ...................
Somalia 1 ...............................
South Africa 2 3 4 ....................
South Sudan, Republic of .....
Spain 3 ...................................
Sri Lanka ...............................
Sudan 1 .................................
Suriname ...............................
Swaziland ..............................
Sweden 3 4 .............................
Switzerland 3 4 .......................
Syria ......................................
Taiwan ..................................
Tajikistan ...............................
Tanzania ...............................
Thailand ................................
Timor–Leste ..........................
Togo ......................................
Tonga ....................................
Trinidad and Tobago ............
Tunisia ..................................
Turkey 3 .................................
Turkmenistan ........................
Tuvalu ...................................
Uganda .................................
Ukraine 8 ...............................
United Arab Emirates ...........
United Kingdom 3 ..................
Uruguay ................................
Uzbekistan ............................
Vanuatu .................................
Vatican City ...........................
Venezuela .............................
Vietnam .................................
Western Sahara ....................
Yemen ...................................
Zambia ..................................
Zimbabwe .............................
Chemical and biological
weapons
Nuclear
nonproliferation
National
security
Missile
tech
Regional
stability
Firearms
convention
Crime
control
Antiterrorism
CB 1
CB 2
CB 3
NP 1
NP 2
NS 1
NS 2
MT 1
RS 1
RS 2
FC 1
CC 1
CC 2
CC 3
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AT 1
AT 2
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1 See § 746.1(b) for United Nations Security Council Sanctions under the EAR. See § 746.3 for United Nations Security Council-related license requirements for exports and reexports to Iraq or
transfer within Iraq under the EAR, as well as regional stability licensing requirements not included in the Country Chart.
2 See § 742.4(a) for special provisions that apply to exports and reexports to these countries of certain thermal imaging cameras.
3 See § 742.6(a)(3) for special provisions that apply to military commodities that are subject to ECCN 0A919.
4 See § 742.6(a)(2) and (4)(ii) regarding special provisions for exports and reexports of certain thermal imaging cameras to these countries.
5 Refer to Switzerland for licensing requirements for Liechtenstein under the EAR.
6 See § 746.5 of the EAR for additional license requirements under the Russian Industry Sector Sanctions for ECCNs 0A998, 1C992, 3A229, 3A231, 3A232, 6A991, 8A992, and 8D999 and
items identified in supplement no. 2 to part 746 of the EAR. See § 746.8 of the EAR for Sanctions against Russia and Belarus, including additional license requirements for items listed in any
ECCN on the CCL.
7 Note that a license is still required for items controlled under ECCNs 6A003.b.4.b and 9A515.e for RS column 2 reasons when destined to India.
8 See § 746.6 of the EAR for additional license requirements for exports and reexports to the Crimea region of Ukraine and the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) regions of Ukraine and transfers (in-country) within the Crimea, DNR, and LNR regions of Ukraine for all items subject to the EAR, other than food and medicine designated
as EAR99 and certain EAR99 or ECCN 5D992.c software for internet-based communications.
PART 740—LICENSE EXCEPTIONS
§ 740.2 Restrictions on all License
Exceptions.
7. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 740 continues to read as follows:
*
■
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Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 22 U.S.C.
7201 et seq.; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR,
1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025,
3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783.
8. Section 740.2 is amended by:
a. Revising paragraphs (a)(4)(iii),
(a)(21) and (23); and
■ b. Adding paragraph (a)(24).
The revisions and addition read as
follows:
■
■
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*
*
*
*
(a) * * *
(4) * * *
(iii) Authorized by § 740.14(e) of the
EAR; or
*
*
*
*
*
(21) The reexport or transfer (incountry) of firearms classified under
ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A506, 0A507, or
0A508 with either an ITAR-defined
‘‘foreign defense article’’ (22 CFR
120.39) that is not subject to Department
of State jurisdiction that is incorporated
into the firearm or ‘‘knowledge’’ that an
ITAR-defined ‘‘defense article’’ (22 CFR
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4700
120.31) will be subsequently
incorporated into the firearm, where the
‘‘(foreign) defense article’’ is described
in USML Category I(h)(2). In such
instances, no license exceptions are
available except for License Exception
GOV (§ 740.11(b)(2)(ii)).
*
*
*
*
*
(23) Exports, reexports, or transfers
(in-country) of semi-automatic firearms
or shotguns controlled under ECCNs
0A506, 0A507, or 0A508 sold under a
contract or otherwise part of an export
that includes $4,000,000 or more of
such items are not eligible for any
license exceptions except to personnel
and agencies of the U.S. Government
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under License Exception GOV
(§ 740.11(b) of the EAR), for official use
by an agency of NATO, or where a
license exception would otherwise be
available for the export, reexport, or
transfer (in-country) of such items to a
destination specified in Country Groups
A:5 or A:6 (see supplement no. 1 to part
740 of the EAR) except Mexico, South
Africa, or Turkey.
(24) Exporters of items controlled
under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504,
0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or 0A509
wishing to use an EAR license exception
for such items must first have the
consignee obtain and provide to the
exporter an import certification or
equivalent document, if the importing
country requires one, prior to using an
EAR license exception.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 9. Section 740.3 is amended by
revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:
§ 740.3
Shipments of limited value (LVS).
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Eligible destinations. This License
Exception is available for all
destinations in Country Group B (see
supplement no. 1 to this part), provided
that the net value of the commodities
included in the same order and
controlled under the same ECCN entry
on the CCL does not exceed the amount
specified in the LVS paragraph for that
entry. However, License Exception LVS
is not available for 0x5zz items (except
0A504.g) when destined for countries in
‘‘CARICOM’’ or countries in Country
Group D:5.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 10. Section 740.9 is amended by
revising paragraphs (a) introductory
text, (b) introductory text, and (b)(5) to
read as follows:
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§ 740.9 Temporary imports, exports,
reexports, and transfers (in-country) (TMP).
(a) Temporary exports, reexports, and
transfers (in-country). License Exception
TMP authorizes exports, reexports, and
transfers (in-country) of items for
temporary use abroad (including use in
or above international waters) subject to
the conditions specified in this
paragraph (a). No item may be exported,
reexported, or transferred (in-country)
under this paragraph (a) if an order to
acquire the item, such as a purchase
order, has been received before
shipment; with prior knowledge that the
item will stay abroad beyond the terms
of this License Exception; or when the
item is for subsequent lease or rental
abroad. The references to various
countries and country groups in these
TMP-specific provisions do not limit or
amend the prohibitions in § 740.2 of the
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EAR on the use of license exceptions
generally, such as for exports of 9x515
or ‘‘600 series’’ items to destinations in
Country Group D:5. This paragraph (a)
does not authorize any export of a
commodity controlled under ECCNs
0A501.a or .b, 0A506 or 0A507, or
shotguns with a barrel length less than
18 inches controlled under ECCN 0A502
or 0A508 to, or any export of such an
item that was imported into the United
States from, a country in Country Group
D:5 (supplement no. 1 to this part), or
from Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan,
Ukraine, or Uzbekistan. The only
provisions of this paragraph (a) that are
eligible for use to export such items are
paragraph (a)(5) of this section
(‘‘Exhibition and demonstration’’) and
paragraph (a)(6) of this section
(‘‘Inspection, test, calibration, and
repair’’). In addition, this paragraph (a)
may not be used to export more than 75
firearms per shipment. In accordance
with the requirements in § 758.1(b)(9)
and (g)(4) of the EAR, the exporter or its
agent must provide documentation that
includes the serial number, make,
model, and caliber of each firearm being
exported by filing these data elements in
an EEI filing in AES. In accordance with
the exclusions in License Exception
TMP under paragraph (b)(5) of this
section, the entry clearance
requirements in § 758.1(b)(9) do not
permit the temporary import of:
Firearms controlled in ECCNs 0A501.a
or .b, 0A506, or 0A507 that are shipped
from or manufactured in a Country
Group D:5 country, or that are shipped
from or manufactured in Russia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or
Uzbekistan (except for any firearm
model designation (if assigned)
controlled by ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, or
0A507 that is specified under annex A
in supplement no. 4 to this part); or
shotguns with a barrel length less than
18 inches controlled in ECCNs 0A502 or
0A508 that are shipped from or
manufactured in a Country Group D:5
country, or from Russia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan,
because of the exclusions in License
Exception TMP under paragraph (b)(5)
of this section.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Exports of items temporarily in the
United States. No provision of this
paragraph (b), other than paragraph
(b)(3), (4), or (5), may be used to export
firearms controlled by ECCN 0A501.a,
.b, 0A506, 0A507, or shotguns with a
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4700
barrel length less than 18 inches
controlled in ECCN 0A502 or 0A508.
*
*
*
*
*
(5) Exports of firearms and certain
shotguns temporarily in the United
States. This paragraph (b)(5) authorizes
the export of no more than 75 firearms
per shipment controlled by ECCN
0A501.a or .b, 0A506, 0A507, or
shotguns with a barrel length less than
18 inches controlled in ECCN 0A502 or
0A508 that are temporarily in the
United States for a period not exceeding
one year, provided that:
(i) The firearms were not shipped
from or manufactured in a U.S. arms
embargoed country, i.e., destination
listed in Country Group D:5 in
supplement no. 1 to this part;
(ii) The firearms were not shipped
from or manufactured in Russia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or
Uzbekistan, except for any firearm
model controlled by 0A501, 0A506, or
0A507 that is specified under annex A
in supplement no. 4 to this part; and
(iii) The firearms are not ultimately
destined to a U.S. arms embargoed
country, i.e., destination listed in
Country Group D:5 in supplement no. 1
to this part;
(iv) When the firearms entered the
U.S. as a temporary import, the
temporary importer or its agent:
(A) Provided the following statement
to U.S. Customs and Border Protection:
‘‘This shipment will be exported in
accordance with and under the
authority of License Exception TMP (15
CFR 740.9(b)(5))’’;
(B) Provided to U.S. Customs and
Border Protection an invoice or other
appropriate import-related
documentation (or electronic
equivalents) that includes a complete
list and description of the firearms being
temporarily imported, including their
model, make, caliber, serial numbers,
quantity, and U.S. dollar value; and
(C) Provided (if temporarily imported
for a trade show, exhibition,
demonstration, or testing) to U.S.
Customs and Border Protection the
relevant invitation or registration
documentation for the event and an
accompanying letter that details the
arrangements to maintain effective
control of the firearms while they are in
the United States; and
(v) In addition to the export clearance
requirements of part 758 of the EAR, the
exporter or its agent must provide the
import documentation related to
paragraph (b)(5)(iv)(B) of this section to
U.S. Customs and Border Protection at
the time of export.
Note 1 to paragraph (b)(5): In addition to
complying with all applicable EAR
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requirements for the export of commodities
described in paragraph (b)(5) of this section,
exporters and temporary importers should
contact U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) at the port of temporary import or
export, or at the CBP website, for the proper
procedures for temporarily importing or
exporting firearms controlled in ECCNs
0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507, or shotguns
with a barrel length less than 18 inches
controlled in ECCN 0A502 or 0A508,
including regarding how to provide any data
or documentation required by BIS.
Note 2 to paragraph (b): A commodity
withdrawn from a bonded warehouse in the
United States under a ‘withdrawal for export’
customs entry is considered as ‘moving in
transit’. It is not considered as ‘moving in
transit’ if it is withdrawn from a bonded
warehouse under any other type of customs
entry or if its transit has been broken for a
processing operation, regardless of the type
of customs entry.
Note 3 to paragraph (b): Items shipped on
board a vessel or aircraft and passing through
the United States from one foreign country to
another may be exported without a license
provided that (a) while passing in transit
through the United States, they have not been
unladen from the vessel or aircraft on which
they entered, and (b) they are not originally
manifested to the United States.
Note 4 to paragraph (b): A shipment
originating in Canada or Mexico that
incidentally transits the United States en
route to a delivery point in the same country
does not require a license.
*
*
*
*
*
11. Section 740.10 is amended by
revising paragraphs (b)(1) and (4) to read
as follows:
■
§ 740.10 License Exception Servicing and
replacement of parts and equipment (RPL).
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*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(1) The provisions of this paragraph
(b) authorize the export and reexport to
any destination, except for 9x515 or
‘‘600 series’’ items to destinations
identified in Country Group D:5 (see
supplement no. 1 to this part) or
otherwise prohibited under the EAR, of
commodities and software that were
sent to the United States or to a foreign
party for servicing and replacement of
commodities and software ‘‘subject to
the EAR’’ (see § 734.2(a) of the EAR) that
are defective or that an end user or
ultimate consignee has found
unacceptable. The export of firearms
controlled by ECCNs 0A501.a or .b,
0A506, or 0A507 or shotguns with a
barrel length less than 18 inches
controlled in ECCN 0A502 or 0A508
temporarily in the United States for
servicing and replacement may be
exported under paragraph (b)(2) or (3) of
this section only if the additional
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19:43 Apr 29, 2024
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requirements in paragraph (b)(4) of this
section are also met.
*
*
*
*
*
(4) This paragraph (b)(4) authorizes
the export of firearms controlled by
ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, 0A507 or
shotguns with a barrel length less than
18 inches controlled in ECCNs 0A502 or
0A508 that are temporarily in the
United States for servicing or
replacement for a period not exceeding
one year or the time it takes to service
or replace the commodity, whichever is
shorter, provided that the requirements
of paragraph (b)(2) or (3) of this section
are met and:
(i) The firearms were not shipped
from or manufactured in Russia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or
Uzbekistan, except for any firearm
model controlled by 0A501, 0A506, or
0A507 that is specified under Annex A
in Supplement No. 4 to this part;
(ii) When the firearms entered the
U.S. as a temporary import, the
temporary importer or its agent:
(A) Provided the following statement
to U.S. Customs and Border Protection:
‘‘This shipment will be exported in
accordance with and under the
authority of License Exception RPL (15
CFR 740.10(b))’’;
(B) Provided to U.S. Customs and
Border Protection an invoice or other
appropriate import-related
documentation (or electronic
equivalents) that includes a complete
list and description of the firearms being
temporarily imported, including their
model, make, caliber, serial numbers,
quantity, and U.S. dollar value; and
(C) Provided (if temporarily imported
for servicing or replacement) to U.S.
Customs and Border Protection the
name, address and contact information
(telephone number and/or email) of the
organization or individual in the U.S.
that will be receiving the item for
servicing or replacement; and
(iii) In addition to the export
clearance requirements of part 758 of
the EAR, the exporter or its agent must
provide the import documentation
related to paragraph (b)(4)(iii)(B) of this
section to U.S. Customs and Border
Protection at the time of export.
Note 1 to paragraph (b)(4): In addition to
complying with all applicable EAR
requirements for the export of commodities
described in this paragraph (b)(4), exporters
and temporary importers should contact U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the
port of temporary import or export, or at the
CBP website, for the proper procedures for
temporarily importing or exporting firearms
controlled in ECCN 0A501.a or .b, 0A506,
0A507 or shotguns with a barrel length less
than 18 inches controlled in ECCN 0A502 or
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4700
34703
0A508, including regarding how to provide
any data or documentation required by BIS.
*
*
*
*
*
12. Section 740.11 is amended by
revising the introductory text to read as
follows:
■
§ 740.11 Governments, international
organizations, international inspections
under the Chemical Weapons Convention,
and the International Space Station (GOV).
This License Exception authorizes
exports and reexports for international
nuclear safeguards; U.S. government
agencies or personnel; agencies of
cooperating governments; international
inspections under the Chemical
Weapons Convention; and the
International Space Station.
Commodities listed in ECCNs 0A501,
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509 are
eligible only for transactions described
in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) of this
section. Any item listed in a 0x5zz
ECCN for export, reexport, or transfer
(in-country) to an E:1 country is eligible
only for transactions described in
paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) solely for
U.S. Government official use of this
section.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 13. Section 740.14 is amended by
revising paragraph (e) to read as follows:
§ 740.14
Baggage (BAG).
*
*
*
*
*
(e) Special provisions for firearms and
ammunition. (1) A United States citizen
or a permanent resident alien leaving
the United States may export or reexport
shotguns with a barrel length of 18
inches or over controlled under ECCN
0A502 and 0A508 and shotgun shells
controlled under ECCN 0A505.b and .c
under this License Exception, subject to
the following limitations:
(i) Not more than three firearms may
be taken on any one trip (this includes
shotguns in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508, as
well as firearms in ECCNs 0A501,
0A506, or 0A507).
(ii) The shotguns and shotgun shells
must be with the person’s baggage.
(iii) The shotguns and shotgun shells
must be for the person’s exclusive use
for legitimate hunting or lawful sporting
purposes, scientific purposes, or
personal protection, and not for resale
or other transfer of ownership or
control. Accordingly, except as
provided in (e)(2) of this section,
shotguns may not be exported
permanently under this License
Exception. All shotguns and unused
shotgun shells must be returned to the
United States. Note that since certain
countries may require an Import
Certificate or a U.S. export license
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before allowing the import of a shotgun,
you should determine the import
requirements of your country of
destination in advance.
(2) A nonresident alien leaving the
United States may export or reexport
under this License Exception only such
shotguns and shotgun shells as he or she
brought into the United States under the
provisions of the Department of Justice
Regulations (27 CFR 478.115(d)).
(3) A United States citizen or a
permanent resident alien leaving the
United States may export under this
License Exception firearms, ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ ‘‘accessories,’’ or
‘‘attachments’’ controlled under ECCNs
0A501, 0A506, 0A507, and 0A509 and
ammunition controlled under ECCN
0A505.a, subject to the following
limitations:
(i) Not more than three firearms may
be taken on any one trip (this includes
firearms in ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, or
0A507, as well as shotguns in ECCNs
0A502 or 0A508), and no more than
1,000 rounds of ammunition may be
taken on any one trip.
(ii) ‘‘Parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’
‘‘accessories,’’ and ‘‘attachments’’
exported pursuant to this paragraph
(e)(3) must be of a kind and limited to
quantities that are reasonable for the
activities described in paragraph
(e)(3)(iv) of this section or that are
necessary for routine maintenance of the
firearms being exported.
(iii) The commodities must be with
the person’s baggage.
(iv) The commodities must be for the
person’s exclusive use and not for resale
or other transfer of ownership or
control. Accordingly, except as
provided in paragraph (e)(4) of this
section, firearms, ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ ‘‘accessories,’’
‘‘attachments,’’ and ammunition, may
not be exported permanently under this
License Exception. All firearms, ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ ‘‘accessories,’’ or
‘‘attachments’’ controlled under ECCN
0A501, 0A506, 0A507, and 0A509 and
all unused ammunition controlled
under ECCN 0A505.a exported under
this License Exception must be returned
to the United States.
(v) Travelers leaving the United States
temporarily are required to declare the
firearms, ‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’
‘‘accessories,’’ ‘‘attachments,’’ and
ammunition being exported under this
License Exception to a Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) officer prior to
departure from the United States and
present such items to the CBP officer for
inspection, confirming that the
authority for the export is License
Exception BAG and that the exporter is
compliant with its terms.
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(4) A nonimmigrant alien leaving the
United States may export or reexport
under this License Exception only such
firearms controlled under ECCN 0A501,
0A506, 0A507, and ammunition
controlled under ECCN 0A505 as he or
she brought into the United States under
the relevant provisions of Department of
Justice regulations at 27 CFR part 478.
(5) Destination eligibility under this
License Exception for items controlled
under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504,
0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or 0A509
is limited to countries other than those
in Country Group D:5 (except for
Zimbabwe) and ‘‘CARICOM’’ countries.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 14. Section 740.20 is amended by
revising paragraph (b)(2)(ii) to read as
follows:
§ 740.20 License Exception Strategic
Trade Authorization (STA).
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) License Exception STA may not be
used for:
(A) Any item controlled in ECCNs
0A501.a, .b, .c, .d, or .e; 0A506; 0A507;
0A509; 0A981; 0A982; 0A983; 0A503;
0E504; 0E982; or
(B) Shotguns with barrel length less
than 18 inches controlled in 0A502 or
0A508.
*
*
*
*
*
PART 742—CONTROL POLICY—CCL
BASED CONTROLS
15. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 742 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 22 U.S.C.
3201 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 2139a; 22 U.S.C. 7201
et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7210; Sec. 1503, Pub. L.
108–11, 117 Stat. 559; E.O. 12058, 43 FR
20947, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 179; E.O.
12851, 58 FR 33181, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p.
608; E.O. 12938, 59 FR 59099, 3 CFR, 1994
Comp., p. 950; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3
CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR
44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783;
Presidential Determination 2003–23, 68 FR
26459, 3 CFR, 2004 Comp., p. 320; Notice of
November 8, 2022, 87 FR 68015 (November
10, 2022).
16. Section 742.6 is amended by
revising paragraph (b)(1)(i) to read as
follows:
■
§ 742.6
Regional stability.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(i) Applications for exports and
reexports of ECCN 0A501, 0A502,
0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508,
0A509, 0B501, 0B505, 0D501, 0D505,
0E501, 0E504, and 0E505 items, 9x515,
PO 00000
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Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4700
and ‘‘600 series’’ items will be reviewed
under the following policies:
(A) Applications for exports and
reexports of ECCN 0A501, 0A502,
0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508,
0A509, 0B501, 0B505, 0D501, 0D505,
0E501, 0E504, and 0E505 items; 9x515
and ‘‘600 series’’ items will be reviewed
on a case-by-case basis to determine
whether the transaction is contrary to
the national security or foreign policy
interests of the United States, including
the foreign policy interest of promoting
the observance of human rights
throughout the world.
(B) Other applications for exports and
reexports described in paragraph (a)(1),
(2), (6), or (8) of this section will be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis to
determine whether the export or
reexport could contribute directly or
indirectly to any country’s military
capabilities in a manner that would alter
or destabilize a region’s military balance
contrary to the foreign policy interests
of the United States.
(C) Applications for reexports of items
described in paragraph (a)(3) of this
section will be reviewed applying the
policies for similar commodities that are
subject to the ITAR.
(D) Applications for export or
reexport of items classified under
ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A505, 0A506,
0A507, 0A508, or 0A509, or any 9x515
or ‘‘600 series’’ ECCN requiring a license
in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) or
(9) of this section, will also be reviewed
consistent with United States arms
embargo policies in § 126.1 of the ITAR
(22 CFR 126.1), if destined to a country
set forth in Country Group D:5 in
Supplement No. 1 to part 740 of the
EAR.
(E) Applications for export or reexport
of ‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’
‘‘accessories,’’ ‘‘attachments,’’
‘‘software,’’ or ‘‘technology’’ ‘‘specially
designed’’ or otherwise required for the
F–14 aircraft will generally be denied.
(F) Applications for exports and
reexports of items classified under
ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505,
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509, 0B501,
0B505, 0D501, 0D505, 0E501, 0E504, or
0E505, or any 9x515 ECCN will be
subject to a policy of denial, when
destined to China or a country listed in
E:1 in Supplement No. 1 to part 740 of
the EAR.
(G) Applications for exports and
reexports of ECCNs 0A501, 0A502,
0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508,
0A509, 0B501, 0B505, 0D501, 0D505,
0E501, 0E504, and 0E505 items will be
subject to a policy of denial when there
is reason to believe the transaction
involves criminal organizations, rebel
groups, street gangs, or other similar
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groups or individuals, that may be
disruptive to regional stability,
including within individual countries.
* * *
*
*
*
*
*
■ 17. Revise § 742.7 to read as follows:
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§ 742.7
Crime control and detection.
(a) License requirements. In support of
U.S. foreign policy to promote the
observance of human rights throughout
the world, a license is required to export
and reexport crime control and
detection equipment, related technology
and software as follows:
(1) Crime control and detection
instruments and equipment and related
‘‘technology’’ and ‘‘software’’ identified
in the appropriate ECCNs on the CCL
under CC Column 1 in the Country
Chart column of the ‘‘License
Requirements’’ section. A license is
required to countries listed in CC
Column 1 (Supplement No. 1 to part 738
of the EAR). Items affected by this
requirement are identified on the CCL
under the following ECCNs: 0A977,
0A978, 0A979, 0D977, 0E977, 1A984,
1A985, 3A980, 3A981, 3D980, 3E980,
4A003 (for fingerprint computers only),
4A980, 4D001 (for fingerprint
computers only), 4D980, 4E001 (for
fingerprint computers only), 4E980,
6A002 (for police-model infrared
viewers only), 6E001 (for police-model
infrared viewers only), 6E002 (for
police-model infrared viewers only),
and 9A980.
(2) Items designed for the execution of
human beings as identified in ECCN
0A981 require a license to all
destinations including Australia,
Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Controls for these items appear in each
ECCN; a column specific to these
controls does not appear in the Country
Chart (supplement no. 1 to part 738 of
the EAR).
(3) Certain crime control items require
a license to all destinations, except
Canada only. These items are identified
under ECCNs 0A982, 0A503, and 0E982.
Controls for these items appear in each
ECCN; a column specific to these
controls does not appear in the Country
Chart (supplement no. 1 to part 738 of
the EAR).
(4) See § 742.11 of the EAR for further
information on items controlled under
ECCN 0A983, which require a license to
all destinations, including Australia,
Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Controls for these items appear in each
ECCN; a column specific to these
controls does not appear in the Country
Chart (supplement no. 1 to part 738 of
the EAR).
(5) Items detailed under this
paragraph are specific to certain
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firearms, shotguns, and related items.
Crime control and detection instruments
and equipment and related
‘‘technology’’ and ‘‘software’’ identified
in the appropriate ECCNs on the CCL
under CC Column 2 in the Country
Chart column of the ‘‘License
Requirements’’ section. A license is
required to countries listed in CC
Column 2 (supplement no. 1 to part 738
of the EAR). Items affected by this
requirement are identified on the CCL
under the following ECCNs: 0A501
(except 0A501.y), 0A502, 0A504,
0A505. a, .b, and .x, 0A506, 0A507,
0A508, 0A509, 0D501, 0D505, 0E501,
0E502, 0E504, and 0E505.
(b) Licensing policy. (1) Applications
for items controlled under paragraphs
(a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section will
generally be considered favorably on a
case-by-case basis, unless there is civil
disorder in the country or region or
unless there is a risk that the items will
be used to violate or abuse human
rights. The judicious use of export
controls is intended to deter human
rights violations and abuses, distance
the United States from such violations
and abuses, and avoid contributing to
civil disorder in a country or region.
(2) BIS will review license
applications in accordance with the
licensing policy in paragraph (b)(1) of
this section for items that are not
controlled under this section but that
require a license pursuant to another
section for any reason other than short
supply and could be used by the
recipient Government or other end user
specifically to violate or abuse human
rights.
(3) Applications for items controlled
under paragraph (a)(5) of this section
will be reviewed under the following
license review policies:
(i) Applications destined for
government end users will be reviewed
on a case-by-case basis to determine
whether there is a risk of diversion or
misuse of the items in a manner that
would adversely impact U.S. national
security or foreign policy.
(ii) Those applications destined for
non-government end users will be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis, unless
one of the following apply, in which
case they will be reviewed under a
presumption of denial:
(A) The destination is identified in
supplement no. 3 to this part; or
(B) There is a substantial risk that the
items will be diverted or misused in a
manner that would adversely impact
U.S. national security or foreign policy.
Note 1 to paragraph (b)(3): In reviewing
applications under this paragraph, BIS will
consider the following risks in the
destination country or region: firearms
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trafficking or diversion, terrorism,
corruption, human rights concerns and
political violence, state fragility, organized
crime or gang-related activity, and drug
trafficking. BIS will also consider prior
instances of diversion or misuse; the
capabilities, potential uses, and lethality of
the item; the nature of the end user; and
other factors as appropriate.
(c) Contract sanctity. Contract sanctity
date: August 22, 2000. Contract sanctity
applies only to items controlled under
ECCNs 0A982, 0A503, and 0E982
destined for countries not listed in CC
Column 1 of the Country Chart
(supplement no. 1 to part 738 of the
EAR).
(d) U.S. controls. In maintaining its
controls on crime control and detection
items, the United States considers
international norms regarding human
rights and the practices of other
countries that control exports to
promote the observance of human
rights. However, these controls are not
based on the decisions of any
multinational export control regime and
may differ from controls imposed by
other countries.
■ 18. Section 742.17 is amended by
revising paragraphs (b) and (f) to read as
follows:
§ 742.17 Exports of firearms to OAS
member countries.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Licensing policy. Applications will
be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
when supported by an FC Import
Certificate or equivalent official
document issued by the government of
the importing country. However, there
is a policy of denial for applications to
export items linked to such activities as
drug trafficking, terrorism, and
transnational organized crime.
*
*
*
*
*
(f) Items/Commodities. Items
requiring a license under this section
are ECCNs 0A501 (except 0A501.y),
0A502, 0A504 (except 0A504.f), 0A505
(except 0A505.d), 0A506, 0A507,
0A508, and 0A509. (See supplement no.
1 to part 774 of the EAR).
*
*
*
*
*
■ 19. Add supplement no. 3 to part 742
to read as follows:
Supplement No. 3 to Part 742—HighRisk Destinations for Firearms and
Related Items
Bahamas,
The Bangladesh
Belize
Bolivia
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Chad
Colombia
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Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Indonesia
Jamaica
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Malaysia
Mali
Mozambique
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Tajikistan
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
Vietnam
Yemen
PART 743—SPECIAL REPORTING AND
NOTIFICATION
20. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 743 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O.
13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p.
783; E.O. 13637, 78 FR 16129, 3 CFR, 2014
Comp., p. 223; 78 FR 16129. (January 23,
2020).
21. Section 743.4 is revised to read as
follows:
■
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§ 743.4
Conventional arms reporting.
(a) Scope. This section outlines
special reporting requirements for
exports of certain items included in the
UN Register of Conventional Arms
(UNRoCA) and Wassenaar Arrangement
(WA) Munitions List. These reports
cover substantially similar arms. States
participating in the UNRoCA report
annually on all transfers of arms (see
www.disarmament.unoda.org/
convarms/register/); Participating States
of the Wassenaar Arrangement exchange
information every six months on
deliveries and transfers to non-WA
governments of conventional arms set
forth in the Wassenaar Arrangement’s
Basic Documents under Part II
‘‘Guideline and Procedures, including
the Initial Elements’’, Appendix 3:
‘‘Specific Information Exchange on
Arms Content by Category’’. Public
Documents, Vol. 1—Founding
Documents at https://www.wassenaar.
org/app/uploads/2021/12/Public-DocsVol-I-Founding-Documents.pdf). BIS
obtains the information needed for such
conventional arms reporting from the
information exporters are required to
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submit in the EEI submission in AES,
pursuant to § 758.1(b)(9) and (g)(4)(ii) of
the EAR. No additional reporting to BIS
is required for purposes of this section.
BIS does not submit reports for
reexports or transfers (in-country) under
this section. BIS does not include
exports to Wassenaar member countries,
identified in supplement no. 1 to part
743 in the Wassenaar reports. required
under this section.
(b) Information included in the
reports—(1) Authorizations reported.
Exports authorized under BIS licenses,
License Exceptions TMP, RPL, STA, or
GOV (see part 740 of the EAR) and
under the Validated End User
authorization (see § 748.15 of the EAR).
(2) ECCNs reported. ECCNs 0A501.a
and .b, 0A506.a. and .b, and 0A507.a
and .b.
(3) Quantity and recipient state
reported. The quantity and the name of
the recipient state.
(c) Contacts. Information concerning
the reporting requirements for items
identified in paragraph (b)(2) of this
section is available from the Office of
Nonproliferation and Foreign Policy
Controls (NFPC), Tel.: (202) 482–4188,
Fax: (202) 482–4145.
■ 22. Section 743.6 is amended by
revising paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) to
read as follows:
§ 743.6 Prior notifications to Congress of
exports of certain semi-automatic firearms.
(a) General requirement. Applications
to export semi-automatic firearms
controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507
will be notified to Congress as provided
in this section before licenses for such
items are issued, except as specified in
paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section.
(1) Exports of semi-automatic firearms
controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507 to
personnel and agencies of the U.S.
Government under License Exception
GOV (§ 740.11(b) of the EAR) do not
require such notification.
(2) Exports of semi-automatic firearms
controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507
for official use by an agency of NATO
do not require such notification.
(b) Notification criteria. Unless
excluded in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of
this section, BIS will notify Congress
prior to issuing a license authorizing the
export of items to Mexico, South Africa,
or Turkey or any other country not
listed in Country Group A:5 or A:6 (see
supplement no. 1 to part 740 of the
EAR) if the items are sold under a
contract or are otherwise part of an
export transaction that includes
$4,000,000 or more of semi-automatic
firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or
0A507.
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(c) License application information. In
addition to information required on the
application, the exporter must include a
copy of the signed contract or, if there
is no contract, a written explanation
from the applicant (including a
statement of the value of the firearms
controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507 to
be exported) for any proposed export
described in paragraph (b) of this
section. License applications for semiautomatic firearms controlled by ECCNs
0A506 or 0A507 may include other
nonautomatic firearms, shotguns, other
0x5zz items, or other items subject to
the EAR, but the applicant must clearly
identify the semi-automatic firearms
controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507.
The applicant clearly distinguishing the
semi-automatic firearms controlled by
ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507 from any other
items on the license application will
assist BIS in assessing whether the
license application requires
congressional notification under this
section and identifying the information
that will need to be reported to
Congress. Any activity intended to
circumvent notification requirements is
prohibited. Such devices include, but
are not limited to, the splitting or
structuring of contracts to avoid
exceeding applicable notification dollar
value limits described in paragraph (a)
of this section.
*
*
*
*
*
PART 748—APPLICATIONS
(CLASSIFICATION, ADVISORY, AND
LICENSE) AND DOCUMENTATION
23. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 748 is revised to read as follows:
■
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O.
13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p.
228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001
Comp., p. 783; Notice of August 4, 2022, 87
FR 48077 (August 5, 2022).
24. Section 748.8 is amended by
revising paragraph (z) to read as follows:
■
§ 748.8 Unique application and
submission requirements.
*
*
*
*
*
(z) Firearms.
■ 25. Section 748.12 is amended by
revising the introductory text, and
paragraphs (a) through (d) to read as
follows:
§ 748.12 Firearms import certificate or
import permit.
License applications for certain
firearms and related commodities
require support documents in
accordance with this section.
(a) Requirement to obtain and submit
documentation. Unless an exception in
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§ 748.9(c) applies, an import certificate
or permit is required for license
applications for firearms and related
commodities, regardless of value, if
required by the importing country. For
OAS member states, this requirement is
consistent with the OAS Model
Regulations described in § 742.17 of the
EAR. The exporter or reexporter must
obtain and submit with the license
application the original or a copy of the
import certificate or permit before
applying for an export or reexport
license in situations in which an import
certificate or permit is required by the
importing country.
(1) Items subject to requirement.
Firearms and related commodities are
those commodities controlled under
0x5zz ECCNs.
(2) Countries subject to requirement.
(i) OAS member countries include:
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia,
Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama,
Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and
Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, and any
member country that has acceded in
accordance with Chapter III of the
Charter of the Organization of American
States.
(ii) All other countries that require an
import certificate or permit.
(3) Equivalent official document in
place of an import certificate or permit.
For those countries that have not yet
established or implemented an import
certificate procedure, BIS will accept an
equivalent official document (e.g.,
import license or letter of authorization)
issued by the government of the
importing country as supporting
documentation for the export of
commodities detailed under paragraph
(a)(1) of this section.
(b) Obtaining the document. (1)
Applicants must request that the
importer (e.g., ultimate consignee or
purchaser) obtain the import certificate,
permit, or an equivalent official
document from the government of the
importing country, and that it be issued
covering the quantities and types of
firearms and related items that the
applicant intends to export. Upon
receipt of this document or a certified
copy, the importer must provide the
original or a certified copy to the license
applicant.
(2) If the government of the importing
country will not issue such document,
the applicant must supply the
information described in paragraphs
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(c)(1) and (c)(6) through (c)(8) of this
section on company letterhead.
(c) Content of the document. The
document must contain the following
information:
(1) Applicant’s name and address.
The applicant may be either the
exporter, supplier, or order party.
(2) Import Certificate Identifier/
Number.
(3) Name of the country issuing the
certificate or unique country code.
(4) Date the document was issued, in
international date format (e.g., 24/12/12
for 24 December 2012, or 3/1/99 for 3
January 1999).
(5) Name of the agency issuing the
certificate, address, telephone and
facsimile numbers, signing officer name,
and signature.
(6) Name of the importer, address,
telephone and facsimile numbers,
country of residence, representative’s
name if commercial or government
body, citizenship, and signature.
(7) Name of the end user(s), if known
and different from the importer,
address, telephone and facsimile
numbers, country of residence,
representative’s name if commercial
(authorized distributor or reseller) or
government body, citizenship, and
signature. Note that BIS does not require
the identification of each end user when
the firearms and related commodities
will be resold by a distributor or reseller
if unknown at the time of export.
(8) Description of the commodities
approved for import including a
technical description and total quantity
of firearms, parts and components,
ammunition and parts.
Note 1 to paragraph (c)(8): You must
furnish the consignee with a detailed
technical description of each commodity to
be given to the government for its use in
issuing the document. For example, for
shotguns, provide the type, barrel length,
overall length, number of shots, the
manufacturer’s name, and the country of
manufacture. For ammunition, provide the
caliber, velocity and force, type of bullet,
manufacturer’s name and country of
manufacture.
(9) Expiration date of the document in
international date format (e.g., 24/12/12)
or the date the items must be imported,
whichever is earlier.
(10) Name of the country of export
(i.e., United States).
(11) Additional information. Certain
countries may require the tariff
classification number, by class, under
the Brussels Convention (Harmonized
Tariff Code) or the specific technical
description of a commodity. For
example, shotguns may need to be
described in barrel length, overall
length, number of shots, manufacturer’s
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name and country of manufacture. The
technical description is not the Export
Control Classification Number (ECCN).
(d) Procedures for using document
with license application—(1)
Information necessary for license
application. The license application
must include the same commodities as
those listed on the document.
(2) Alterations. After the document is
used to support the issuance of a
license, no corrections, additions, or
alterations may be made on the same
document by any person. Any necessary
corrections, additions, or alterations
should be noted by the applicant in a
separate statement on file with the
applicant.
(3) Validity period. Documents issued
by the importing country will be valid
until the expiration date on the
documents themselves.
Note 2 to paragraph (d)(3): Applicants for
license applications for exports and reexports
must submit an import certificate, permit, or
comparable document with the license
application. All BIS licenses for ECCNs
0A501, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and
0A509 commodities will include a standard
rider that requires that the applicant/exporter
must have a current FC Import Certificate on
file prior to export. The text of the standard
rider will generally be as follows: ‘‘A current,
complete, accurate and valid Firearms
Convention (FC) Import Certificate (or
equivalent official document) shall be
obtained, if required by the government of
the importing country, from the Ultimate
Consignee and maintained in the exporter’s
file prior to any export of the item(s) listed
on this license. A copy shall be provided to
the U.S. Government upon request. (Refer to
§ 742.17(b) of the EAR for guidance.)’’
*
*
*
*
*
26. Supplement no. 2 to part 748 is
amended by revising paragraph (z)(1),
note 1 to paragraph (z), and paragraphs
(aa) and (bb) to read as follows:
■
Supplement No. 2 to Part 748—Unique
Application and Submission
Requirements
*
*
*
*
*
(z) * * *
(1) Certification. If you are submitting
a license application for the export of
firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A501.a
or .b, 0A506, or 0A507, or shotguns with
a barrel length less than 18 inches
controlled in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508
that will be temporarily in the United
States, e.g., for servicing and repair or
for intransit shipments, you must
include the following certification in
Block 24:
The firearms in this license
application will not be shipped from or
manufactured in Russia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan,
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except for any firearm model controlled
by 0A501, 0A506, or 0A507 that is
specified under Annex A in supplement
no. 4 to part 740. I and the parties to this
transaction will comply with the
requirements specified in paragraphs
(z)(2)(i) and (ii) of supplement no. 2 to
part 748.
*
*
*
*
*
Note 1 to paragraph (z): In addition to
complying with all applicable EAR
requirements for the export of commodities
described in paragraph (z) of this
supplement, exporters and temporary
importers should contact U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) at the port of
temporary import or export, or at the CBP
website, for the proper procedures for
temporarily importing or exporting firearms
controlled in ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or
0A507 or shotguns with a barrel length less
than 18 inches controlled in ECCNs 0A502 or
0A508, including regarding how to provide
any data or documentation required by BIS.
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*
*
*
*
*
(aa) Exports of other firearms, certain
shotguns, and related commodities. (1)
Semi-automatic firearms controlled
under 0A506 and 0A507. For export
license applications that require prior
notifications to congress of exports of
semi-automatic firearms controlled
under ECCNs 0A506 and 0A507 under
the criteria of § 743.6, the exporter must
include a copy of the signed contract or,
if there is no contract, a written
explanation from the applicant
(including a statement of the value of
the firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A506
and 0A507 to be exported). License
applications for semi-automatic firearms
controlled by ECCNs 0A506 and 0A507
may include other non-automatic
firearms, shotguns, other 0x5zz items, or
other items subject to the EAR, but the
applicant must clearly identify the semiautomatic firearms controlled by ECCNs
0A506 and 0A507.
(2) Purchase orders for certain
commodities controlled under ECCNs
0A501, 0A502, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507,
0A508, and 0A509. License applications
for items controlled under ECCNs
0A501 (except 0A501.y), 0A502, 0A505
(except 0A505.c, 0A505.d, and
0A505.e), 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or
0A509 to destinations other than
Country Group A:1 require the
submission of purchase documentation
(e.g., a purchase order, request for
proposals, or other appropriate
documentation) with the submission of
the license application, dated within
one year of submission with the license
application. Upon approving a license
for these items, BIS will generally limit
the licensed quantity to the quantity
specified on the purchase order.
However, applicants may request up to
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a 10% variance in quantity from the
purchase order amount, which will be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Additionally, exporters may export
various model types under the approved
license, so long as the items remain
consistent with the ECCN and ECCN
item paragraph specified on the
approved application.
(3) Passport or other national identity
card information. License applications
for items controlled under ECCNs
0A501 (except 0A501.y), 0A502, 0A505
(except 0A505.c, 0A505.d, and
0A505.e), 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or
0A509 to destinations other than
Country Group A:1 require the
submission of passport or other national
identity card information when the end
user is an individual person.
(bb) ‘‘600 Series Major Defense
Equipment.’’ For license applications
that require prior notifications to
Congress of exports of ‘‘600 series major
defense equipment’’ pursuant to § 743.5,
the exporter must include a copy of the
signed contract (including a statement
of the value of the ‘‘600 Series Major
Defense Equipment’’ to be exported
under the contract). (See § 743.5(d) of
the EAR)
PART 750—APPLICATION
PROCESSING, ISSUANCE, AND
DENIAL
27. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 750 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; Sec.
1503, Pub. L. 108–11, 117 Stat. 559; E.O.
13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p.
228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001
Comp., p. 783; E.O. 13637, 78 FR 16129, 3
CFR, 2013 Comp., p. 223; Presidential
Determination 2003–23, 68 FR 26459, 3 CFR,
2004 Comp., p. 320.
28. Section 750.4 is amended by
adding paragraph (d)(2)(v) to read as
follows:
■
§ 750.4 Procedures for processing license
applications.
*
*
*
*
*
(d) * * *
(2) * * *
(v) The Safeguard. The Safeguard,
chaired by the Department of State,
reviews license applications involving
firearm and shotgun related items
controlled under 0x5zz ECCNs.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 29. Section 750.7 is amended by
revising paragraph (g) to read as follows:
§ 750.7
Issuance of licenses.
*
*
*
*
*
(g) License validity period. Licenses
involving the export or reexport of items
will generally have a four-year validity
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period, unless a different validity period
has been requested and specifically
approved by BIS or is otherwise
specified on the license at the time that
it is issued. Exceptions from the fouryear validity period include: license
applications for items controlled for
short supply reasons, which will be
limited to a one-year validity period and
license applications reviewed and
approved as an ‘‘emergency’’ (see
§ 748.4(h) of the EAR); and controlled
under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504,
0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or
0A509, which will generally be limited
to a one-year validity period. Emergency
licenses will expire no later than the last
day of the calendar month following the
month in which the emergency license
is issued. The expiration date will be
clearly stated on the face of the license.
If the expiration date falls on a legal
holiday (Federal or State), the validity
period is automatically extended to
midnight of the first business day
following the expiration date.
(1) Extended validity period. BIS will
consider granting a validity period
exceeding four years (or exceeding one
year for applications subject to that
shorter validity period) on a case-bycase basis when extenuating
circumstances warrant such an
extension. Requests for such extensions
may be made at the time of application
or after the license has been issued and
it is still valid. BIS will not approve
changes regarding other aspects of the
license, such as the parties to the
transaction and the countries of ultimate
destination. An extended validity
period will generally be granted where,
for example, the transaction is related to
a multi-year project; when the period
corresponds to the duration of a
manufacturing license agreement,
technical assistance agreement,
warehouse and distribution agreement,
or license issued under the International
Traffic in Arms Regulations; when
production lead time will not permit an
export or reexport during the original
validity period of the license; when an
unforeseen emergency prevents
shipment within the 4-year validity of
the license; or for other similar
circumstances.
(2) Request for extension. (i) The
applicant must submit a letter in writing
to request an extension in the validity
period of a previously approved license.
The subject of the letter must be titled:
‘‘Request for Validity Period Extension’’
and contain the following information:
(A) The name, address, and telephone
number of the requestor;
(B) A copy of the original license,
with the license number, validation
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date, and current expiration date legible;
and
(C) Justification for the extension;
(ii) It is the responsibility of the
applicant to ensure that all applicable
support documents remain valid and are
in the possession of the applicant. If the
request for extension is approved, BIS
will provide the applicant with a
written response.
*
*
*
*
*
PART 758—EXPORT CLEARANCE
REQUIREMENTS AND AUTHORITIES
30. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 758 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O.
13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p.
783.
31. Section 758.1 is amended by
revising paragraphs (b)(9), (c)(1), and
(g)(4) to read as follows:
■
§ 758.1 The Electronic Export Information
(EEI) filing to the Automated Export System
(AES).
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(9) For all exports, except for exports
authorized under License Exception
BAG, as set forth in § 740.14 of the EAR,
of commodities controlled under ECCNs
0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507,
shotguns with a barrel length less than
18 inches controlled under ECCNs
0A502 or 0A508, or ammunition
controlled under ECCN 0A505 except
for .c, regardless of value or destination,
including exports to Australia, Canada,
and the United Kingdom.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) * * *
(1) License Exception Baggage (BAG),
as set forth in § 740.14 of the EAR. See
15 CFR 30.37(x) of the FTR;
Note 1 to paragraph (c)(1): See the export
clearance requirements for exports of
firearms controlled under ECCNs 0A501.a or
.b, 0A506, or 0A507, shotguns with a barrel
length less than 18 inches controlled under
ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508, or ammunition
controlled under ECCN 0A505, authorized
under License Exception BAG, as set forth in
§ 740.14 of the EAR.
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*
*
*
*
*
(g) * * *
(4) Exports of firearms and related
items. This paragraph (g)(4) includes
two separate requirements under
paragraphs (g)(4)(i) and (ii) of this
section that are used to better identify
exports of certain firearms under the
EAR. Paragraph (g)(4)(i) of this section
is limited to certain EAR authorizations.
Paragraph (g)(4)(ii) of this section
applies to all EAR authorizations that
require EEI filing in AES.
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(i) Identifying firearms by
manufacturer, model, caliber, and serial
number in the EEI filing in AES. For any
export authorized under License
Exception TMP or a BIS license
authorizing a temporary export of items
controlled under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b,
0A506, or 0A507 or shotguns with a
barrel length less than 18 inches
controlled under ECCNs 0A502 or
0A508, in addition to any other required
data for the associated EEI filing, you
must report the manufacturer, model,
caliber, and serial number of the
exported items. The requirements of this
paragraph (g)(4)(i) also apply to any
other export authorized under a BIS
license that includes a condition or
proviso on the license requiring the
submission of this information specified
in paragraph (g) of this section when the
EEI is filed in AES.
(ii) Identifying firearms and certain
‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ devices,
‘‘accessories,’’ and ‘‘attachments’’ by
‘‘items’’ level classification or other
control descriptor in the EEI filing in
AES. For any export of items controlled
under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506,
0A507, shotguns with a barrel length
less than 18 inches controlled under
ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508.a.1, or .a.2, or
‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ devices,
‘‘accessories,’’ or ‘‘attachments’’
controlled under 0A509.a, .b, .c, or .d,
in addition to any other required data
for the associated EEI filing, the exporter
must include the items paragraph
classification or other control descriptor
as specified in paragraphs (g)(4)(ii)(A)
through (F) for ECCNs 0A501, 0A502,
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or 0A509, as
applicable, as the first text to appear in
the Commodity description block in the
EEI filing in AES. (See § 743.4 of the
EAR for the use of this information for
ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506.a or .b, and
0A507.a, or .b for conventional arms
reporting).
(A) If exporting firearms controlled
under 0A501, enter .a or .b, as
applicable;
(B) If exporting shotguns with a barrel
length less than 18 inches controlled
under 0A502, enter .SB;
(C) If exporting semi-automatic rifles
controlled under 0A506, enter .a or .b,
as applicable;
(D) If exporting semi-automatic pistols
controlled under 0A507, enter .a or .b,
as applicable;
(E) If exporting semi-automatic
shotguns controlled under 0A508, enter
.a or .b, as applicable; or
(F) If exporting ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ devices, ‘‘accessories,’’
or ‘‘attachments’’ controlled under
ECCN 0A509, enter .a, .b, .c, .d, or .e,
as applicable.
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34709
Note 2 to paragraph (g)(4): If a commodity
described in paragraph (g)(4) of this section
is exported under License Exception TMP
under § 740.9(a)(6) of the EAR for inspection,
test, calibration, or repair is not consumed or
destroyed in the normal course of authorized
temporary use abroad, the commodity must
be disposed of or retained in one of the ways
specified in § 740.9(a)(14)(i), (ii), or (iii) of
the EAR. For example, if a commodity
described in this paragraph (g)(4) was
destroyed while being repaired after being
exported under § 740.9(a)(6), the commodity
described in this paragraph (g)(4) would not
be required to be returned. If the entity doing
the repair returned a replacement of the
commodity to the exporter from the United
States, the import would not require an EAR
authorization. The entity that exported the
commodity described in this paragraph (g)(4)
and the entity that received the commodity
would need to document this as part of their
recordkeeping related to this export and
subsequent import to the United States.
*
*
*
*
*
32. Section 758.10 is amended by
revising paragraphs (a) and notes 1 and
2 to paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:
■
§ 758.10 Entry clearance requirements for
temporary imports.
(a) Scope. This section specifies the
temporary import entry clearance
requirements for firearms ‘‘subject to the
EAR’’ that are on the United States
Munitions Import List (USMIL, 27 CFR
447.21), except for firearms ‘‘subject to
the EAR’’ that are temporarily brought
into the United States by nonimmigrant
aliens under the provisions of
Department of Justice regulations at 27
CFR part 478 (See § 740.14(e) of the EAR
for information on the export of these
firearms ‘‘subject to the EAR’’). These
firearms are controlled in ECCNs
0A501.a or .b, 0A506 or 0A507, or
shotguns with a barrel length less than
18 inches controlled in ECCNs 0A502 or
0A508. Items that are temporarily
exported under the EAR must have met
the export clearance requirements
specified in § 758.1.
(1) An authorization under the EAR is
not required for the temporary import of
‘‘items’’ that are ‘‘subject to the EAR,’’
including for ‘‘items’’ ‘‘subject to the
EAR’’ that are on the USMIL. Temporary
imports of firearms described in this
section must meet the entry clearance
requirements specified in paragraph (b)
of this section.
(2) Permanent imports are regulated
by the Attorney General under the
direction of the Department of Justice’s
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives (see 28 CFR 0.130; 27
CFR parts 447, 478, 479, and 555).
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
Note 1 to paragraph (b)(1): In accordance
with the exclusions in License Exception
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TMP under § 740.9(b)(5) of the EAR, the
entry clearance requirements in § 758.1(b)(9)
do not permit the temporary import of:
Firearms controlled in ECCN 0A501.a or .b,
0A506 or 0A507 that are shipped from or
manufactured in a Country Group D:5
country; or that are shipped from or
manufactured in Russia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan
(except for any firearm model controlled by
0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507 that is
specified under annex A in supplement no.
4 to part 740 of the EAR); or shotguns with
a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled
in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508 that are shipped
from or manufactured in a Country Group
D:5 country, or from Russia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan,
because of the exclusions in License
Exception TMP under § 740.9(b)(5).
barrel length less than 18 inches
controlled under ECCNs 0A502 or
0A508, the exporter must provide to
CBP the serial number, make, model,
and caliber for each firearm being
exported by entering this information
under the ‘‘Description of Articles’’ field
of the CBP Form 4457, Certificate of
Registration for Personal Effects Taken
Abroad.
*
*
*
*
*
PART 762—RECORDKEEPING
34. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 762 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O.
13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p.
783.
35. Section 762.2 is amended by
revising paragraph (a)(11) to read as
follows:
■
Note 2 to paragraph (b)(1): In accordance
with the exclusions in License Exception
RPL under § 740.10(b)(4) and supplement no.
2 to part 748, paragraph (z), of the EAR, the
entry clearance requirements in § 758.1(b)(9)
do not permit the temporary import of:
Firearms controlled in ECCN 0A501.a or .b,
0A506, or 0A507 that are shipped from or
manufactured in Russia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan
(except for any firearm model controlled by
0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507 that is
specified under Annex A in Supplement No.
4 to part 740 of the EAR); or shotguns with
a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled
in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508 that are shipped
from or manufactured in Russia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan,
because of the exclusions in License
Exception RPL under § 740.10(b)(4) and
supplement no. 2 to part 748, paragraph (z),
of the EAR.
*
*
*
*
*
33. Section 758.11 is amended by
revising paragraphs (a) and (b)(2) to read
as follows:
■
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§ 758.11 Export clearance requirements
for firearms and related items.
(a) Scope. The export clearance
requirements of this section apply to all
exports of commodities controlled
under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or
0A507, or shotguns with a barrel length
less than 18 inches controlled under
ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508, or ammunition
controlled under ECCN 0A505 except
for .c, regardless of value or destination,
including exports to Australia, Canada,
and the United Kingdom, that are
authorized under License Exception
BAG, as set forth in § 740.14 of the EAR.
(b) * * *
(2) Required ‘‘description of articles’’
for firearms to be included on the CBP
Form 4457. For all exports of firearms
controlled under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b,
0A506, or 0A507, or shotguns with a
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§ 762.2
Records to be retained.
(a) * * *
(11) The serial number, make, model,
and caliber for any firearm controlled in
ECCNs 0A501.a, 0A506, or 0A507 and
for shotguns with barrel length less than
18 inches controlled in 0A502 and
0A508 that have been exported. The
‘‘exporter’’ or any other party to the
transaction (see § 758.3 of the EAR), that
creates or receives such records is a
person responsible for retaining this
record; and
*
*
*
*
*
■ 36. Section 762.3 is amended by
revising paragraph (a)(5) to read as
follows:
CARICOM (Caribbean Community).
For purposes of §§ 740.3 and 740.14 of
the EAR, the term CARICOM is defined
as follows: An intergovernmental
organization that consists of the
following (1) member states Antigua and
Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti,
Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia,
Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, and
Trinidad and Tobago; (2) associate
members Anguilla, Bermuda, British
Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and
Turks and Caicos; and (3) any other
state or associate member that has
acceded to membership in accordance
with Article 3 or Article 231 of the
Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Note to definition of CARICOM: Anguilla,
Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman
Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos are
treated as the United Kingdom under all
other EAR provisions that govern licensing
requirements and license exceptions.
*
*
*
*
*
PART 774—THE COMMERCE
CONTROL LIST
39. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 774 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 10 U.S.C.
8720; 10 U.S.C. 8730(e); 22 U.S.C. 287c, 22
U.S.C. 3201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6004; 42 U.S.C.
2139a; 15 U.S.C. 1824; 50 U.S.C. 4305; 22
U.S.C. 7201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7210; E.O.
13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p.
228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001
Comp., p. 783.
40. Supplement no. 1 to part 774 is
amended by:
■ a. In Category 0:
■ i. Revising ECCNs 0A501, 0A502,
0A504, and 0A505;
■ ii. Adding ECCNs 0A506, 0A507,
0A508, and 0A509; and
■ iii. Revising ECCNs 0B501, 0D501,
0E501, 0E502, 0E504 and 0E505; and
■ b. In Category 2, by revising ECCN
2B018.
The revisions and additions read as
follows:
■
§ 762.3 Records exempt from
recordkeeping requirements.
(a) * * *
(5) Warranty certificate, except for a
warranty certificate issued for an
address located outside the United
States for any firearm controlled in
ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506 or 0A507
and for shotguns with barrel length less
than 18 inches controlled in 0A502 or
0A508;
*
*
*
*
*
PART 772—DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
Supplement No. 1 to Part 774
■
37. The authority citation for 15 CFR
part 772 continues to read as follows:
Category 0—Nuclear Materials, Facilities,
and Equipment [and Miscellaneous Items]
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801–4852; 50 U.S.C.
4601 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O.
13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p.
783.
A. ‘‘End Items,’’ ‘‘Equipment,’’
‘‘Accessories,’’ ‘‘Attachments,’’ ‘‘Parts,’’
‘‘Components,’’ and ‘‘Systems’’
38. Section 772.1 is amended by
adding a definition in alphabetical order
for ‘‘CARICOM,’’ to read as follows:
0A501 Firearms (except 0A502 shotguns,
0A506 semi-automatic rifles, 0A507
semi-automatic pistols, and 0A508 semiautomatic shotguns) and related
commodities (except semi-automatic
related commodities enumerated or
otherwise described in ECCN 0A509 for
■
§ 772.1 Definitions of terms as used in the
Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
*
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ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, or 0A508) as
follows (see List of Items controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
Control(s)
NS applies to entire
entry except
0A501.y.
RS applies to entire
entry except
0A501.y.
FC applies to entire
entry except
0A501.y.
CC applies to entire
entry except
0A501.y.
UN applies to entire
entry.
AT applies to entire
entry.
Country chart (see
Supp. No. 1 to part
738)
NS Column 1
Note 2 to paragraph 0A501.a: Semiautomatic firearms equal to .50 caliber (12.7
mm) or less are controlled under ECCNs
0A506 and 0A507.
RS Column 1
FC Column 1
CC Column 2
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
License Requirement Note: In addition to
using the Commerce Country Chart to
determine license requirements, a license is
required for exports and reexports of ECCN
0A501.y.7 firearms to the People’s Republic
of China.
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
LVS: $500 for 0A501.c, .d, and .x.
$500 for 0A501.c, .d, .e, and .x if the ultimate
destination is Canada.
GBS: N/A
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Special Conditions for STA
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception
STA (§ 740.20(c)(2) of the EAR) may not be
used for any item in this entry.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for
firearms that are fully automatic, and
certain related parts, components,
accessories, and attachments (including
magazines with a capacity of greater than
50 rounds). (2) See ECCN 0A506 for semiautomatic rifles. (3) See ECCN 0A507 for
semi-automatic pistols. (4) See ECCN
0A508 for semi-automatic shotguns and
ECCN 0A502 for certain ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ for semi-automatic shotguns
that are not controlled by 0A509.a or .c. (5)
See ECCN 0A509 for enumerated or
otherwise described ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ devices, ‘‘accessories,’’ and
‘‘attachments’’ for ECCNs 0A506, 0A507,
and 0A508. (6) See .d, .x, and .y of this
entry for other ‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’
‘‘accessories,’’ and ‘‘attachments’’
‘‘specially designed’’ for 0A506 and 0A507,
or 0A508. (7) See ECCN 0A502 for nonautomatic shotguns and their ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ that are subject to the EAR
and for certain ‘‘parts’’ and ‘‘components’’
for semi-automatic shotguns that are not
controlled by 0A509.a or .c. (8) See ECCN
0A504 and USML Category XII for controls
on optical sighting devices.
Related Definitions: N/A
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Items:
a. Non-automatic and non-semi-automatic
firearms equal to .50 caliber (12.7 mm) or
less.
Note 1 to paragraph 0A501.a:
‘Combination pistols’ are controlled under
ECCN 0A501.a. A ‘combination pistol’ (a.k.a.,
a combination gun) has at least one rifled
barrel and at least one smoothbore barrel
(generally a shotgun style barrel).
Technical Note to 0A501.a: Firearms
described in 0A501.a include those
chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge.
b. Non-automatic and non-semi-automatic
rifles, carbines, revolvers or pistols with a
caliber greater than .50 inches (12.7 mm) but
less than or equal to .72 inches (18.0 mm).
c. The following types of ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ if ‘‘specially designed’’ for a
commodity controlled by paragraph .a or .b
of this entry or ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507, or
USML Category I (unless otherwise
enumerated or elsewhere specified on the
USML or controlled under ECCN 0A509):
Barrels, cylinders, barrel extensions,
mounting blocks (trunnions), bolts, bolt
carriers, operating rods, gas pistons, trigger
housings, triggers, hammers/striker, sears,
disconnectors, pistol grips that contain fire
control ‘‘parts’’ or ‘‘components’’ (e.g.,
triggers, hammers/striker, sears,
disconnectors) and buttstocks that contain
fire control ‘‘parts’’ or ‘‘components.’’
Technical Note to 0A501.c: Barrel blanks
that have reached a stage in manufacturing
in which they are either chambered or rifled
are controlled by 0A501.c.
d. Detachable magazines with a capacity of
17 to 50 rounds ‘‘specially designed’’ for a
commodity controlled by paragraph .a or .b
of this entry or controlled by ECCNs 0A506
or 0A507.
Note 3 to paragraph 0A501.d: Magazines
with a capacity of 16 rounds or less are
controlled under 0A501.x; for magazines
with a capacity greater than 50 rounds, see
USML Category I.
e. Receivers (frames) and ‘‘complete breech
mechanisms,’’ including castings, forgings,
stampings, or machined items thereof,
‘‘specially designed’’ for a commodity
controlled by paragraph .a or .b of this entry.
Note 4 to 0A501.e: Frames (receivers)
under 0A501.e refers to any ‘‘part’’ or
‘‘component’’ of the firearm that has or is
customarily marked with a serial number
when required by law. This paragraph
0A501.e is synonymous with a ‘‘part’’ or
‘‘component’’ that is regulated by the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (see 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3); 27 CFR
parts 447, 478, and 479,) as a firearm.
Note 5 to 0A501.e: Frames (receivers)
‘‘specially designed’’ for semi-automatic
firearms are controlled under ECCN 0A509.b
or .c.
f. through w. [Reserved]
x. ‘‘Parts’’ and ‘‘components’’ that are
‘‘specially designed’’ for a commodity
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4700
34711
classified under paragraphs .a through .c of
this entry, a commodity classified under
ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507, or the USML and
not elsewhere specified on the USML or CCL
or controlled under ECCN 0A509.
y. Specific ‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’
‘‘accessories’’ and ‘‘attachments’’ ‘‘specially
designed’’ for a commodity subject to control
in this ECCN, ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, or
common to a defense article in USML
Category I and not elsewhere specified in the
USML or CCL as follows, and ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ ‘‘accessories,’’ and
‘‘attachments’’ ‘‘specially designed’’ therefor.
y.1. Stocks (including adjustable,
collapsible, blades and braces), grips,
handguards, or forends, that do not contain
any fire control ‘‘parts’’ or ‘‘components’’
(e.g., triggers, hammers/striker, sears,
disconnectors);
y.2 to y.5. [Reserved]
y.6. Bayonets; and
y.7. Firearms manufactured from 1890 to
1898 and reproductions thereof.
Technical Note 1 to 0A501: ECCN 0A501
includes ‘‘parts’’ and ‘‘components’’ that are
not ‘‘subject to the ITAR’’ even though they
are common to firearms described in ECCN
0A501 and to those firearms ‘‘subject to the
ITAR.’’
Technical Note 2 to 0A501: A receiver with
any other controlled ‘‘part’’ or ‘‘component’’
(e.g., a barrel (0A501.c), or trigger guard
(0A501.x), or stock (0A501.y.1)) is still
controlled under 0A501.e.
Note 6 to 0A501: Antique firearms i.e.,
those manufactured before 1890) and
reproductions thereof, muzzle loading and
black powder firearms except those designs
based on centerfire weapons of a post 1937
design, BB guns, pellet rifles, paint ball, and
all other air rifles are EAR99 commodities.
Note 7 to 0A501: Muzzle loading and black
powder firearms with a caliber less than 20
mm that were manufactured post 1937 that
are used for hunting or sporting purposes
that were not ‘‘specially designed’’ for
military use and are not described on the
USML nor controlled as shotguns under
ECCN 0A502 are EAR99 commodities.
Note 8 to 0A501: Scope mounts or
accessory rails, iron sights, sling swivels, and
butt plates or recoil pads that are subject to
the EAR are designated as EAR99. These
commodities have been determined to no
longer warrant being ‘‘specially designed’’ for
purposes of ECCN 0A501.
Note 9 to 0A501: A kit, including a
replacement or repair kit, of firearms ‘‘parts’’
or ‘‘components’’ customarily sold and
exported together takes on the classification
of the most restrictive ‘‘part’’ or ‘‘component’’
that is included in the kit. For example, a kit
containing 0A501.y and .x ‘‘parts,’’ is
controlled as a 0A501.x kit because the .x
‘‘part’’ is the most restrictive ‘‘part’’ included
in the kit. A complete 0A501 firearm
disassembled in a kit form is controlled as a
firearm under 0A501.a, .b, or .y.7.
0A502 Shotguns; shotguns ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components,’’ consisting of complete
trigger mechanisms; magazines and
magazine extension tubes; ‘‘complete
breech mechanisms;’’ except: semi-
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automatic shotguns controlled under
ECCN 0A508; certain ‘‘parts,’’
components,’’ devices, ‘‘accessories,’’
and ‘‘attachments’’ for semi-automatic
shotguns controlled under ECCN 0A509;
equipment used to slaughter domestic
animals or used exclusively to treat or
tranquilize animals; and arms designed
solely for signal, flare, or saluting use.
License Requirements
Reason for Control: RS, FC, CC, UN, AT, NS
Control(s)
NS applies to shotguns with a barrel
length less than 18
inches (45.72 cm).
RS applies to shotguns with a barrel
length less than 18
inches (45.72 cm).
FC applies to entire
entry.
CC applies to entire
entry.
UN applies to entire
entry.
AT applies to shotguns with a barrel
length less than 18
inches (45.72 cm).
Country chart (see
Supp. No. 1 to part
738)
NS Column 1
RS Column 1
FC Column 1
CC Column 2
See § 746.1(b) of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES4
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
LVS: $500 for 0A502 shotgun ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components,’’ consisting of complete
trigger mechanisms; magazines and
magazine extension tubes. $500 for 0A502
shotgun ‘‘parts’’ and ‘‘components,’’
consisting of complete trigger mechanisms;
magazines and magazine extension tubes,
‘‘complete breech mechanisms’’ if the
ultimate destination is Canada.
GBS: N/A
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for
shotguns that are fully automatic. (2) See
ECCN 0A508 for semi-automatic shotguns.
(3) See ECCN 0A509 for enumerated or
otherwise described ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ devices, ‘‘accessories,’’ and
‘‘attachments’’ for ECCN 0A508. (4) See
0A501.d, .x, and .y for other ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ ‘‘accessories,’’ and
‘‘attachments’’ ‘‘specially designed’’ for
0A508. (5) See ECCNs 0A501 for non-semiautomatic firearms, 0A506 for semiautomatic rifles, and 0A507 for semiautomatic pistols.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items: The list of items controlled is
contained in the ECCN heading.
Note 1 to 0A502: Shotguns made in or
before 1898 are considered antique shotguns
and designated as EAR99.
Technical Note: Non-automatic and nonsemi-automatic shot pistols or shotguns that
have had the shoulder stock removed and a
pistol grip attached are controlled by ECCN
0A502. Non-automatic and non-semi-
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19:43 Apr 29, 2024
Jkt 262001
automatic slug guns are also controlled
under ECCN 0A502.
*
*
*
*
*
0A504 Optical sighting devices for firearms
(including shotguns controlled by
0A502); and ‘‘components’’ as follows
(see List of Items Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: FC, RS, CC, UN
Control(s)
RS applies to paragraph .i.
FC applies to paragraphs .a, .b, .c, .d,
.e, .g, and .i of this
entry.
CC applies to entire
entry.
UN applies to entire
entry.
RS Column 1
FC Column 1
CC Column 2
See § 746.1(b) of the
EAR for UN controls
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category
XII(c) for sighting devices using second
generation image intensifier tubes having
luminous sensitivity greater than 350 mA/
lm, or third generation or higher image
intensifier tubes, that are ‘‘subject to the
ITAR.’’ (2) See USML Category XII(b) for
laser aiming or laser illumination systems
‘‘subject to the ITAR.’’ (3) Section 744.9 of
the EAR imposes a license requirement on
certain commodities described in 0A504 if
being exported, reexported, or transferred
(in-country) for use by a military end user
or for incorporation into an item controlled
by ECCN 0A919.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Telescopic sights.
b. Holographic sights.
c. Reflex or ‘‘red dot’’ sights.
d. Reticle sights.
e. Other sighting devices that contain
optical elements.
f. Laser aiming devices or laser
illuminators ‘‘specially designed’’ for use on
firearms, and having an operational
wavelength exceeding 400 nm but not
exceeding 710 nm.
Note 1 to 0A504.f: 0A504.f does not control
laser boresighting devices that must be
placed in the bore or chamber to provide a
reference for aligning the firearms sights.
g. Lenses, other optical elements and
adjustment mechanisms for articles in
paragraphs .a, .b, .c, .d, .e, or .i.
h. [Reserved]
i. Riflescopes that were not ‘‘subject to the
EAR’’ as of March 8, 2020 and are ‘‘specially
designed’’ for use in firearms that are
‘‘subject to the ITAR.’’
Note 2 to paragraph i: For purpose of the
application of ‘‘specially designed’’ for the
riflescopes controlled under 0A504.i,
Frm 00034
Fmt 4701
0A505 Ammunition as follows (see List of
Items Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
Country chart
(see Supp. No. 1 to
part 738)
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
LVS: $500 for 0A504.g.
GBS: N/A
PO 00000
paragraph (a)(1) of the definition of
‘‘specially designed’’ in § 772.1 of the EAR is
what is used to determine whether the
riflescope is ‘‘specially designed.’’
Sfmt 4700
Control(s)
NS applies to
0A505.a and .x.
RS applies to
0A505.a and .x.
FC applies to entire
entry except
0A505.d.
CC applies to
0A505.a, .b, and .x.
UN applies to entire
entry.
AT applies to
0A505.a, .d, and .x.
AT applies to
0A505.c.
Country chart (see
Supp. No. 1 to part
738)
NS Column 1
RS Column 1
FC Column 1
CC Column 2
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
A license is required
for items controlled
by paragraph .c of
this entry to North
Korea for anti-terrorism reasons. The
Commerce Country
Chart is not designed to determine
AT licensing requirements for this
entry. See § 742.19
of the EAR for additional information.
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
LVS: $500 for items in 0A505.x, except
$3,000 for items in 0A505.x that,
immediately prior to March 9, 2020, were
classified under 0A018.b. (i.e., ‘‘Specially
designed’’ components and parts for
ammunition, except cartridge cases,
powder bags, bullets, jackets, cores, shells,
projectiles, boosters, fuses and
components, primers, and other detonating
devices and ammunition belting and
linking machines (all of which are ‘‘subject
to the ITAR’’). (See 22 CFR parts 120
through 130))
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception
STA (§ 740.20(c)(2) of the EAR) may not be
used for any item in 0A505.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category III
for ammunition for modern heavy weapons
such as howitzers, artillery, cannon,
mortars and recoilless rifles as well as
inherently military ammunition types such
as ammunition preassembled into links or
belts, caseless ammunition, tracer
ammunition, ammunition with a depleted
uranium projectile or a projectile with a
hardened tip or core and ammunition with
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an explosive projectile. (2) Percussion
caps, and lead balls and bullets, for use
with muzzle-loading firearms are EAR99
items. (3) See USML Category III for
shotgun projectiles that are flechettes,
incendiary, tracer, or explosive.
Related Definitions: ’Marking rounds’ are
non-lethal, typically used for training
purposes, and contain a dye or paint in a
capsule that is not a chemical irritant.
Items:
a. Ammunition for firearms controlled by
ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, or 0A507 or USML
Category I and not enumerated in paragraph
.b, .c, or .d of this entry or described in
USML Category III.
b. Buckshot (No. 4 .24″ diameter and larger,
any material) shotgun shells and shotgun
shells that contain only buckshot, or are for
the dispersion of chemical irritants.
c. Shotgun shells (including less than
lethal rounds) that do not contain buckshot;
and ‘‘specially designed’’ ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ of shotgun shells.
d. Blank ammunition for firearms
controlled by ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A506,
0A507, or 0A508 and not described in USML
Category III.
Technical Note to 0A505.d: Includes
‘marking rounds’ that have paint/dye as the
projectile.
e. through w. [Reserved]
x. ‘‘Parts’’ and ‘‘components’’ that are
‘‘specially designed’’ for a commodity subject
to control in this ECCN or a defense article
in USML Category III and not elsewhere
specified on the USML or the CCL.
Note 1 to 0A505.x: The controls on ‘‘parts’’
and ‘‘components’’ in this entry include
Berdan and boxer primers, metallic cartridge
cases, and standard metallic projectiles such
as full metal jacket, lead core, copper
projectiles, and frangible projectiles.
Note 2 to 0A505: Metal shot smaller than
No. 4 Buckshot, empty and unprimed
shotgun shells, shotgun wads, smokeless
gunpowder, ’dummy rounds’ and ’drill
rounds’ (unless linked or belted), not
incorporating a lethal or non-lethal
projectile(s) are designated EAR99. A
’dummy round’ or ’drill round’ is a round
that is completely inert, (i.e., contains no
primer, propellant, or explosive charge). It is
typically used to check weapon function and
for crew training.
Note 3 to 0A505: Shotgun shells that
contain two or more balls/shot larger than
.24-inch are controlled under 0A505.b.
0A506 Semi-Automatic Rifles as follows (see
List of Items Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES4
Control(s)
NS applies to entire
entry.
RS applies to entire
entry.
FC applies to entire
entry.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Country chart
(see Supp. No. 1 to
part 738)
NS Column 1
RS Column 1
FC Column 1
20:12 Apr 29, 2024
Jkt 262001
Control(s)
CC applies to entire
entry.
UN applies to entire
entry.
AT applies to entire
entry.
Country chart
(see Supp. No. 1 to
part 738)
CC Column 2
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
Technical Note 1 to 0A506: Firearms
described in 0A506 include those chambered
for the .50 BMG cartridge.
Technical Note 2 to 0A506: Firearms
described in 0A506 include pistols built with,
e.g., AR- or AK-style receivers (frames).
0A507 Semi-Automatic Pistols as follows
(see List of Items Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
Control(s)
LVS: N/A
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: License Exception STA may not be
used for 0A506.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for
firearms that are fully automatic, and
magazines with a capacity of greater than
50 rounds. (2) See ECCN 0A507 for semiautomatic pistols, excluding pistols built
with, e.g., AR- or AK-style receivers
(frames), which are controlled under ECCN
0A506. (3) See ECCN 0A508 for semiautomatic shotguns and ECCN 0A502 for
certain ‘‘parts’’ and ‘‘components’’ for
semi-automatic shotguns that are not
controlled by 0A509.a or .c. (4) See ECCN
0A509 for enumerated or otherwise
described ‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ devices,
‘‘accessories,’’ and ‘‘attachments’’ for
ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508. (5) See
0A501.c, .d, .x, and .y for other ‘‘parts,’’
‘‘components,’’ ‘‘accessories,’’ and
‘‘attachments’’ ‘‘specially designed’’ for
0A506 and 0A507, or 0A508. (6) See ECCN
0A501 for non-semi-automatic firearms
(except 0A502 shotguns) and related
commodities that are subject to the EAR.
(7) See ECCN 0A502 for non-automatic
shotguns and their ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ that are subject to the EAR
and certain ‘‘parts’’ and ‘‘components’’ for
semi-automatic shotguns that are not
controlled by 0A509.a or .c. (8) See ECCN
0A504 and USML Category XII for controls
on optical sighting devices.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Semi-automatic centerfire (non-rimfire)
rifles equal to .50 caliber (12.7 mm) or less
that has any one of the following:
a.1. ability to accept a detachable large
capacity magazine (more than 10 rounds); or
may be easily modified to do so;
a.2. folding or telescoping stock;
a.3. separate pistol grips;
a.4. ability to accept a bayonet;
a.5. a flash suppressor; or
a.6. bipods.
b. Semi-automatic rifles equal to .50 caliber
(12.7 mm) or less, including all noncenterfire (rimfire), n.e.s.
Note 1 to 0A506.a and .b: ‘‘Parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ that are ‘‘specially designed’’
for a commodity classified under .a or .b of
this entry, except those controlled under
ECCN 0A509, are controlled under ECCN
0A501.c, .d, .x, or .y.
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4700
34713
NS applies to entire
entry.
RS applies to entire
entry.
FC applies to entire
entry.
CC applies to entire
entry.
UN applies to entire
entry.
AT applies to entire
entry.
Country chart
(see Supp. No. 1 to
part 738)
NS Column 1
RS Column 1
FC Column 1
CC Column 2
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
LVS: N/A
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: License Exception STA may not be
used for 0A507.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for
firearms that are fully automatic, and
magazines with a capacity of greater than
50 rounds. (2) See ECCN 0A506 for semiautomatic rifles. (3) See ECCN 0A508 for
semi-automatic shotguns and ECCN 0A502
for certain ‘‘parts’’ and ‘‘components’’ for
semi-automatic shotguns that are not
controlled by 0A509.a or .c. (4) See ECCN
0A509 for enumerated or otherwise
described ‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ devices,
‘‘accessories,’’ and ‘‘attachments’’ for
ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508. (5) See
ECCN 0A501.c, .d, .x, and .y for other
‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ ‘‘accessories,’’ and
‘‘attachments’’ ‘‘specially designed’’ for
0A506 and 0A507, or 0A508. (6) See ECCN
0A501 for non-semi-automatic firearms
(except 0A502 shotguns) and related
commodities that are subject to the EAR.
(7) See ECCN 0A502 for non-automatic
shotguns and their ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ that are subject to the EAR
and certain ‘‘parts’’ and ‘‘components’’ for
semi-automatic shotguns that are not
controlled by 0A509.a or .c. (8) See ECCN
0A504 and USML Category XII for controls
on optical sighting devices.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Semi-automatic centerfire (non-rimfire)
pistols equal to .50 caliber (12.7 mm) or less.
b. Semi-automatic rimfire pistols equal to
.50 caliber (12.7 mm) or less.
Note 1 to 0A507.a and .b: ‘‘Parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ that are ‘‘specially designed’’
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
for a commodity classified under .a or .b of
this entry, except those controlled under
ECCN 0A509, are controlled under ECCN
0A501.c, .d, .x, or .y.
Technical Note to 0A507: Firearms
described in 0A507 includes those
chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge,
including revolvers, or that may be developed
to fire .50 BMG cartridges.
0A508 Semi-Automatic Shotguns as follows
(see List of Items Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
Control(s)
NS applies to semiautomatic shotguns
with a barrel length
less than 18 inches
(45.72 cm).
RS applies to semiautomatic shotguns
with a barrel length
less than 18 inches
(45.72 cm).
FC applies to entire
entry.
CC applies to entire
entry.
UN applies to entire
entry.
AT applies to semiautomatic shotguns
with a barrel length
less than 18 inches
(45.72 cm).
Control(s)
NS applies to entire
entry.
RS applies to entire
entry.
FC applies to entire
entry.
CC applies to entire
entry.
UN applies to entire
entry.
NS Column 1
RS Column 1
FC Column 1
Country chart (see
Supp. No. 1 to part
738)
NS Column 1
RS Column 1
FC Column 1
*
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
B. ‘‘Test’’, ‘‘Inspection’’ and ‘‘Production
Equipment’’
CC Column 2
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
LVS: N/A
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: License Exception STA may not be
used for 0A509.
Special Conditions for STA
STA: License Exception STA may not be
used for 0A508.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for
shotguns that are fully automatic. (2) See
ECCN 0A502 for non-semi-automatic
shotguns. (3) See ECCN 0A509 for
enumerated or otherwise described
‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ devices,
‘‘accessories,’’ and ‘‘attachments’’ for ECCN
0A508. (4) See 0A501.d, .x, and .y for other
‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’ ‘‘accessories,’’ and
‘‘attachments’’ ‘‘specially designed’’ for
0A508. (5) See ECCNs 0A501 for non-semiautomatic firearms, 0A506 for semiautomatic rifles, and 0A507 for semiautomatic pistols.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Semi-automatic centerfire (non-rimfire)
shotguns with any one of the following:
a.1. folding, telescoping, or collapsible
stock;
a.2. a flash suppressor;
a.3. a magazine over five rounds;
a.4. a drum magazine;
19:43 Apr 29, 2024
Jkt 262001
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for
firearms that are fully automatic, and
magazines with a capacity of greater than
50 rounds. (2) See ECCN 0A506 for semiautomatic rifles. (3) See ECCN 0A507 for
semi-automatic pistols. (4) See ECCN
0A508 for semi-automatic shotguns and
ECCN 0A502 for certain ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ for semi-automatic shotguns
that are not controlled by .a or .c of this
entry. (5) See ECCN 0A501.c, .d, .x, and .y
for other ‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’
‘‘accessories,’’ and ‘‘attachments’’
‘‘specially designed’’ for 0A506 and 0A507,
or 0A508. (6) See ECCN 0A501 for nonsemi-automatic firearms (except 0A502
shotguns) and related commodities that are
subject to the EAR. (7) See ECCN 0A502 for
non-automatic shotguns and their ‘‘parts’’
and ‘‘components’’ that are subject to the
EAR and certain ‘‘parts’’ and
‘‘components’’ for semi-automatic shotguns
that are not controlled by .a or .c of this
entry. (8) See ECCN 0A504 and USML
Category XII for controls on optical
sighting devices. (9) See USML Category I
for similar items.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Any ‘‘part,’’ ‘‘component,’’ device,
‘‘attachment,’’ or ‘‘accessory’’ not elsewhere
specified on the USML that is designed or
functions to convert a non-semi-automatic
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4701
firearm controlled by 0A501 or 0A502 to
semi-automatic or to accelerate the rate of fire
of a semi-automatic firearm controlled by
0A506, 0A507, or 0A508.
b. Receivers (frames), including castings,
forgings, stampings, or machined items
thereof, ‘‘specially designed’’ for an item
controlled by ECCN 0A506.
c. Receivers (frames), including castings,
forgings, stampings, or machined items
thereof, ‘‘specially designed’’ for an item
controlled by ECCN 0A507.
d. Receivers (frames) and ‘‘specially
designed’’ ‘‘complete breech mechanisms’’
for a commodity controlled by ECCN 0A508.
Note 1 to 0A509.b and .c: Receivers
(frames) under 0A509.b and .c refers to any
‘‘part’’ or ‘‘component’’ of the firearm that
has or is customarily marked with a serial
number when required by law. Paragraph
0A509.b and .c are synonymous with a
‘‘part’’ or ‘‘component’’ that is regulated by
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives (see 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3); 27
CFR parts 447, 478, and 479,) as a firearm.
CC Column 2
AT applies to entire
entry.
LVS: N/A
GBS: N/A
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES4
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see
Supp. No. 1 to part
738)
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
VerDate Sep<11>2014
a.5. Excessive Weight (greater than 10 lbs
for 12 gauge or smaller); or
a.6. Excessive Bulk (greater than 3 inches
in width and/or greater than 4 inches in
depth).
b. Semi-automatic shotguns, including all
non-centerfire (rimfire), n.e.s.
0A509 Certain ‘‘parts,’’ ‘‘components,’’
devices, ‘‘accessories,’’ and
‘‘attachments’’ for items controlled under
ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508 as
follows (see List of Items Controlled).
Sfmt 4700
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
0B501 Test, inspection, and production
‘‘equipment’’ and related commodities
for the ‘‘development’’ or ‘‘production’’
of commodities enumerated or otherwise
described in ECCNs 0A501, 0A506,
0A507, or 0A509 or USML Category I as
follows (see List of Items Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, UN, AT
Control(s)
NS applies to entire
entry except equipment for ECCN
0A501.y.
RS applies to entire
entry except equipment for ECCN
0A501.y.
UN applies to entire
entry.
AT applies to entire
entry.
Country chart (see
Supp. No. 1 to part
738)
NS Column 1
RS Column 1
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of all License Exceptions)
LVS: $3000
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception
STA (§ 740.20(c)(2) of the EAR) may not be
used to ship any item in this entry.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: N/A
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Small arms chambering machines.
b. Small arms deep hole drilling machines
and drills therefor.
E:\FR\FM\30APR4.SGM
30APR4
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
c. Small arms rifling machines.
d. Small arms boring/reaming machines.
e. Production equipment (including dies,
fixtures, and other tooling) ‘‘specially
designed’’ for the ‘‘production’’ of the items
controlled in 0A501.a through .x., 0A506,
0A507, 0A509, or USML Category I.
*
*
*
*
operation, or maintenance of
commodities controlled by 0A505 or
0B505.
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, CC, UN, AT
*
*
*
*
*
*
0D501 ‘‘Software’’ ‘‘specially designed’’ for
the ‘‘development,’’ ‘‘production,’’
operation, or maintenance of
commodities controlled by 0A501,
0A506, 0A507, 0A509 or 0B501.
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see
Supp. No. 1 to part
738)
Control(s)
NS applies to entire
entry except ‘‘software’’ for commodities in ECCN
0A501.y or equipment in ECCN
0B501 for commodities in ECCN
0A501.y.
RS applies to entire
entry except ‘‘software’’ for commodities in ECCN
0A501.y or equipment in ECCN
0B501 for commodities in ECCN
0A501.y.
CC applies to entire
entry except ‘‘software’’ for commodities in ECCN
0A501.y or equipment in ECCN
0B501 for commodities in ECCN
0A501.y.
UN applies to entire
entry.
AT applies to entire
entry.
NS Column 1
RS Column 1
NS applies to ‘‘software’’ for commodities in ECCN
0A505.a and .x and
equipment in
ECCN 0B505.a
.and .x.
RS applies to ‘‘software’’ for commodities in ECCN
0A505.a and .x and
equipment in
ECCN 0B505.a
and .x.
CC applies to ‘‘software’’ for commodities in ECCN
0A505.a, .b, and .x
and equipment in
ECCN 0B505.a
and .x.
UN applies to entire
entry.
AT applies to ‘‘software’’ for commodities in ECCN
0A505.a, .d, or .x
and equipment in
ECCN 0B505.a, .d,
or .x.
CC Column 2
NS Column 1
RS Column 1
*
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
*
*
*
*
*
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: See USML Category I for
‘‘software’’ directly related to articles
described in USML Category I.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items: The list of items controlled is
contained in this ECCN heading.
0E501 ‘‘Technology’’ ‘‘required’’ for the
‘‘development,’’ ‘‘production,’’
operation, installation, maintenance,
repair, or overhaul of commodities
controlled by 0A501, 0A506, 0A507,
0A509, or 0B501 as follows (see List of
Items Controlled).
*
License Requirements
*
*
*
*
0D505 ‘‘Software’’ ‘‘specially designed’’ for
the ‘‘development,’’ ‘‘production,’’
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:12 Apr 29, 2024
Jkt 262001
Related Controls: See USML Category I for
technical data directly related to articles
described in USML Category I.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. ‘‘Technology’’ ‘‘required’’ for the
‘‘development’’ or ‘‘production’’ of
commodities controlled by ECCN 0A501
(other than 0A501.y), 0A506, 0A507, 0A509,
or 0B501.
b. ‘‘Technology’’ ‘‘required’’ for the
operation, installation, maintenance, repair,
or overhaul of commodities controlled by
ECCN 0A501 (other than 0A501.y), 0A506,
0A507, 0A509, or 0B501.
0E502 ‘‘Technology’’ ‘‘required’’ for the
‘‘development’’ or ‘‘production’’ of
commodities controlled by 0A502,
0A508, or 0A509.
License Requirements
Reason for Control: CC, UN
E. ‘‘Technology’’
*
Reason for Control: NS, RS, CC, UN, AT
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4701
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
List of Items Controlled
CC Column 2
Related Controls: See USML Category III for
‘‘software’’ directly related to articles
described in USML Category III.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items: The list of items controlled is
contained in this ECCN heading.
*
CC Column 2
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception
STA (§ 740.20(c)(2) of the EAR) may not be
used for any ‘‘technology’’ in ECCN 0E501.
List of Items Controlled
*
RS Column 1
TSR: N/A
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception
STA (§ 740.20(c)(2) of the EAR) may not be
used for any ‘‘software’’ in 0D505.
*
NS Column 1
Special Conditions for STA
Special Conditions for STA
Special Conditions for STA
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception
STA (§ 740.20(c)(2) of the EAR) may not be
used for any ‘‘software’’ in 0D501.
NS applies to entire
entry.
RS applies to entire
entry.
CC applies to entire
entry.
UN applies to entire
entry.
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
TSR: N/A
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
Country chart (see
Supp. No. 1 to part
738)
Control(s)
AT applies to entire
entry.
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
TSR: N/A
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES4
Country chart
(see Supp. No. 1 to
part 738)
Control(s)
D. ‘‘Software’’
34715
Sfmt 4700
Country chart (see
Supp. No. 1 to part
738)
Control(s)
CC applies to entire
entry.
UN applies to entire
entry.
CC Column 2
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
TSR: N/A
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: See USML Category I for
technical data directly related to articles
described in USML Category I.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items: The list of items controlled is
contained in the ECCN heading.
*
*
*
*
*
0E504 ‘‘Technology’’ ‘‘required’’ for the
‘‘development’’ or ‘‘production’’ of
commodities controlled by 0A504 that
incorporate a focal plane array or image
intensifier tube.
E:\FR\FM\30APR4.SGM
30APR4
34716
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
License Requirements
Reason for Control: RS, CC, UN, AT
Control(s)
RS applies to entire
entry.
CC applies to entire
entry.
UN applies to entire
entry.
AT applies to entire
entry.
Control(s)
Country chart
(see Supp. No. 1 to
part 738)
RS Column 1
CC Column 2
See § 746.1(b) of the
EAR for UN controls
AT Column 1
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
TSR: N/A
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: N/A
Related Definitions: N/A
Items: The list of items controlled is
contained in the ECCN heading.
0E505 ‘‘Technology’’ ‘‘required’’ for the
‘‘development,’’ ‘‘production,’’
operation, installation, maintenance,
repair, overhaul, or refurbishing of
commodities controlled by 0A505.
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, UN, CC, AT
Control(s)
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES4
NS applies to ‘‘technology’’ for ‘‘development,’’ ‘‘production,’’ operation, installation, maintenance, repair, overhaul, or refurbishing commodities in 0A505.a
and .x; for equipment for those
commodities in
0B505; and for
‘‘software’’ for that
equipment and
those commodities
in 0D505.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Country chart (see
Supp. No. 1 to part
738)
NS Column 1
20:12 Apr 29, 2024
RS applies to ‘‘technology’’ for ‘‘development,’’ ‘‘production,’’ operation, installation, maintenance, repair, overhaul, or refurbishing commodities in 0A505.a
and .x; for equipment for those
commodities in
0B505 and for
‘‘software’’ for
those commodities
and that equipment
in 0D505.
UN applies to entire
entry.
CC applies to ‘‘technology’’ for the
‘‘development’’ or
‘‘production’’ of
commodities in
0A505.a, .b, and .x.
AT applies to ‘‘technology’’ for ‘‘development,’’ ‘‘production,’’ operation, installation, maintenance, repair, overhaul, or refurbishing commodities in 0A505.a, .d,
and .x.
Country chart (see
Supp. No. 1 to part
738)
RS Column 1
Items: The list of items controlled is
contained in this ECCN heading.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
See § 746.1 of the
EAR for UN controls
CC Column 2
AT Column 1
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2024–08813 Filed 4–26–24; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–33–P
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception
STA (§ 740.20(c)(2) of the EAR) may not be
used for any ‘‘technology’’ in 0E505.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: See USML Category III for
technical data directly related to articles
described in USML Category III.
Related Definitions: N/A
Fmt 4701
*
Thea D. Rozman Kendler
Assistant Secretary for Export
Administration.
Special Conditions for STA
Frm 00038
*
2B018 Equipment on the Wassenaar
Arrangement Munitions List.
No commodities currently are controlled
by this entry. Commodities formerly
controlled by paragraphs .a through .d, .m,
and .s of this entry are controlled in ECCN
0B606. Commodities formerly controlled by
paragraphs .e through .l of this entry are
controlled by ECCN 0B602. Commodities
formerly controlled by paragraphs .o through
.r of this entry are controlled by ECCN 0B501.
Commodities formerly controlled by
paragraph .n of this entry are controlled in
ECCN 0B501 if they are ‘‘specially designed’’
for the ‘‘production’’ of the items controlled
in ECCNs 0A501.a through .x, 0A506, 0A507,
or 0A509 or USML Category I and controlled
in ECCN 0B602 if they are of the kind
exclusively designed for use in the
manufacture of items in ECCN 0A602 or
USML Category II.
TSR: N/A
PO 00000
*
B. ‘‘Test’’, ‘‘Inspection’’ and ‘‘Production
Equipment’’
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740
for a Description of All License Exceptions)
Jkt 262001
*
Category 2—Materials Processing
Sfmt 9990
E:\FR\FM\30APR4.SGM
30APR4
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 84 (Tuesday, April 30, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34680-34716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08813]
[[Page 34679]]
Vol. 89
Tuesday,
No. 84
April 30, 2024
Part V
Department of Commerce
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau of Industry and Security
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
15 CFR Parts 732, 734, 738, et al.
Revision of Firearms License Requirements; Interim Final Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 89 , No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 34680]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
15 CFR Parts 732, 734, 738, 740, 742, 743, 748, 750, 758, 762, 772,
and 774
[Docket No. 240419-0113]
RIN 0694-AJ46
Revision of Firearms License Requirements
AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce.
ACTION: Interim final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this interim final rule (IFR), the Bureau of Industry and
Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
to enhance the control structure for firearms and related items. These
changes will better protect U.S. national security and foreign policy
interests, which include countering the diversion and misuse of
firearms and related items and advancing human rights. This rule
identifies semi-automatic firearms under new Export Control
Classification Numbers (ECCNs); adds additional license requirements
for Crime Control and Detection (CC) items, thereby resulting in
additional restrictions on the availability of license exceptions for
most destinations; amends license review policies so that they are more
explicit as to the nature of review that will accompany different types
of transactions and license exception availability (including adding a
new list of high-risk destinations); updates and expands requirements
for support documentation submitted with license applications; and
better accounts for the import documentation requirements of other
countries (such as an import certificate or other permit prior to
importation) when firearms and related items are authorized under a BIS
license exception. BIS is publishing this rule as an IFR to solicit
comments from the public on additional changes to export controls on
firearms and related items that would better protect U.S. national
security and foreign policy interests.
DATES: This rule is effective May 30, 2024. Comments must be received
by BIS no later than July 1, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this rule may be submitted to the Federal
rulemaking portal (www.regulations.gov). The regulations.gov ID for
this rule is: BIS-2024-0003. Please refer to RIN 0694-AJ46 in all
comments.
All filers using the portal should use the name of the person or
entity submitting the comments as the name of their files, in
accordance with the instructions below. Anyone submitting business
confidential information should clearly identify the business
confidential portion at the time of submission, file a statement
justifying nondisclosure and referring to the specific legal authority
claimed, and provide a non-confidential version of the submission.
For comments submitted electronically containing business
confidential information, the file name of the business confidential
version should begin with the characters ``BC.'' Any page containing
business confidential information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS
CONFIDENTIAL'' on the top of that page. The corresponding non-
confidential version of those comments must be clearly marked
``PUBLIC.'' The file name of the non-confidential version should begin
with the character ``P.'' Any submissions with file names that do not
begin with either a ``BC'' or a ``P'' will be assumed to be public and
will be made publicly available through https://www.regulations.gov.
Commenters submitting business confidential information are encouraged
to scan a hard copy of the non-confidential version to create an image
of the file, rather than submitting a digital copy with redactions
applied, to avoid inadvertent redaction errors which could enable the
public to read business confidential information.
The Firearms Guidance Memorandum is available at www.bis.gov/guidance_memorandum and at www.regulations.gov under the
regulations.gov ID BIS-2024-0003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Christino, Acting Director,
Office of Nonproliferation and Foreign Policy Controls; tel. (202) 482-
3825 or email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
BIS is amending the EAR (15 CFR parts 730-774) by revising the
license requirements and review policies, as well as other aspects of
the control structure (e.g., license exceptions eligibility and export
clearance requirements) for firearms, shotguns and related items (e.g.,
discharge type arms, optical devices, ammunition, and related
technology and software) controlled under the following ECCNs: 0A501,
0A502, 0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509, 0B501, 0B505, 0D501,
0D505, 0E501, 0E504, and 0E505 (collectively referred to as firearms
and related items for the purposes of this IFR). Background regarding
these changes is detailed below.
1. History of EAR Firearms Controls
Firearms and related items have been controlled in the current
structure by the Commerce Department (Commerce) under the EAR since
March 9, 2020, when jurisdiction over certain end-item firearms and
related items was transferred from the State Department's (State)
United States Munitions List (USML) (see 22 CFR part 121) to the
Commerce Control List (CCL), supplement no. 1 to part 774 of the EAR,
maintained by BIS. See the January 23, 2020, BIS final rule, ``Control
of Firearms, Guns, Ammunition and Related Articles the President
Determines No Longer Warrant Control Under the United States Munitions
List (USML)'' (85 FR 4136) (January 2020 EAR final rule; effective
date: March 9, 2020) and the January 20, 2020, State final rule,
``International Traffic in Arms Regulations: U.S. Munitions List
Categories I, II, and III.'' (85 FR 3819; effective date: March 9,
2020). Notably, BIS controlled long barrel shotguns prior to the
publication of those rules. For the past almost four years, BIS has
required that authorization be obtained for all exports and reexports
of these firearms and related items to all destinations, including
Canada. This worldwide license requirement under the EAR for firearms
and certain related items is more restrictive than the license
requirement that applies to other items whose jurisdiction transferred
from the USML to the CCL as part of the Export Control Reform
initiative (i.e., the ``600 series'' military items and 9x515
spacecraft items), as the license requirement for those other items in
most cases does not extend to Canada.
In addition to the worldwide license requirement, since March 9,
2020, BIS has maintained other requirements with respect to firearms
and related items. These include certain export clearance requirements
that provide increased transparency regarding the specific items being
exported; limitations on the availability of license exceptions;
certain recordkeeping requirements; and requirements to address
temporary imports into the United States. As referenced in the January
2020 EAR final rule, these requirements were imposed to ensure, as much
as possible, that the EAR control structure for firearms and related
items would protect U.S. national security and foreign policy
interests, which include countering diversion and misuse of firearms
and related items and advancing human rights. As part of this control
structure, BIS included provisions to ensure that U.S. export
[[Page 34681]]
controls under the EAR account for the firearms-related import controls
of other countries; specifically, the use of BIS licenses is predicated
on having an Import Certificate or other permit (if required) by the
importing country.
2. Firearms Licensing Pause
On October 27, 2023, Commerce paused the issuance of new BIS export
licenses involving certain firearms, related ``parts'' and
``components,'' and ammunition (detailed under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502,
0A504, and 0A505) to non-governmental end users not located in Ukraine,
Israel, and most Wassenaar Arrangement Participating States (i.e.,
Country Group A:1, supplement no. 1 to part 740). During this
``pause,'' Commerce assessed export control review policies for
firearms and related items to determine whether any changes to the
regulatory measures implemented in March 2020 were warranted to advance
U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The review focused
on assessing and mitigating the risk of firearms being diverted to
entities or activities that promote regional instability, abuse or
violate human rights, or fuel criminal activities, including terrorism,
extortion, and illicit trafficking of any kind.
This pause followed the identification by Commerce over the past
year of several instances in which lawfully exported firearms and
related items from the United States have been diverted or misused in a
manner contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests;
this includes instances predating the transfer of licensing authorities
from State to the Commerce Department. Because those instances of
diversion largely involved commercial exports to non-governmental end
users, Commerce tailored the pause to apply only to exports involving
non-governmental end users.
Leading up to the pause, Commerce reviewed aggregate data showing
that a substantial number of firearms recovered by foreign law
enforcement agencies were lawfully exported from the United States. For
example, a GAO report published in January 2022 identified concerns
that the U.S. government is licensing firearm exports that fuel
criminal activity and gun violence, enable human rights abuses, and
destabilize government institutions in foreign countries, particularly
in Central America.\1\ The report explained that in Belize, El
Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, transnational criminal organizations
and other violent criminals frequently use firearms to commit murders
for hire, carry out extortion schemes, and resist local police forces.
The report further explained that, between 2015 and 2019, nearly 20% of
approximately 27,000 firearms recovered and traced by law enforcement
agencies in those four countries were U.S.-origin firearms diverted
from legitimate commerce (i.e., they were not illicitly smuggled from
the United States, but rather lawfully exported).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ United States Government Accountability Office, Firearms
Trafficking: More Information is Needed to Inform U.S. Efforts in
Central America (Jan. 2022) (``GAO Report''), https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-22-104680.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2023 National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment
provides additional data regarding the diversion of lawfully exported
firearms. As described in that report, participating law enforcement
agencies in foreign countries can submit firearm trace requests to
ATF's eTrace system to help determine the purchase or ownership history
of a recovered crime gun. ATF's analysis of all international crime gun
trace requests received between 2017 and 2021 indicates that at least
11% (18,749) of traced firearms were lawfully exported from the United
States and later recovered in a foreign country. For countries outside
of North America, at least 37% of firearms submitted to ATF were lawful
exports; for countries in Central America, at least 19% of firearms
submitted to ATF were lawful exports.\2\ These data are of particular
concern given that ATF was working with a limited set of international
crime guns for which a trace request was submitted. Together, these
reports indicate that a sizeable portion of international crime guns
are diverted from lawful exports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives,
``National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA):
Crime Guns--Volume Two, Part IV: Crime Guns Recovered Outside the
United States and Traced by Law Enforcement,'' January 2023, pg 5,
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/nfcta-volume-ii-part-iv-crime-guns-recovered-outside-us-and-traced-le/download.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce also identified specific cases in which lawful exports of
firearms and related items were misused or diverted in a manner that
adversely impacted U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.
In one case, a firearm that was licensed for export to one country was
subsequently diverted to a bordering country and used in a political
assassination. In another, a license exception was used to export parts
for the unlawful assembly of firearms in Taiwan. BIS also identified
instances of firearms and ammunition exports being diverted to Russia
via commercial resellers in third countries; such firearms and
ammunition may be used to support Russia's further invasion of Ukraine.
In addition, partner governments, particularly those in the Western
Hemisphere, have expressed, and have continued to express, concern to
Commerce with respect to illicit firearms trafficking, including the
diversion of lawfully exported firearms. For example, governments in
the Caribbean region expressed concern that individuals are using
license exceptions to bring firearms, particularly semi-automatic
handguns, to their countries, and that those firearms are being
diverted to violent criminals. These partner governments have sought
U.S. assistance in addressing diversion, which is fueling violence,
criminal activity, and instability within their countries or regions.
Commerce takes seriously its responsibility to regulate the export
of firearms and related items consistent with U.S. national security
and foreign policy interests, which include countering diversion and
misuse of firearms and advancing human rights. Given the lethality of
these items, the significant volume and value of the applications being
processed, and the risk of diversion or misuse associated with them,
Commerce is committed to ensuring that controls for these items
appropriately protect the security of the United States and our allies
and partners. Thus, during the pause, Commerce conducted a thorough
review to assess the risk factors that contribute to the diversion and
misuse of firearms and related items, evaluate whether existing review
policies sufficiently account for those factors, and determine whether
those policies could be improved. As part of that review, Commerce
closely reexamined the data and case studies that led to the pause. It
supplemented those data and case studies by studying reports and other
empirical evidence regarding the conditions and risk factors that
enable diversion and misuse of U.S. firearms and related items.
Additionally, Commerce continued to engage with stakeholders and
partner governments to gather different perspectives on addressing the
risks associated with the diversion of firearms and related items.
As part of this review, Commerce, together with interagency export
control partners in the Departments of Defense, Energy, and State, as
well as other federal agencies with technical expertise in firearms and
related items, assessed current U.S. firearms export control policies
to determine whether updates to BIS's review process and procedures
[[Page 34682]]
would further U.S. foreign policy and national security interests and
how to appropriately implement those updates. In particular, as
discussed further below, Commerce worked extensively with State, which
is a key participant in the review process for license applications
involving items subject to Commerce's jurisdiction. At the outset of
the review process, Commerce drew upon its extensive experience
reviewing applications for exports and reexports of firearms and
related items and outlined an initial set of factors that increase the
risk of these items being diverted or misused in a manner contrary to
U.S. national security and foreign policy. Commerce consulted with
State about these risk factors and, upon further review of the data and
case studies as informed by State's experience, the agencies determined
the key risk factors. In light of the fact that many of the factors
concern conditions in destination countries, Commerce requested that
State, which has deep expertise in evaluating such conditions,
determine whether there are specific destinations where there is a
substantial risk that firearms and related items will be diverted or
misused in a manner contrary to U.S. national security and foreign
policy. After conducting a thorough analysis that included consultation
with U.S. Government stakeholders, State responded by developing a list
of destinations in which it determined that there is a substantial risk
that lawfully exported firearms sold to non-government end users will
be diverted or misused in a manner contrary to U.S. national security
and foreign policy.
Commerce also engaged with certain counterparts in Country Group
A:1 destinations that export firearms and related items to understand
the export license application requirements and risk factors considered
under their firearms export control authorities and related policies.
Because governments in A:1 destinations have demonstrated a commitment
to export controls as participants in the Wassenaar Arrangement on
Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and
Technologies and share our interest in countering diversion or misuse
of firearms and related items, advancing human rights, and promoting
mutual security, BIS found it helpful to consult their processes and
policies in making the regulatory updates outlined in this IFR.
Commerce also continued regular engagement with the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) to identify specific actions the U.S. could take to
minimize the diversion to unauthorized end users of U.S. firearms and
related items that were lawfully exported to end users in CARICOM
member and partner countries. For example, concerns were raised that
certain license exceptions, including License Exception Shipments of
Limited Value (LVS) under Sec. 740.3 and License Exception Baggage
(BAG) under Sec. 740.14, may have been used to bring firearms and
related items into these CARICOM countries that were subsequently
diverted in violation of license exception terms, or to export greater
quantities of firearms and related items than were legally available
under these two license exceptions. Note that License Exception LVS is
not available for end-item firearms but is available for certain
``parts'' and ``components'' of firearms when for export or reexport to
a Country Group B destination. Commerce also engaged with the U.S.
firearms industry, as well as a wide variety of other stakeholders, to
assess current export control processes and policies for firearms and
related items and seek recommendations on effectively addressing
diversion and misuse risks.
3. Findings of Policy Review and Engagement
As a result of this policy review and engagement, Commerce
identified several concerns associated with export controls that apply
under the EAR to firearms and related items. First, Commerce determined
that the existing licensing procedures and requirements did not provide
it with sufficient documentation and data to evaluate national security
and foreign policy risks effectively. In particular, limited
documentation requirements made it challenging to validate that
firearms and related items are exported only to trustworthy foreign
partners. Existing data collection practices also limited visibility of
agencies that participate in the license review process into trade
flows for different types of firearms under its jurisdiction, rendering
it difficult to assess whether lawful exports might be at a
particularly acute risk of diversion. In addition, these practices
limited the US Government's ability to monitor potentially high-risk
sales from distributors to third parties.
Second, Commerce concluded that the existing EAR license
application requirements and review process for firearms and related
items did not sufficiently enable identification of transactions that
pose a heightened risk of diversion or misuse contrary to U.S. national
security and foreign policy. Given that data and case studies show that
exports of U.S. firearm and related items are at significant risk of
being diverted or misused, Commerce conducted an extensive analysis to
determine whether certain types of license applications warrant more
scrutiny than others.
As an initial matter, Commerce determined that the risk of
diversion is significantly higher for exports to non-government end
users than for exports to government end users and that consequently
applications involving non-government end users warrant additional
scrutiny. Data show that ``[g]lobally, the private civilian stockpile
is less accountable, far less strictly guarded and three times as
plentiful as its state counterpart--all qualities that support easy
diversion of weapons to the illegal sector.'' \3\ For example, as ATF
explained in a report on firearm theft in the U.S., ``more than 95% of
stolen guns originate via thefts from private citizens.'' \4\ The case
studies reviewed by BIS provide additional support for these general
trends. Indeed, in each of the case studies described above, the
diverted firearm had originally been exported to a non-governmental end
user.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Rebecca Peters, ``Small Arms: No Single Solution,'' United
Nations Chronicle https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/small-arms-no-single-solution.
\4\ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives,
``National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA):
Crime Guns--Volume Two, Part V: Firearm Thefts,'' January 2023, pg 1
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/nfcta-volume-ii-part-v-firearm-thefts/download.
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Commerce also determined that the licensing process would benefit
from clarifying the specific national security and foreign policy
factors considered when license applications are reviewed; such factors
are associated with the risk of diversion or misuse of firearms and
related items and the potential impact to U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests. While national security and foreign policy
concerns have always been considered as part of the review process,
detailing transparent review criteria will enable BIS, its interagency
partners, exporters, and reexporters to more effectively and
consistently assess the potential risks associated with a given
transaction. The factors that will be considered include, but are not
limited to: the nature of the end user; destination-specific national
security and foreign policy risk factors, including firearms
trafficking, terrorism, human rights concerns and political violence,
state fragility, corruption, organized crime or gang activity, and drug
trafficking; instances of past diversion or misuse; and the
capabilities, potential uses, and lethality of the item. These factors
are consistent
[[Page 34683]]
with U.S. National Security Memorandum 18, Conventional Arms Transfer
Policy,\5\ as well as the criteria that the United Kingdom and allies
and partners in European Union member states apply to similar
transactions, including the consideration of human rights; the
preservation of regional peace, security, and stability; internal
repression, tensions, or armed conflicts; terrorism and organized crime
risks; and diversion risks. Notably, these key review factors, which
are set forth in a new regulatory note to Sec. 742.7(b)(3) of the EAR,
apply to applications involving certain exports and reexports of
firearms and related items to both government and non-government end
users in all destinations.
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\5\ U.S. National Security Memorandum 18, Memorandum on United
States Conventional Arms Transfer Polic, (Feb 2023), https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/02/23/memorandum-on-united-states-conventional-arms-transfer-policy/.
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Each of the destination-specific factors directly correlates with
the risk of diversion or misuse. In countries with high rates of
firearms trafficking, there is an increased risk that criminals will
seek to divert U.S. firearms and sell them to traffickers. There is a
similar risk in countries with high rates of drug trafficking, as
``illicit drugs are the most common non-firearms-related commodities
seized together with firearms.'' \6\ Drug traffickers and producers
frequently seek to obtain diverted firearms, both to further their core
operations \7\ and to establish illicit firearms markets.\8\
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\6\ United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, ``Global Study on
Firearms Trafficking 2020,'' page 77 (Mar. 2020) (``UN Global
Study''), https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/Firearms/2020_REPORT_Global_Study_on_Firearms_Trafficking_2020_web.pdf.
\7\ UN Global Study, page 36 (``Firearms are instrumental to
organized crime and gangs as they can convey the sense of threat and
power which allow the protection of the group, the territory and
eventually their illicit markets.'').
\8\ Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime,
Arms Trafficking and Organized Crime: Global trade, local impacts,
page 13 (Aug. 2022) (``GI-TOC Report'') (explaining that ``drugs and
firearms markets tend to benefit and reinforce each other'' because
drug operations ``[use] profits from the drug trade to buy and sell
firearms not only to their members but also other criminal groups at
huge mark-ups''), https://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/GI-TOC-policy-brief_Arms-trafficking-web-1.pdf.
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Organized crime, human rights abuses, and terrorist activity are
strong indicators of diversion risk because the ``interface between
organized crime, violent extremism and terrorism, as well as state
actors, allows regions to become flush with weapons looted from
government stockpiles and weapons legally procured but sold on the
black market.'' \9\ As discussed, the GAO report on arms trafficking in
Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras provides empirical
evidence that countries with high degrees of organized crime, human
rights abuses, and violent extremism also have high degrees of firearm
diversion.\10\
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\9\ GI-TOC Report, page 3.
\10\ GAO Report, page 16.
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A high degree of corruption in a country also increases diversion
risk.\11\ Specifically, in countries where corruption leads to reduced
funding for law enforcement agencies, those agencies are less equipped
to prevent criminals from diverting U.S. firearms. The risk of
diversion is especially high in countries where corrupt government
officials work directly with criminal organizations to traffic diverted
U.S. firearms.\12\
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\11\ Trevor Thrall and Jordan Cohen, ``2021 Arms Sales Risk
Index'' (Jan. 18, 2022) (``Cato Report''), https://www.cato.org/study/2021-arms-sales-risk-index#mapping-risk.
\12\ GI-TOC Report, page 4.
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Finally, state fragility correlates with diversion risk because
``strong states should have greater ability to manage and to control
legal arms shipments than their weaker counterparts.'' \13\ Diversion
risk is especially high in countries experiencing internal violent
conflict because conflict incentivizes armed groups to stockpile
weapons through any means necessary, including through the diversion of
U.S. firearms.\14\
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\13\ Carla Martinez Machain, Jeffrey Pickering, ``The Human Cost
of the Weapons Trade: Small Arms Transfers and Recipient State
Homicide'' Journal of Global Security Studies (2020) (showing that
state strength mitigates the relationship between small arms trade
and rates of homicide) https://academic.oup.com/jogss/article-abstract/5/4/578/5592220.
\14\ UNODC Report page 37 (``In conflict and post-conflict
countries, the accumulation of legal stockpiles of weapons may
create the potential for firearms to reach the hands of non-state
armed groups, other criminal groups or even the general population,
especially if that very conflict weakens the ability of the state
infrastructure to manage those stockpiles properly.'').
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The destination-specific factors also correlate with the risk that
a diverted firearm will be used to commit violent acts that undermine
U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives. As an initial
matter, in countries with high rates of firearms trafficking, there is
an increased risk that diverted firearms and related items will end up
in the hands of cartels, gangs, terrorists, paramilitary groups, and
other criminal organizations, all of which use firearms and related
items for activities that directly undermine U.S. national security and
foreign policy.
In countries with high rates of drug trafficking and organized
crime, there is an increased risk that the diversion or misuse of
firearms and related items will increase the ability of cartels, gangs,
and other criminal organizations to undermine U.S. national security
and foreign policy by flooding the United States with potentially
deadly substances, sparking regional conflict that has spillover
effects in the United States, and establishing transnational operations
that extend into the U.S.\15\ Similarly, in countries where terrorist
groups have a significant presence, there is an increased risk that the
diversion of firearms and related items will increase the capability of
those groups to carry out attacks that undermine U.S. national
security.\16\ And in countries with high rates of human rights abuses
and political violence, whether by government-sponsored paramilitary
groups or non-state forces, there is an increased risk that the
diversion of firearms and related items will enable further human
rights abuses, which directly undermines a key U.S. foreign policy
objective.\17\
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\15\ U.S. Department of Defense, ``Framework to Counter Drug
Trafficking and Other Illicit Threat Networks,'' page 1 (May 2019),
https://policy.defense.gov/Portals/11/Documents/DoD%20Framework%20to%20Counter%20Drug%20Trafficking%20and%20Other%20Illicit%20Threat%20Networks%20May%202019.pdf; GI-TOC Report, page 10.
\16\ Cato Report.
\17\ GI-TOC Report, page 10; Cato Report.
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The diversion and misuse of firearms and related items in countries
with high degrees of corruption and state fragility poses similar risks
to national security and foreign policy. In countries with high degrees
of corruption, there is an increased risk that the diversion of
firearms and related items to criminal organizations will further
undermine the ability of law enforcement agencies to promote country
stability, which is a central U.S. foreign policy objective. In turn,
in a fragile state experiencing violent internal conflict, ``the influx
of arms not only fuels the fighting but it contributes to the
fragmentation and spreading of conflict; increases the number of
criminal groups and their use of violence as a vehicle for market
control; and strengthens armed groups against state responses.'' \18\
Not only does such conflict undermine U.S. foreign policy by increasing
country instability, it causes spillover effects that directly threaten
U.S. national security.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ GI-TOC Report, page 3.
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In addition to the destination-specific factors, other important
factors are the capabilities, lethality, and potential uses of
different firearms and related items. BIS controls a diverse range of
firearms and related items, including optics and
[[Page 34684]]
scopes, antique firearms, non-automatic and semi-automatic firearms,
and ammunition. The potential for diversion or misuse of each of these
categories of items should be carefully considered during the review of
an export application.
The capabilities, lethality, and potential use of an item have
numerous implications for U.S. national security and foreign policy
interests. To begin with, certain items under BIS jurisdiction have
characteristics that may render them either more or less dangerous in
criminal, terrorist, or other adversaries' hands. For example,
buckshot, blank ammunition, or antique firearms regulated by BIS under
the EAR, have relatively limited capacity to pose harm to U.S.
interests if they are diverted or misused. By contrast, some items
subject to the EAR, such as certain semiautomatic firearms, may pose a
higher risk to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests if
diverted to criminals, terrorists, and cartels. For example, ATF
studies on the import of semiautomatic rifles and shotguns have found
that certain characteristics can render such firearms ``particularly
suitable for the military or law enforcement'' use.\19\ Firearms that
could be used to give cartels, terrorist organizations, and other non-
state actors parity with law enforcement agencies, including those of
the U.S. and their allies, could pose a unique risk if diverted or
misused. Furthermore, data from ATF indicates that weapons with these
characteristics have, in fact, been diverted and misused in criminal
activities,\20\ and that certain types of weapons may be particularly
appealing to cartels that seek to destabilize regions and engage in
drug trafficking activities. Such factors are important to consider
alongside other indicia of the end user's credibility and a
destination's risk profile.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Study
on the Importability of Certain Shotguns,'' January 2011, pages 8-9
\20\ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives,
``National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA):
Crime Guns--Volume Two, Part IV: Crime Guns Recovered Outside the
United States and Traced by Law Enforcement,'' January 2023, pgs 10-
14, https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/nfcta-volume-ii-part-iv-crime-guns-recovered-outside-us-and-traced-le/download.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The capabilities, lethality, and potential uses of an item can also
render it more amenable to diversion than other comparable items. In
the context of drug trafficking and other criminal activity in the
CARICOM region, for example, studies have indicated that criminals rely
on access to unlawfully exported or diverted handguns. This is due to
the fact that handguns are ``concealable, easier to use in close
quarters, and just as effective for almost every criminal task'' as
other firearms.\21\ Similarly, a study of diversion in the CARICOM
region showed both that criminals use various methods of concealment
and that there is a prevalence of 9mm semiautomatic handguns in
criminal activity.\22\ These data are consistent with other studies
showing that Central American police recovered and traced pistols at a
greater rate than other types of weapons in that region.\23\ Foreign
government law enforcement agencies have likewise identified instances
in which extraordinarily large quantities of ammunition--which is small
and often can be repurposed for a large variety of firearms--are
illicitly trafficked.\24\ Put simply, some items may be more dangerous
if they are diverted or misused, and others might be easier to divert
or misuse. As such, the capabilities, lethality, and potential uses of
certain items are closely linked to the U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests that should be considered in the context of
reviewing licensing applications.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, ``Transnational
Crime in Central America and the Caribbean,'' December 2012, page
59, unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/Studies/TOC_Central_America_and_the_Caribbean_english.pdf.
\22\ Small Arms Survey, ``Weapons Compass: The Caribbean
Firearms Study,'' April 2023, pages 67-85, https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/sites/default/files/resources/CARICOM-IMPACS-SAS-Caribbean-Firearms-Study.pdf.
\23\ United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, ``Transnational
Crime in Central America and the Caribbean,'' December 2012, page
59, unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/Studies/TOC_Central_America_and_the_Caribbean_english.pdf; GAO report, page
19.
\24\ Alessandro Ford, ``Scandal at Haiti Customs After Over
100,000 Rounds of Smuggled Ammunition Seized,'' Insight Crime, July
2022, https://insightcrime.org/news/scandal-at-haiti-customs-after-over-100000-rounds-of-smuggled-ammunition-seized/.
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Finally, in addition to specifying certain key factors that will be
considered when reviewing license applications to export firearms and
related items to any end user, Commerce determined that destination-
specific factors should be used to identify destinations where firearm
exports to non-government end users entail a substantial risk of
diversion or misuse in a manner adverse to U.S. national security and
foreign policy. Identifying those ``high-risk destinations'' enables
BIS to develop a uniform review policy for license applications,
ensuring that the licensing process consistently accounts for the risks
associated with various transactions; provides transparency and
predictability to exporters, stakeholders, and the public; and
adequately safeguards U.S. foreign policy and national security
interests.
As discussed above, Commerce requested that State, which has
extensive expertise in evaluating country-specific conditions and
associated national security and foreign policy concerns, assist in
developing a list of high-risk destinations. In response, State
provided Commerce with a guidance memorandum, which is available on the
BIS website at www.bis.gov/guidance_memorandum and on regulations.gov,
outlining a methodology to evaluate the risk that firearms exports to
specific destinations will be diverted or misused in a manner contrary
to U.S. national security and foreign policy (hereinafter, the
``Firearms Guidance Memorandum''). As the Firearms Guidance Memorandum
explains, State leveraged its expertise in foreign policy and in
subject matter areas, including human rights, international
counternarcotics, counterterrorism, and arms control, and the expertise
of stakeholders from across the U.S. Government in conducting its
analysis.
After working with Commerce to determine the key risk factors,
State gathered data and other empirical evidence relevant to assessing
how those factors apply to specific destinations. That evidence came
from a diverse set of credible sources, including reports produced by
the U.S. Government (e.g., the State Department's Country Reports on
Human Rights Practices and the Presidential Determination on Major Drug
Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries) and reports produced
by reputable non-government organizations (e.g., the Global Terrorism
Index and the Corruption Perceptions Index). State also engaged in
consultations with U.S. Embassy officials, including those with
significant experience working with local law enforcement agencies,
subject matter experts, and regional experts. Finally, State sought
policy guidance from stakeholders across the U.S. Government to ensure
that the assessment incorporated relevant aspects of U.S. national
security and foreign policy interests.
Based on that analysis, State identified 36 countries in which
there is a substantial risk that lawful firearms exports to non-
governmental end users will be diverted or misused in a manner adverse
to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. Commerce has
decided to apply a presumption of denial review policy to firearm
license
[[Page 34685]]
applications involving non-government end users in those destinations.
That uniform policy will ensure that the licensing process consistently
accounts for the risks associated with those transactions, provides
transparency to exporters and other stakeholders, and safeguards U.S.
national security and foreign policy interests.
4. Policy Changes
BIS has determined that the changes described in this IFR will
advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. As with
all EAR controls, these changes are designed to be as targeted as
possible to accomplish BIS's mission to protect the national security
and foreign policy interests of the United States, including a full
consideration of this IFR's economic impact. The regulatory changes
implemented by this IFR will facilitate more robust data tracking
capabilities for exports and re-exports of firearms and related items.
Updates to license application requirements and applicable review
policies will enhance the ability of BIS and its interagency partners
to review and process license applications consistent with U.S.
national security and foreign policy interests. In addition, this IFR
creates greater transparency for industry by identifying the risk
factors considered during the application review process, as well as
destinations identified in the Firearms Guidance Memorandum as
presenting a substantial risk of diversion or misuse in a manner
contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy.
B. New ECCNs for Semi-Automatic Firearms and Certain Related Parts,
Components, Attachments, and Accessories
Prior to this IFR, ECCN 0A501 controlled rifles, pistols, and
related ``parts,'' ``components,'' and certain ``attachments,'' and
``accessories'' on the CCL, while ECCN 0A502 controlled shotguns and
related ``parts,'' ``components,'' and certain ``attachments,'' and
``accessories.'' Neither ECCN distinguished between non-automatic and
semi-automatic firearms. BIS was unable to readily identify what share
of firearms exports to a country were semi-automatic rifles versus non-
automatic pistols because they were controlled under the same item
paragraph of ECCN 0A501. Accordingly, BIS was unable to readily
disaggregate and review licensing and export data for specific types of
end-item firearms or specific ``parts,'' ``components,''
``attachments'' and ``accessories'' of most concern. This data gap
limited BIS's ability to efficiently evaluate the export, reexport,
transfer (in-country) and diversion of specific types of rifles,
pistols, shotguns, and certain ``parts,'' ``components,''
``attachments,'' and ``accessories'' that may pose risks to U.S.
national security and foreign policy. However, such information is
useful to assess the risk of diversion.
To better track the export, reexport, transfer (in-country) and
diversion of different types of firearms and related items, this IFR
adds four new ECCNs to the CCL. ECCN 0A506 controls semi-automatic
rifles, ECCN 0A507 controls semi-automatic pistols, ECCN 0A508 controls
semi-automatic shotguns, and ECCN 0A509 controls certain ``parts,''
``components,'' devices, ``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' for items
controlled under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508. The creation of these
four new ECCNs will enable BIS to better track and more readily
identify exports of end-item semi-automatic firearms and shotguns and
certain related ``parts,'' ``components,'' ``accessories,'' and
``attachments'' of concern when reviewing the Electronic Export
Information (EEI) that exporters file in the Automated Export System
(AES). Pursuant to Sec. 758.1(g)(1) and (2), an EEI must specify the
ECCN of the exported item. In order to further enhance transparency and
the collection and review of export data on these items, this IFR also
implements export clearance changes as described below under the
heading Changes to make identification of end-item firearms mandatory
in AES.
The addition of ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509 is not
expected to have an impact on the number of license applications
received by BIS, because these items were previously controlled under
different ECCNs. Other changes included in this IFR that are expected
to increase the number of licenses and other support documents are
described elsewhere in this preamble.
1. Addition of ECCN 0A506 for Semi-Automatic Rifles
The commodities controlled under ECCN 0A506 were controlled
previously under ECCN 0A501. BIS, supported by an interagency working
group, consulted the Wassenaar Munitions List (WAML1) as well as ATF's
non-sporting firearm importation criteria to identify specific features
or accessories to delineate in the ECCN 0A506 item paragraphs. The item
paragraph structure will enable better tracking and transparency for
exports of various types of end-item semi-automatic rifles. ECCN 0A506
has two primary item paragraphs. Item paragraph .a details semi-
automatic centerfire (non-rimfire) rifles equal to .50 caliber (12.7
mm) or less that have any of the following characteristics (controlled
under .a.1 through .a.4): the ability to accept a detachable large
capacity magazine (more than 10 rounds) or may be easily modified to do
so; folding, telescoping, or collapsible stock; separate pistol grips;
or a flash suppressor. Item paragraph .b controls all other semi-
automatic rifles equal to .50 caliber (12.7 mm) or less, including all
non-centerfire (rimfire) that are not elsewhere specified (noted as
``n.e.s.'' on the CCL). ECCN 0A506 includes a note to 0A506.a and .b
that ``parts'' and ``components'' that are ``specially designed'' for a
commodity classified under .a or .b of 0A506, except those controlled
under ECCN 0A509, are controlled under ECCN 0A501. ECCN 0A506 also
includes a technical note stating that firearms controlled in 0A506
include those chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge. The reasons for
control for new ECCN 0A506 mirror the reasons for control that apply to
ECCN 0A501 (with the addition of CC Column 2 reason for control
outlined below). Specifically, National Security (NS) Column 1,
Regional Stability (RS) Column 1, Firearms Convention (FC) Column 1, CC
Column 2, United Nations Security Council arms embargo (UN), and Anti-
Terrorism (AT) Column 1 apply to the entire entry. License Exceptions
LVS, Shipments to Country Group B Countries (GBS), and License
Exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA) are not available for use
with commodities controlled under ECCN 0A506, as discussed in greater
detail below.
2. Addition of ECCN 0A507 for Semi-Automatic Pistols
The commodities controlled under ECCN 0A507 were controlled
previously under ECCN 0A501. BIS, supported by an interagency working
group, consulted the WAML1 and 27 CFR 478.12 to identify specific
features or accessories to delineate in the ECCN 0A507 item paragraphs.
The item paragraph structure will enable better tracking and
transparency for exports of various types of end-item semi-automatic
pistols. ECCN 0A507 has two item paragraphs: paragraph .a controls
semi-automatic centerfire (non-rimfire) pistols equal to .50 caliber
(12.7 mm) or less; and paragraph .b controls semi-automatic (rimfire)
pistols equal to .50 caliber (12.7 mm) or less. ECCN 0A507 includes a
note to 0A507.a and .b to specify that ``parts'' and ``components''
that are ``specially designed'' for a commodity classified under 0A507,
[[Page 34686]]
except those controlled under ECCN 0A509, are controlled under ECCN
0A501.c, .d, .x, or .y. The ECCN also includes a technical note stating
that firearms described in 0A507 includes those chambered for the .50
BMG cartridge, which clarifies that any handgun that may be developed
to fire .50 BMG cartridges will be controlled under this ECCN. The
reasons for control for new ECCN 0A507 mirror the reasons for control
that apply to ECCN 0A501 (with the addition of CC Column 2 reason for
control outlined in D.2 of this preamble in this IFR). Specifically, NS
Column 1, RS Column 1, FC Column 1, CC Column 2, UN, and AT Column 1
apply to the entire entry. License Exceptions LVS, GBS, and STA are not
available for use with commodities controlled under ECCN 0A507, as
discussed in greater detail below.
3. Addition of ECCN 0A508 for Semi-Automatic Shotguns
The commodities controlled under ECCN 0A508 were controlled
previously under ECCN 0A502. BIS, supported by an interagency working
group, consulted both the WAML1 and ATF's non-sporting importation
criteria to identify specific characteristics or attachments and
accessories to delineate in the ECCN 0A508 item paragraphs. The item
paragraph structure will better enable tracking and transparency for
exports of various types of end-item semi-automatic shotguns. ECCN
0A508 has two item paragraphs. Item paragraph .a controls semi-
automatic centerfire (non-rimfire) shotguns with any of the of the
following characteristics (which are detailed in a.1 through a.6):
folding, telescoping, or collapsible stock; magazine over five rounds;
a drum magazine; a flash suppressor; Excessive Weight (greater than 10
lbs. for 12 gauge or smaller); or Excessive Bulk (greater than 3 inches
in width and/or greater than 4 inches in depth). Item paragraph .b
controls all other semi-automatic shotguns, including all non-
centerfire (rimfire) shotguns that are not elsewhere specified. The
reasons for control for new ECCN 0A508 mirror the reasons for control
that apply to ECCN 0A502 (except for CC Column 2, which now applies to
the entire 0A502 and 0A508 entry): Specifically, NS Column 1 and RS
Column 1 for 0A508 commodities (with barrel length less than 18
inches), FC Column 1, CC Column 2, UN for the entire entry, and AT
Column 1 for 0A508 commodities (with barrel length less than 18
inches). LVS, GBS, and License Exception STA are not available for use
with ECCN 0A508, as discussed in greater detail below.
4. Addition of ECCN 0A509 for Certain ``Parts,'' ``Components,''
Devices, ``Accessories,'' and ``Attachments'' for Items Controlled
Under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508
The commodities controlled under ECCN 0A509 were controlled
previously under ECCNs 0A501 and 0A502. The commodities controlled
under 0A509 warrant separate tracking under a distinct ECCN due to
their sensitivity, including the potential that these firearms-related
items are used to illicitly assemble firearms or are otherwise used to
convert a non-automatic firearm controlled by 0A501 or 0A502 into a
semi-automatic firearm or to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-
automatic firearm controlled by 0A506, 0A507, or 0A508. The item
paragraph structure will enable better tracking and transparency for
exports of certain ``parts,'' ``components,'' devices, ``accessories,''
and ``attachments'' separate from the end-item semi-automatic rifles,
pistols, and shotguns controlled under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508.
ECCN 0A509 has four item paragraphs. Item paragraph .a controls any
``part,'' ``component,'' device, ``attachment,'' or ``accessory'' not
elsewhere specified on the USML that is designed or functions to
accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm controlled
under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, or 0A508. Item paragraphs .b and .c control
receivers (frames), including castings, forgings, stampings, or
machined items thereof, ``specially designed'' for an item controlled
under ECCNs 0A506 and 0A507, respectively. Item paragraph .d of ECCN
0A509 controls receivers (frames) and ``specially designed'' ``complete
breech mechanisms'' for a commodity controlled under ECCN 0A508. ECCN
0A509 has a note to item paragraphs .b and .c stating that receivers
(frames) under 0A509.b and .c refers to any ``part'' or ``component''
of the firearm that has or is customarily marked with a serial number
when required by law; the ``parts'' and ``components'' in paragraphs
0A509.b and .c are regulated by ATF as firearms (see 18 U.S.C.
921(a)(3); 27 CFR parts 447, 478, and 479). The reasons for control for
commodities controlled under new ECCN 0A509 are as follows: NS Column
1, RS Column 1, FC Column 1, CC Column 2, UN, and AT Column 1 apply to
the entire entry. License Exceptions LVS, GBS, and STA are not
available for use with commodities controlled under ECCN 0A509, as
discussed in greater detail below.
5. Other Changes for Existing 0x5zz ECCNs
BIS also reevaluated the reasons for control for rifles, pistols,
shotguns, ammunition, and related ``parts,'' ``components,''
``accessories,'' ``attachments,'' ``software,'' and ``technologies''
detailed under existing ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505, 0D501, 0D505,
0E501, 0E504, and 0E505. BIS is applying or maintaining CC column 2-
based controls on most items under these ECCNs, consistent with BIS
policy to apply CC controls on items to address human rights-related
concerns. Certain specific ``parts'' and ``components'' and ammunition
controlled under ECCNs 0A501.y and 0A505.c, 0A505.d, and 0A505.x are
not controlled for CC reasons (or certain other reasons under the EAR),
because they raise relatively few concerns related to human rights or
other foreign policy objectives. The CC changes described in this
paragraph, along with the other CC changes described in this preamble
section B.5, are expected to result in an increase of 1,115 license
applications received annually by BIS.
Prior to this IFR, either CC Column 1, CC Column 2, or CC Column 3
applied to shotguns controlled under ECCN 0A502 based on the barrel
length and particular end user (specifically, police or law
enforcement). This IFR revises the CC reasons for control on 0A502 to
underscore their significant relationship to U.S. foreign policy
objectives, including human rights. CC Column 2 applies to the entire
entry of 0A502, regardless of barrel length or end user. Similarly, CC
Column 2 applies to the entire entry of 0A508, regardless of barrel
length or end user. These changes implement a new license requirement
for the export of certain shotguns to certain countries and end users.
All other existing reasons for control on 0A502 remain in effect under
this IFR. In particular, consistent with the licensing policy for items
controlled for RS reasons, Sec. 742.6(b)(1)(i), BIS will continue to
review these items to determine whether the transaction is contrary to
U.S. foreign policy interests, including promoting the observance of
human rights throughout the world.
Similarly, this IFR adds CC Column 2 reasons for control to
software controlled under ECCNs 0D501 and 0D505 and technology
controlled under 0E501. Given that these ECCNs control the software and
technology that relate to firearms and related items, the same human
rights concerns apply. Therefore, as noted above, this change aligns
the reason for control for ECCNs 0D501,
[[Page 34687]]
0D505, and 0E501 with BIS policy to apply CC to firearms and related
items.
6. Other EAR conforming changes to reflect the new ECCNs for semi-
automatic firearms and semi-automatic shotguns.
With the exception of those commodities controlled under new ECCNs
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509 as described above, all firearms,
shotguns, and their ``parts,'' ``components,'' ``accessories,''
``attachments,'' and equipment remain controlled under ECCNs 0A501 and
0A502 on the CCL. However, the creation of the four new ECCNs requires
conforming changes throughout the EAR to maintain enhanced restrictions
on end-item firearms where only ECCNs 0A501 and 0A502 were previously
referenced. This IFR adds references to semi-automatic firearms and
semi-automatic shotguns controlled under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508,
as well as the commodities controlled under 0A509, where appropriate;
these conforming changes ensure that the semi-automatic versions of
end-use firearms and shotguns controlled under these three new ECCNs,
as well as the commodities controlled under 0A509, continue to be
subject to licensing restrictions and limitations on licensing
exception availability.
The conforming changes appear in the following EAR provisions
(referenced here in the order in which they are described under Table
1): Sec. Sec. 732.2(b), 734.7(c), 740.2(a)(21), 740.2(a)(23), 740.9(a)
and (b)(5) introductory text, 740.9(b)(5)(ii), 740.9, Note 1 to
paragraph (b)(5), 740.10(b)(1) introductory text and (b)(4),
740.10(b)(4)(i), 740.10, Note 1 to paragraph (b)(4), 740.11
introductory text, 740.14(e)(1) introductory text, 740.14(e)(1)(i),
740.14(e)(3) introductory text, 740.14(e)(3)(i), 740.14(e)(3)(iv),
740.14(e)(4), 740.20(b)(2)(ii)(A), 740.20(b)(2)(ii)(B), 742.6(b),
742.7(a)(5), 742.17(f), 743.4(c) (redesignated as paragraph (b)),
743.6(a) introductory text, (a)(1) and (2), (b), and (c), 748.12(a)(1),
748.12, Note 2 to paragraph (d)(3), supplement no. 2 to part 748,
paragraph (z), supplement no. 2 to part 748, Note 1 to paragraph (z),
supplement no. 2 to part 748, paragraph (bb) (redesignates as paragraph
(aa)(1)), 758.1(b)(9), Note 1 to paragraph (c)(1), and (g)(4)(i),
758.1(g)(4)(ii), 758.10(a) introductory text, Note 1 to paragraph
(b)(1), and Note 2 to paragraph (b)(1), 758.11(a) and (b)(2),
762.2(a)(11), 762.3(a)(5), as well as ECCNs 0A501 heading, Related
Controls paragraph, Technical Note to 0A501.c, Note 5 to 0A501.e, and
0A501.x and .y, 0A502 heading, and Related Controls paragraph, 0A505.a
and .d, 0B501 heading and 0B501.e, 0D501 heading, 0E501 heading,
0E501.a and .b, 0E502 heading, and ECCN 2B018 text under the heading.
These changes are not expected to have any impact on the number of
license applications received by BIS.
There are a number of references to the 0x5zz ECCNs in existing EAR
provisions that pertain to firearms controls. However, no changes are
required to such references because the four new ECCNs are also
considered 0x5zz ECCNs.
Table 1--Identification of Conforming Changes Made to Existing EAR
Regulatory References to Reflect the Addition of ECCN 0A506, 0A507,
0A508, and 0A509
This table identifies the specific EAR provision and type of
conforming changes required for consistency with the addition of these
four new ECCNs. BIS welcomes comments in response to this IFR on these
conforming changes, as well as any other conforming changes that the
public believes would be warranted to reflect the addition of these
four new ECCNs.
BILLING CODE 3510-33-C
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BILLING CODE 3510-33-P
C. Changes to License Exceptions and Related Changes
1. General restrictions on use of license exceptions. Section 740.2
of the EAR details restrictions in place on the use of all License
Exceptions. Paragraph (a) enumerates these restrictions. This IFR makes
two changes to this section. First, as a conforming change to the
addition of the CC control under ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, and 0A507, this
IFR revises the general restriction on the use of license exceptions
under paragraph (a)(4)(iii) in Sec. 740.2 for CC items identified in
Sec. 742.7 to remove the parenthetical phrase that limited the
eligibility of License Exception BAG under paragraph (e) to certain
shotguns and shotgun shells for personal use as the only License
Exception BAG authorization that could overcome the general restriction
in this paragraph (a)(4)(iii). Because the other firearms controlled
under new ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508 will require a license for CC
as of the effective date of this IFR, all of these firearms and related
items that are authorized under paragraph Sec. 740.14(e) should be
eligible to overcome this general restriction on the use of license
exceptions under
[[Page 34691]]
Sec. 740.2(a)(4). These changes are not expected to have any impact on
the number of license applications received by BIS.
Second, this IFR adds paragraph (a)(24) in Sec. 740.2. New
paragraph (a)(24) requires exporters to obtain a copy of an import
certificate or equivalent document (if required by the government of
the importing country) before the exporter can use any license
exception for items controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505,
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or 0A509. This new requirement parallels the new
policy detailed below related to obtaining and submitting an import
certificate when applying for a license for certain firearms and
related items. Although BIS anticipates that this requirement could
increase the burden under this collection to some degree, BIS believes
that exporters, as part of their current compliance programs, already
have processes in place to confirm whether the firearms and related
items that are to be exported may be imported into these foreign
countries. Therefore, this recordkeeping requirement likely reflects
practices and processes exporters already have in place and will
therefore be of minimal burden to exporters. As described below under
the Rulemaking section under paragraph 2, BIS welcomes comments from
the public on this aspect of this IFR.
2. LVS additional restrictions. License Exception LVS is detailed
under Sec. 740.3. BIS is further restricting the eligible destinations
for LVS under paragraph (b). As amended by this IFR, LVS is no longer
available for commodities controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504
(except 0A504.g), 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509 when they are
destined for destinations in ``CARICOM'' or destinations specified in
both Country Groups B and D:5. The addition to the EAR of the
``CARICOM'' as a defined term is detailed below. License Exception LVS
remains available only for certain commodity ECCNs. These changes are
expected to result in an increase of five hundred license applications
received annually by BIS.
3. License Exception BAG new restrictions and single trip limit.
i. BAG is detailed under Sec. 740.14. License Exception BAG
authorizes individuals leaving the United States either temporarily
(i.e., traveling) or longer-term (i.e., moving) and crew members of
exporting or reexporting carriers to take, as personal baggage, certain
items. This IFR revises Sec. 740.14 such that destination eligibility
under License Exception BAG for items controlled under ECCNs 0A501,
0A502, 0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509 is limited to
destinations other than those specified in Country Group D:5 (except
for Zimbabwe) or destinations in ``CARICOM.''
This IFR adds ``CARICOM'' as a defined term in Sec. 772.1, which
lists the definitions of terms used in the EAR. The definition of
``CARICOM'' specifies that for purposes of Sec. Sec. 740.3 and 740.14
of the EAR, the term means an intergovernmental organization that
consists of the following member states and associate members: member
states: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica,
Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, Suriname, St.
Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and
Tobago; associate members: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands,
Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos, as well as any other state or
associate member that has acceded to membership in accordance with
Article 3 or Article 231 of the Treaty of Chaguaramas for members or
associate members, respectively. The definition of ``CARICOM'' includes
a note specifying that Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands,
Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos are treated as the
United Kingdom under all other EAR provisions that govern licensing
requirements and license exceptions. These changes are expected to
result in an increase of five hundred license applications received
annually by BIS.
ii. Limit BAG to three shotguns and firearms in total for a single
trip. This IFR also revises Sec. 740.14 to limit the number of
shotguns and firearms that an individual may export using BAG.
Previously, paragraphs (e)(1)(i) and (e)(3)(i), read together,
permitted U.S. citizens to export or reexport three shotguns, three
firearms, and 1,000 rounds of ammunition on any one trip. This IFR
limits U.S. citizens to three firearms or shotguns in total on any one
trip. This change is expected to result in an increase of 50 license
applications received annually by BIS.
D. Revisions to License Review Policies
As part of the BIS effort to review firearms-related policies and
address concerns related to misuse or diversion contrary to U.S.
national security and foreign policy interests, including diversion to
entities or activities that promote regional instability, abuse or
violate human rights, and/or fuel criminal activities, two control
policies were identified for revision. This IFR revises the license
review policies under the Regional Stability (RS) and Crime Control
(CC) sections in part 742 of the EAR pursuant to BIS's findings. The
revisions to the RS and CC license review policies, which impose
presumptions of denial for certain high-risk transactions, are expected
to result in a decrease of 650 license applications received annually
by BIS, due to certain applicants likely being deterred from applying
for licenses.
1. Revisions to RS license review policies. Under Sec.
742.6(b)(1), licensing policy for RS column 1 items, this IFR makes
several structural changes to paragraph (b)(1)(i). To make the
paragraph more readily understandable, this IFR sets forth each license
review policy in a separate paragraph, (b)(1)(i)(A) through (G). This
IFR also makes conforming changes to clarify which items are reviewed
under the policies set forth in each paragraph. This IFR also makes
substantive revisions to RS reason for control, as detailed below.
i. Adoption of policy of denial review policy for D:5 for certain
0x5zz ECCNs. BIS reviews applications for exports and reexports of
items classified under any 9x515 or ``600 series'' ECCN destined to
Country Group D:5, destinations subject to a U.S. arms embargo,
consistent with United States arms embargo policies in Sec. 126.1 of
the ITAR (22 CFR 126.1). This IFR amends Sec. 742.6 of the EAR to
extend this licensing policy to include all firearms and related items
in ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or 0A509 that are
destined for D:5 destinations. This change is detailed in new paragraph
(b)(1)(i)(D).
Furthermore, BIS previously reviewed applications for items
controlled under certain firearms-related ECCNs and any 9x515 ECCN
under a policy of denial when destined for China or a Country Group E:1
country. This IFR amends Sec. 742.6 to extend this stringent review
policy to all items classified under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505,
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509, 0B501, 0B505, 0D501, 0D505, 0E501, 0E504,
or 0E505, or any 9x515 ECCNs. This change is detailed in new paragraph
(b)(1)(i)(F).
2. Revisions to CC license review policies. As stated above, this
IFR also revises the CC licensing policy in Sec. 742.7(b) to apply
stricter scrutiny to exports of firearms and related items to
destinations where diversion risks are particularly acute, such as
destinations in which significant drug trafficking and associated
criminal activity occurs. Previously, Sec. 742.7(a) consisted of
paragraphs (a)(1) through (6). Under this IFR, the firearms and shotgun
related items are listed in paragraph (a)(5) (ECCNs 0A501, 0A502,
0A504, 0A505.b,
[[Page 34692]]
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0E502, and 0E505). The contents of previous
paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) are removed as a conforming change to the
removal of CC Column 2 and CC Column 3 from shotguns. The non-firearms
and shotgun related items remain in (a)(1). Previous paragraphs (a)(4)
through (6) are now paragraphs (a)(2) though (4). Paragraphs (a)(2) and
(a)(4) contain a sentence showing that controls for these items appear
in each ECCN; a column specific to these controls does not appear in
the Country Chart (supplement no. 1 to part 738 of the EAR).
Given that this IFR makes Sec. 742.7(a)(5) solely pertain to
firearms and shotguns related items, BIS is designating these items as
having CC Column 2 reasons for control. As a result of this change, the
public can more easily identify firearms and shotguns related items on
the CCL. To ensure easy understanding of the applicability of license
requirements for CC Column 2 designated items, BIS in this IFR is
putting an X in the box on the Commerce Country Chart (supplement no. 1
to part 738) for all countries except Canada. This change does not
impose licensing requirements on exports or reexports to destinations
for which a license was not previously required, as NS and RS
requirements are already in place for all destinations other than
Canada.
Previously, Sec. 742.7(b) consisted of paragraphs (b)(1) and (2).
Under this IFR, paragraph (b) consists of paragraphs (b)(1) through
(3). Paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) remain, but apply to (a)(1) through (4).
Paragraph (b)(3) applies to items controlled under Sec. 742.7(a)(5).
The review policy for these items is broken out for two types of end
users as described in section D.2.i and D.2.ii:
i. License review policies for government end users. Paragraph
(b)(3)(i) describes policies for license applications when the items
are destined for government end users. These applications will be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine the risk that the items
will be diverted or misused in a manner that would adversely impact
U.S. national security or foreign policy.
ii. License review policies for non-government end users. Paragraph
(b)(3)(ii) describes policies for license applications when the items
are destined for non-government end users. These license applications
will also be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. They will additionally
be reviewed under a presumption of denial if one of two conditions
(detailed in paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(A) and (B)) are met: (A) the items
are being exported or reexported to a destination identified in the
Firearms Guidance Memorandum as a destination in which it determined
that there is a substantial risk that firearms exports to non-
governmental end users will be diverted or misused in a manner adverse
to U.S. national security and foreign policy, or (B) there is otherwise
a substantial risk that the items will be diverted or misused in a
manner that would adversely impact U.S. national security or foreign
policy.
The presumption of denial review policy for license applications
involving exports and reexports to high-risk destinations identified in
the Firearms Guidance Memorandum ensures that all exports of firearms
and related items to those destinations are consistent with U.S.
national security and foreign policy. As discussed above, to support
Commerce's ongoing efforts to impose export controls that further U.S.
national security and foreign policy, State has developed a list of
destinations in which there is a substantial risk that lawfully
exported firearms sold to non-governmental end users could be diverted
or misused in a manner adverse to U.S. national security and foreign
policy. The Firearms Guidance Memorandum, which is available on the BIS
website at www.bis.gov/guidance_memorandum and on regulations.gov,
outlines the methodology for evaluating destination-specific risks and
identifies 36 high-risk destinations.
Having carefully reviewed the list and methodology, which was
developed by national security and foreign policy experts at State in
consultation with other experts from across the U.S. Government, BIS
has determined that a presumption of denial should apply to
applications for the export and reexport of firearms and related items
involving non-government end users in these 36 destinations. Thus, as
part of this IFR, BIS is adopting the list and adding it to a
supplement to the EAR (see below, in this section of the preamble, for
details).
A presumption of denial review policy for exports and reexports to
non-government end users to the destinations identified in the Firearms
Guidance Memorandum will significantly further U.S. national security
and foreign policy interests. As described above, based on analysis of
destination-specific risk factors and consultations with U.S. Embassy
officials and stakeholders across the U.S. Government, State determined
that firearms and related items exported to non-government end users in
those 36 destinations face a substantial risk of diversion or misuse in
a manner adverse to U.S. national security and foreign policy. In other
words, there is a substantial risk that firearms and related items
exported to those destinations will fall into the hands of
organizations and individuals that will use those items to expand
transnational drug operations, spark regional conflicts, commit acts of
terrorism, abuse human rights, destabilize governments, or harm
communities. Applying a presumption of denial to license applications
for those exports will ensure that the licensing process fully and
consistently accounts for those risks, thereby significantly furthering
and safeguarding U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.
In addition, transparency with respect to destinations of concern
will promote predictable and timely review of license applications and
will help industry and other stakeholders understand the licensing
process. It will also make the review process more efficient, thereby
allowing BIS to focus time and resources on other license applications,
including applications for exports to other destinations and
applications to government end users in all destinations. Instead of
reassessing the risks associated with transactions involving
destinations identified in the Firearms Guidance Memorandum as
presenting a substantial risk of diversion or misuse, BIS will be able
to focus on assessing applications that present other, varying risk
factors or indicia of reliability.
Moreover, exporters will have the opportunity to overcome the
presumption of denial by demonstrating that a specific transaction does
not present a substantial risk of diversion or misuse. A presumption of
denial, as opposed to an absolute prohibition, will provide BIS with
the flexibility to tailor its review to the individual facts and
related policy interests. For example, BIS may recommend to approve a
transaction involving a non-government security service charged with
protecting a third-country embassy in a destination identified in the
Firearms Guidance Memorandum as presenting a substantial risk of
diversion or misuse. Notably, a presumption of denial in the firearms
context is generally consistent with BIS's licensing review policies
under the EAR, including in connection with other sensitive items and
destinations of concern.
State has also committed to lead an interagency process to assess
periodically, the risk that exports of firearms and related items to
specific destinations, including those identified on the list, will be
diverted or misused in a manner adverse to U.S. national
[[Page 34693]]
security and foreign policy. State will also lead a periodic
interagency review of the factors and other aspects of in the Firearms
Guidance Memorandum, with the goal of updating both the guidance
memorandum and its list of destinations on an annual basis. State has
also noted that the Firearms Guidance Memorandum and corresponding list
of destinations may be updated outside of the annual window if there
are exigent circumstances (e.g., a coup) or if updates are otherwise
needed to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.
BIS will review any changes recommended as the result of the State-
led, interagency-informed assessment process, and maintain the list in
supplement no. 3 to part 742 of the EAR. BIS will publish any additions
or deletions to the list in the Federal Register. As set forth in new
supp. no. 3 to part 742, the list of countries for which there is a
presumption of denial application review policy for exports and
reexports to non-governmental end users is as follows: The Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Colombia,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras,
Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mali,
Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda,
Vietnam, and Yemen.
iii. Addition of factors that will be considered for all 0x5zz
license applications regardless of end user. For all end users,
paragraph (b)(3) details specific factors that BIS will consider in
assessing the risk that firearms and related items will be diverted or
misused in a manner that would adversely impact U.S. national security
or foreign policy. For each license application, BIS will specifically
review concerns in the destination associated with state fragility,
human rights and political violence, terrorism, corruption, organized
crime or gang-related activity, drug trafficking, and past diversion or
misuse of firearms; the nature of the end user; the capabilities,
potential uses, and lethality of the item; and other factors as needed.
As always, license applicants are strongly encouraged to consider
license review factors that are detailed in the EAR when sourcing
potential customers abroad.
3. Revision to license review policies for Exports of Firearms to
Organization of American States (OAS) Member Countries.
Consistent with Commerce's findings during its policy review, this
IFR revises the licensing policies for the export and reexport of most
firearms and related items to all OAS member countries, under Sec.
742.17(b). There continue to be two distinct licensing policies for
exports and reexports of firearms and related items to OAS member
countries: a case-by-case review policy and a policy of denial for
applications linked to drug trafficking, terrorism, and criminal
activities. These are further discussed below under this section D.3.
Under this IFR, applications supported by an FC Import Certificate
or equivalent official document issued by the government of the
importing country will now be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, as
opposed to the license review policy of general approval that applied
before. This change matches the text in other provisions in part 742 of
the EAR, which use the ``case-by-case'' text. Previously, applications
supported by an FC Import Certificate or equivalent official document
would ``generally be approved.'' With the increased visibility into
transactions provided by other regulatory changes discussed in this
IFR, a ``case-by-case'' review policy more accurately reflects the
standards under which BIS will assesses these applications going
forward. As part of the license review process, BIS will continue
utilizing a variety of open-source and classified resources and
anticipates that the other regulatory changes implemented by this IFR
will provide increased visibility regarding these applications. These
changes are expected to result in a decrease of 100 license
applications received annually by BIS, due to certain applicants being
deterred from applying for licenses because of the case-by-case license
review policy.
This IFR does not change the review policy of denial for
applications linked to drug trafficking, terrorism, and criminal
activities. Applications linked to drug trafficking, terrorism, and
transnational organized crime activities will continue to be reviewed
under a policy of denial. This retention of the existing policy is not
expected to have any impact on the number of license applications
received by BIS.
E. Changes in Support Document Requirements for Firearms License
Applications
1. Import Certificate Requirements
i. Require submission as part of the license application for all
firearms license applications for Organization of American States (OAS)
member countries and other destinations that require an import
certificate or equivalent official document for the importation of
firearms. Previously, BIS required the submission of an import
certificate or other equivalent official document only for OAS member
states; for non-OAS member states that require an import certificate or
equivalent official document, the applicant was required to obtain a
copy of such documentation but was not required to submit it with the
license application unless specifically requested by BIS. Under this
IFR, the requirement that all license applications for firearms and
related items include an import certificate or equivalent official
document as part of the submission will minimize the risk of an
exporter failing to obtain an import certificate or equivalent official
document if required by the importing country. This requirement will
also help ensure that the importing country's government is aware of
the shipment and has confirmed that the import is lawful. This
requirement applies to all firearms and related items described under
0x5zz ECCNs. These changes are expected to result in an increase of 250
import certificates or other equivalent official documents that need to
be submitted with BIS licenses. BIS estimates that the time to submit
each document will be 1 minute. This will result in an increase in
burden hours of 4 hours.
ii. Combining the OAS and non-OAS requirements to simplify the
requirements and improve understanding. To facilitate this support
document requirement, this IFR revises Sec. 748.12, which addresses
requirements for obtaining an import certificate or import permit.
Previously, paragraph (a) specified the requirements for OAS member
states and paragraph (e) specified the requirements for non-OAS member
states. Given the detail set forth regarding the required
documentation, and the fact that all destinations will be treated the
same, this IFR removes previous paragraph (e). All applicable
information in previous paragraph (e) is moved to revised paragraph
(a), and conforming changes are included in revised paragraphs (a)
through (d). These formatting and clarifying changes are expected to
facilitate compliance and are not expected to have any impact on the
number of import certificates or other equivalent official documents
received by BIS. Paragraph (a)(2)(i) details OAS member countries; BIS
is taking this opportunity to add a reference to this paragraph that
OAS member countries includes any member country that has acceded in
accordance with Chapter III of the Charter of the Organization of
American States.
[[Page 34694]]
2. Requiring Purchase Orders for Certain Firearms License Applications
i. Conforming changes to provide clarity and to make the
requirements easier to understand. To facilitate understanding by the
public regarding the changes discussed in sections E.2.ii and E.3 of
this preamble, this IFR redesignates paragraphs (aa) and (bb) to
supplement no. 2 to part 748 (Unique Application and Submission
Requirements), such that previous (aa) paragraph, detailing ``600
Series Major Defense Equipment,'' is redesignated as paragraph (bb).
Previous paragraph (bb) detailing ``semi-automatic firearms controlled
under ECCN 0A501.a'' is redesignated as paragraph (aa), such that it
follows existing paragraph (z) detailing ``exports of firearms and
certain shotguns temporarily in the U.S.'' By making these changes so
that the contents of paragraphs (z) and redesignated paragraph (aa)
appear sequentially, these requirements should be clearer to the
public.
This IFR also revises redesignated paragraph (aa) to include the
unique application and submission requirements that apply to exports of
other firearms, certain shotguns, and related items. The contents of
the original paragraph, ``semiautomatic firearms controlled under ECCN
0A501.a,'' are redesignated under (aa)(1), with conforming revisions
made to the title corresponding to the addition of new ECCNs detailed
above. New paragraph (aa)(2) requires the submission of purchase
documentation for certain applications. New paragraph (aa)(3) requires
the submission of passport or other national identity card information
for certain applications. Requirements in new paragraphs (aa)(2) and
(3) are detailed below. These formatting and clarifying changes are not
expected to have any impact on the number of purchase orders received
by BIS.
ii. Addition of purchase order requirement for non-A:1 countries.
This IFR amends the EAR to require that a purchase order be submitted
for exports and reexports of firearms and related items to non-A:1
countries. Previously, exporters were not required to submit a purchase
order with BIS license applications, unless requested during the course
of BIS's review of a particular application. This practice created a
number of challenges. First, BIS processed and reviewed many
applications that did not result in actual exports, thereby
unnecessarily expending staffing resources. Previously, less than 20%
of licensed quantities were actually exported. In addition, such
licensing that did not result in exports offered limited visibility
into actual demand for U.S. firearms abroad, which in turn made
effective monitoring of diversion risks more difficult. Requiring
purchase orders for exports and reexports to non-A:1 countries will
enable BIS to use licensed quantities to estimate bona fide local
demand, thereby ensuring that BIS can appropriately evaluate the
national security and foreign policy risks associated with a given
transaction and effectively allocate review and processing resources.
This IFR specifies that purchase orders must be dated within 1 year of
their submission with a license application. Purchase orders are
required for certain items controlled under ECCNs 0A501 (except
0A501.y), 0A502, 0A505 (except 0A505.c), 0A505.d, and 0A505.e), 0A506,
0A507, and 0A508, and 0A509. Upon approving a license for these items,
BIS will generally limit the licensed quantity to the quantity
specified on the purchase order. However, applicants may request up to
a 10% increase in quantity from the purchase order amount, which will
be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, parties may export
or reexport various model types under the approved license, so long as
the items remain consistent with the ECCN and ECCN item level paragraph
specified on the approved application. These requirements appear in new
paragraph (aa)(2) of supplement no. 2 to part 748. These changes are
expected to result in a net increase of 7,109 purchase orders that will
need to be submitted with license applications. BIS estimates that the
time required to submit each will be 1 minute; this will result in an
increase in burden hours of 116 hours. That estimate factors in that
these changes are expected to result in a decrease of 500 license
applications received annually because some exporters will be unwilling
or unable to provide purchase orders.
3. Requiring Passport or National Identity Card for Firearms License
Applications for Natural Persons Located in Destinations Other Than in
Country Group A:1
Governmental purchasers and commercial distributors constitute the
vast majority of end users identified on firearms license applications.
However, in some cases, an exporter or reexporter may apply for a
license to export or reexport firearms to a natural person (individual)
abroad. This IFR amends the EAR to require that a passport or national
identity card be submitted for exports and reexports of firearms and
related items to natural persons in non-A:1 countries. Previously,
passports or other national identity cards were not required with
submission of applications for export to individuals unless requested
by BIS for a specific license application. Based on its history of
reviewing applications destined for individual recipients, BIS has
determined that a passport or national identity card would help ensure
robust vetting of the appropriate end user identified on the
application, including vetting by local law enforcement in the
recipient country, particularly to address any potential diversion
risks. For example, BIS might use a national identity card to
distinguish between individuals with the same name. Under this IFR,
license applications for items controlled under ECCNs 0A501 (except
0A501.y), 0A502, 0A504, 0A505 (except 0A505.c, 0A505.d, and 0A505.e),
0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509 for individuals in destinations other
than Country Group A:1 require the submission of passport or other
national identity card information for all named individual recipient
end users of those items. This requirement is detailed under new
paragraph (aa)(3) to supplement no. 2 to part 748. These changes are
expected to result in an increase of 3,160 passports or other national
identity card information that will be submitted annually. BIS
estimates that the time required to submit each document is 1 minute;
resulting in an increase in burden hours of 57 hours. That estimate
factors in that these changes are expected to result in a decrease of
100 license applications received annually by BIS, because some
individuals will not want to provide such information to exporters or
reexporters as part of the license application process.
F. Adoption of Formalized Interagency Working Group for Firearms
License Application To Enhance the Existing Interagency License Review
Process
BIS license applications involving 0x5zz items are reviewed by the
longstanding interagency review processes specified under part 750 of
the EAR. Accordingly, BIS has consulted with interagency partners
regarding the review of license applications for exports and reexports
of these items since their respective additions to the CCL.
Additionally, BIS has participated in an informal interagency working
group with representatives from State since summer 2023 to ensure
appropriate focus on firearms license applications. This interagency
review process is an important mechanism in ensuring that U.S. national
security and foreign policy
[[Page 34695]]
interests are adequately considered in all licensing decisions.
This IFR builds on the existing review process by formalizing an
interagency working group, chaired by State, to evaluate firearm
diversion and misuse risks. By formalizing an interagency working group
on the review process for licensing involving firearms and related
items, BIS seeks to ensure proactive tracking across relevant
stakeholder agencies of licensing and export data, ongoing review of
licenses or pending applications of concern, and collaboration on
addressing issues in various countries or with specific end users.
Formalizing this process will help ensure its longevity and showcase
the U.S. Government's commitment to its success. The creation of a
formal interagency working group will help ensure that the risk factors
outlined in this IFR (including terrorism, state fragility, corruption,
human rights, political violence, and past diversion or misuse) are
thoroughly vetted by interagency experts when reviewing firearms-
related license applications. State has also committed to lead
interagency efforts to use this working group to assess the
determinations set out in the Firearms Guidance Memorandum, with the
goal of revising the memorandum and updating its list of high-risk
destinations annually and as needed. Interagency licensing working
groups are detailed under Sec. 750.4(d) of the EAR. This IFR will add
Sec. 750.4(d)(2)(v), which describes a new working group called ``The
Safeguard.'' The Safeguard will be chaired by State and will review
license applications involving firearm-related items controlled under
0x5zz ECCNs. These changes are not expected to have any impact on the
number of license applications received by BIS.
G. Reduction in General License Validity Period (1-Year License
Validity for Firearms Licenses)
This IFR amends the EAR to reduce the general validity period from
four years to one year for all future licenses involving firearms and
related items. Because national security and foreign policy
considerations (including human rights-related considerations) in
destinations abroad can change rapidly, the risks or potential benefits
associated with certain transactions can be difficult to predict
several years in advance. Limiting the length of the license validity
period will lead to more frequent reviews of exports and thus enable
BIS to account for developments and often fluid circumstances in
destinations; doing so enables more precise and timely consideration of
diversion risk and national security and foreign policy interests. A
shortened validity period also reduces the risk of shipments on an
expired import certificate, as well as the risk that BIS has to suspend
or revoke a license based on rapidly developing national security and
foreign policy concerns.
Previously, the general license validity period for a BIS license
(with limited exceptions) was four years. Under this IFR, items
controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508,
and 0A509 are generally limited to a 12-month validity period under
revised Sec. 750.7(g). Licenses extending beyond 12 months for
firearms and related items may still be granted in certain limited
circumstances, such as transactions involving intra-company transfers
of items (e.g., from a subsidiary to a parent company) or government
contracts that require a period of performance longer than 12 months.
This IFR does not make any other changes to Sec. 750.7(g), and all
other aspects of the license validity period (such as expiration date)
continue to apply to firearms and related items. This change is
expected to result in an increase of 500 license applications received
annually by BIS.
H. Changes To Make Mandatory in the Automated Export System the
Identification of End-Item Firearms and Shotguns, Along With Certain
``Parts,'' ``Components,'' Devices, ``Accessories,'' and
``Attachments'' for Semi-Automatic Firearms and Semi-Automatic
Shotguns, and Conforming Changes to Conventional Arms Reporting
Requirements
As referenced above under section C of this preamble, this IFR
creates four new ECCNs, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509, to help
distinguish between non-automatic and semi-automatic firearms exports
in AES EEI filings, along with the export of certain ``parts,''
``components,'' devices, ``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' for semi-
automatic firearms and semi-automatic shotguns. However, in order to
further enhance the export data to distinguish between end-item
firearms exports and other firearms ``parts,'' ``components,'' devices,
``accessories, or ``attachments'' exports, as well as simplify the
conventional arms reporting requirements for firearms under the EAR
(Sec. 743.4), this IFR revises the requirement in Sec.
758.1(g)(4)(ii), which previously allowed exporters to complete their
conventional arms reporting requirements without submitting
conventional arms reports to BIS. This IFR revises this reporting
requirement by making conventional arms reporting information in the
EEI filing in AES mandatory; it does this by specifying that exporters
must include the items-level classification or other items-level
descriptor in the Commodity description block in the EEI filed in AES.
Section I further describes the conventional arms reporting-related
changes to the EAR that are being made by this IFR.
Specifically, this IFR revises paragraph (g)(4)(ii) to expand the
scope of the heading to include certain ``parts,'' ``components,''
devices, ``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' controlled under new ECCN
0A509. Because of the importance of these commodities for semi-
automatic firearms and semi-automatic shotguns, additional visibility
is needed regarding these ``parts,'' ``components,'' devices,
``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' controlled under new ECCN 0A509,
as well as the commodities controlled under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and
0A508, for the export clearance requirement under paragraph (g)(4)(ii).
This IFR revises the paragraph (g)(4)(ii) introductory text to make
the requirements of this paragraph mandatory instead of optional for
all shipments that meet the specified criteria. It also expands the
scope of this mandatory export clearance requirement to include not
just ECCNs 0A501.a or .b and shotguns with a barrel length less than 18
inches controlled under ECCN 0A502, but also to include items
controlled under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506.a or .b, 0A507.a and .b,
shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled under
ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508.a. or .b, or ``parts,'' ``components,'' devices,
``accessories,'' or ``attachments'' controlled under 0A509.a, .b, .c,
or .d, as of the effective date of this IFR. To assist exporters in
identifying the information that must be included in the Commodity
description block in the EEI filing in AES, this IFR also adds new
paragraphs (g)(4)(ii)(A) through (F). This information will be
particularly helpful for certain ECCNs, such as new ECCN 0A506.a, which
controls any semi-automatic centerfire (non-rimfire) rifles equal to
.50 caliber (12.7 mm) or less that has any of the characteristics that
will be specified under 0A506.a.1 through .a.6. New paragraph
(g)(4)(ii)(C) specifies that, in that case, .a will appear as the first
text in the Commodity description block in the EEI filing in AES. These
changes are not expected to result in an increase in burden; a
commodity description was already required to be provided in the EEI in
AES prior to the effective date of this IFR, so including this
additional information as part of the commodity
[[Page 34696]]
description will not change the burden hours for exporters.
I. Conventional Arms Reporting--Related Changes
This IFR revises the conventional arms reporting requirements in
Sec. 743.4 to make a conforming change for new ECCNs 0A506.a. and .b
and 0A507.a. and .b. This IFR also revises Sec. 743.4 to specify that
BIS will be relying solely on the alternative submission method for
obtaining the required information for the conventional arms reporting,
as was also referenced above under section F of this preamble.
1. Conforming change to add 0A506.a and .b and 0A507.a and .b to
the conventional arms reporting requirements. This IFR revises Sec.
743.4 to add references to the end-item firearms controlled under ECCNs
0A506.a and .b and 0A507.a, .b, and .c, to specify that these semi-
automatic rifles and pistols are included for the conventional arms
reporting for the Wassenaar Arrangement semi-annual reporting and the
United Nations annual report described under Sec. 743.4. This approach
is consistent with how these items were previously reported when
controlled under ECCN 0A501.a or .b. The changes discussed below
regarding BIS's use of EEI data to meet conventional arms reporting
requirements affect both the existing ECCNs and the newly added ECCNs
referenced in Sec. 743.4 (i.e., ECCNs 0A501.a and .b, 0A506.a and .b,
and 0A507.a. and .b).
2. Specifying that BIS will use AES EEI data to meet the
conventional arms reporting requirements of 0A501.a and .b, 0A506.a and
.b, and 0A507.a and .b.
In preparing this IFR, BIS reevaluated the conventional arms
reporting requirements under existing Sec. 743.4 and the alternative
submission method for ECCN 0A501.a and .b referenced under Sec. Sec.
743.4(h) and 758.1(g)(4)(ii) based on its experience since ECCNs
0A501.a and .b were added to the EAR on March 9, 2020. BIS determined,
based on this review, that the conventional arms reporting requirements
could be simplified by making the alternative submission method the
sole method that exporters use to submit the information to meet the
conventional arms reporting requirement for ECCN 0A501.a or .b, as well
as for semi-automatic rifles controlled under ECCN 0A506.a and .b and
semi-automatic pistols controlled under 0A507.a and .b.
Previously, BIS added the alternative submission method in Sec.
743.4(h) of the EAR as part of the January 2020 EAR final rule to
reflect exporters' recommendation that BIS use AES EEI data to obtain
the information required for these two conventional arms reports. The
alternative submission method gave exporters the option of including
the additional .a or .b information as the first characters to appear
in the commodity description block in AES, rather than requiring
submission of information on end-item firearms under ECCN 0A501.a and
.b in separate reports to BIS. Based on data reviewed by BIS, nearly
all exporters have been using this alternative submission method to
meet their conventional arms reporting requirements since March 9,
2020, the effective date of the January 2020 rule. The alternative
submission method has also been an efficient method for extracting the
data needed by BIS to prepare these reports.
In addition, consistent with BIS's interest in increasing
transparency regarding exports and reexports of the semi-automatic
firearms and related ``parts,'' ``components,'' devices,
``accessories,'' and ``attachments,'' this IFR revises Sec.
758.1(g)(4)(ii), as described above under section F, to include the
``items'' level paragraph classification as the first characters to
appear in the Commodity description block in the EEI filed in AES
mandatory for ECCNs 0A501.a and .b, 0A506.a and .b, 0A507.a and .b,
0A508.a and .b. Given that a commodity description was already
previously required in the EEI filing in AES, including this additional
information as part of the commodity description is not expected to
change the burden hours for exporters.
As a result of the requirement to submit item paragraph information
in AES, the existing provisions in Sec. 743.4 that require exporters
to submit annual and semi-annual reports for the purposes of
conventional arms reporting via email (``standard method'') unless the
exporter provides the item paragraph classification with the exporter's
AES EEI filings (``alternative method'') are no longer necessary,
because BIS will be able to rely on AES data pursuant to the revisions
to Sec. 758.1(g)(4)(ii) addressing conventional arms reporting for
ECCN 0A501.a and .b, as well as for 0A506.a and .b and 0A507.a and .b.
These changes will streamline the exporter's reporting obligations by
limiting them to the AES filing requirement. Because nearly all
exporters that were required to submit conventional arms reports to BIS
were already using the alternative method, the elimination of the
submission of email reports as an available method under revised Sec.
743.4 will not result in a substantive change in the burden on
exporters.
J. Revocations and Modifications to Existing Licenses
Based on the policy rationale identified above, BIS has determined
that it is necessary to revoke or modify certain valid licenses for the
export and reexport of firearms and related items to non-government end
users. As described below, on July 1, 2024, BIS will revoke all
currently valid licenses to non-government end users in High-Risk
Destinations for Firearms and Related Items. (See supplement no. 3 to
part 742.) In addition, on May 30, 2024, BIS will modify certain other
valid licenses with validity periods that end more than one year from
the effective date of this IFR by rendering them invalid one year from
the effective date of this IFR. These modified licenses cover exports
and reexports to non-government end users in destinations outside High-
Risk Destinations for Firearms and Related Items, Country Group A:1,
Israel, and Ukraine.
1. License Revocations
On July 1, 2024, pursuant to Sec. 750.8 of the EAR, BIS will
revoke existing licenses for the export and reexport of firearms and
related items to non-government end users in destinations identified in
supplement no. 3 to part 742 (High-Risk Destinations for Firearms and
Related Items). As discussed above, the Firearms Guidance Memorandum
has identified that there is a substantial risk that firearms and
related items exported or reexported to non-government end users in
these destinations will be diverted or misused in a manner adverse to
U.S. national security and foreign policy, including for use in drug
trafficking, regional conflict, or human rights abuses. Accordingly, as
discussed above, this IFR applies a presumption of denial to all
license applications submitted on or after May 30, 2024 and seeking to
export or reexport firearms and related items to non-government end
users in these destinations. Existing licenses for exports and
reexports to non-government end users in these destinations were issued
under previous review criteria. Accordingly, failure to revoke these
licenses would allow firearms and related items to continue to be
exported to these destinations for up to several more years without
review under the new policy. Such ongoing exports or reexports of
firearms and related items could create a substantial risk of diversion
and stockpiling in a manner contrary to U.S. national security and
foreign policy interests.
BIS will issue these revocations on July 1, 2024, 30 days after the
effective
[[Page 34697]]
date of this IFR, to ensure that planned shipments may be completed
without disruption to ongoing trade. For any license that is revoked,
the license holder may appeal a revocation to the Under Secretary for
Industry and Security pursuant to Sec. 756 of the EAR. Procedures for
filing such an appeal are described in detail in Sec. 756.2(b) of the
EAR and will be included in the letters that BIS will send to notify
license holders of the pending revocation. License holders whose
license(s) are revoked by BIS may reapply to export or reexport the
items covered by the revoked license without prejudice under BIS's new
licensing policy, as described in this IFR.
2. License Modification
In addition to revoking the licenses described above, BIS will,
upon the effective date of this IFR, May 30, 2024, pursuant to Sec.
750.8 of the EAR, modify certain existing licenses for firearms and
related items to non-government end users that have more than one year
remaining of their validity periods to render them invalid on May 30,
2025. These modifications will not affect licenses to non-government
end users in Country Group A:1, Israel, and Ukraine (which implement
export controls consistent with the Wassenaar Arrangement), or to High-
Risk Destinations for Firearms and Related Items. The affected licenses
were not reviewed under the new policies established in this IFR, and
were issued with a four-year validity period rather than the one-year
general validity period established in this IFR. As discussed elsewhere
in this IFR, BIS is shortening the validity period of licenses to
export or reexport firearms and related items to one year to enable
more precise consideration of the risk of diversion or misuse,
consistent with national security and foreign policy interests.
Accordingly, BIS is modifying the validity period of certain existing
licenses, not subject to revocation, in furtherance of this effort.
The revocations and modifications described in section J, are
expected to result in an increase of 270 license applications received
annually by BIS. However, this is anticipated to be a one-time
increase.
K. Request for Public Comment
In addition to seeking public comment on the changes reflected in
this IFR, including the four new ECCNs and conforming changes (see
Table 1 under section B.6 of this IFR), BIS is specifically seeking
public comment on the issues below. See the ADDRESSES section of this
rule for instructions on how to submit comments.
(1) BIS seeks comments on the expected impact on individuals, as
well as industry, should BIS impose a time limit on the use of Sec.
740.14 BAG License Exception for firearms classified under ECCNs 0A501,
0A502, 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508. Such limits would require the items to
be returned to the United States or other country of re-export within
the specified time limit, or to otherwise be disposed of in accordance
with the EAR, e.g., by obtaining a BIS license to authorize a longer
temporary export or a permanent export. For temporary exports or
reexports longer than the BAG time limit, a license would be required
to authorize the export or reexport. In considering revisions to BAG,
BIS identified that imposing a time limit of 45-, 60-, 90-, or 180-days
on how long the exporter is eligible to keep the firearms out of the
country could help address diversion risks.
(2) BIS seeks comments on potential additional revisions to Sec.
740.14 of the EAR to require exporters of applicable firearms and
related commodities authorized under License Exception BAG to submit
EEI filings in AES under Sec. 758.1(b)(9). This IFR does not make
changes to the exemption from the EEI filing requirements for License
Exception BAG authorized exports or the export clearance requirements
under Sec. 758.11, which will continue to require submission of the
CBP Form 4457. However, BIS seeks comments on the potential impact on
individuals if BIS were to remove the requirements in Sec. 758.11 and
instead require mandatory EEI filing in AES. BIS is aware of concerns
about requiring individuals to file EEI in AES for License Exception
BAG authorized exports; because of the benefits to increasing
transparency and reducing the chance of diversion, BIS is considering
whether additional changes may be warranted in this export clearance
area. BIS also welcomes comments that provide alternative suggestions
for increasing transparency and reducing diversion risk without
imposing a mandatory EEI filing requirement in AES for exports
authorized under License Exception BAG.
Export Control Reform Act of 2018
On August 13, 2018, the President signed into law the John S.
McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which
included the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA), 50 U.S.C. 4801-
4852. ECRA, as amended, provides the legal basis for BIS's principal
authorities and serves as the authority under which BIS issues this
IFR.
Rulemaking Requirements
1. BIS has examined the expected impact of this IFR as required by
Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14094, which direct agencies to
assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and,
if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that
maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental,
public, health, and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity).
This IFR is considered a ``significant regulatory action'' under
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order
14094.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person may be
required to respond to or be subject to a penalty for failure to comply
with a collection of information, subject to the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (PRA), unless
that collection of information displays a currently valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number. This regulation involves
five collections currently approved by OMB.
OMB Control Number 0694-0088, Simplified Network
Application Processing System;
OMB Control Number 0694-0096, Five Year Records Retention
Period;
OMB Control Number 0694-0122, Licensing Responsibilities
and Enforcement;
OMB Control Number 0694-0137, License Exceptions and
Exclusions; and
OMB Control Number 0607-0152, Automated Export System
(AES) Program.
Additional information regarding these collections of information--
including all background materials--can be found at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain by using the search function to enter
either the title of the collection or the OMB Control Number.
With regard to control number 0694-0088, Simple Network Application
Process and Multipurpose Application Form. BIS expects an increase of
1003 burden hours for this collection; however, 132 hours of this
increase is anticipated to be a one-time increase related to the
revocation and modification of licenses for firearms and related items
described in section J of this IFR. These additional burden hours will
be added during the current renewal approval process for this
information collection.
For OMB control number 0694-0137, License Exceptions and
Exclusions, BIS expects a slight increase in burden
[[Page 34698]]
hours for this collection because of the new restriction on the use of
License Exceptions under Sec. 740.2(a)(24). This requires exporters to
obtain a copy of an import certificate or equivalent document (if
required by the importing country) before the exporter can use any
license exception for items controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504,
0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509. Although BIS anticipates that
this requirement could increase reporting burden to some degree under
this collection, BIS believes that exporters, as part of their existing
compliance programs, likely already have processes in place to confirm
whether the firearms and related items that are to be exported may be
imported into these foreign countries. BIS believes this requirement is
likely reflective of practices and processes exporters already have in
place and will therefore be of a minimal burden to exporters. BIS
welcomes comments on this information collection requirement and on the
assumptions that this confirmation requirement is not a deviation from
exporters' current practices to ensure that exports of firearms and
related items that are authorized under BIS license exceptions may be
imported into the respective countries of import. In order to protect
U.S. national security and foreign policy interests and to ensure that
EAR license exceptions are not used to authorize an export of a firearm
or related commodity when a foreign government requires an import
certificate or other equivalent document that has not been issued, this
IFR imposes a new general restriction on the use of all EAR license
exceptions under Sec. 740.2(a)(24). A similar type of import
certificate or other equivalent document requirement applies for items
authorized under a BIS license.
The AES change included in this rule under Sec. 758.1(g)(4)(ii) is
not anticipated to result in a change in the burden under the OMB
control number 0607-0152, Automated Export System (AES) Program because
exporters are already required to provide a description in the
Commodity description block in the EEI filing in AES. Similarly,
changes impacting OMB control numbers 0694-0096 and 0694-0122, Five
Year Records Retention Period and Licensing Responsibilities and
Enforcement, respectively, are not expected to result in an increase in
burden hours.
3. This rule does not contain policies with federalism implications
as that term is defined under Executive Order 13132.
4. Pursuant to Section 1762 of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4821), this action
is exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553)
requirements for notice of proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public
participation, and delay in effective date.
5. Because neither the Administrative Procedure Act nor any other
law requires notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for
public comment for this rule, the analytical requirements of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are not applicable.
Accordingly, no Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is required and
none has been prepared.
List of Subjects
15 CFR Part 732, 738, 740, 750, and 758
Administrative practice and procedure, Exports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
15 CFR Part 734
Administrative practice and procedure, Exports, Inventions and
patents, Research, Science and technology.
15 CFR Part 742
Exports, Terrorism.
15 CFR Part 743
Administrative practice and procedure, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
15 CFR Part 748
Administrative practice and procedure, Exports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Terrorism.
15 CFR Part 762
Administrative practice and procedure, Business and industry,
Confidential business information, Exports, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
15 CFR Part 772
Exports.
15 CFR Part 774
Exports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Terrorism.
Accordingly, parts 732, 734, 738, 740, 742, 743, 748, 750, 758,
762, 772 and 774 of the Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts
730-774) are amended as follows:
PART 732--STEPS FOR USING THE EAR
0
1. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 732 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p.
228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783.
0
2. Section 732.2 is amended by revising paragraph (b) introductory text
to read as follows:
Sec. 732.2 Steps regarding scope of the EAR.
* * * * *
(b) Step 2: Publicly available technology and software. This step
is relevant for both exports and reexports. Determine if your
technology or software is publicly available as defined and explained
at part 734 of the EAR. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
website at https://www.bis.doc.gov contains several practical examples
describing publicly available technology and software that are outside
the scope of the EAR under the FAQ section of the website. See the FAQs
under the heading, EAR Definitions, Technology and Software,
Fundamental Research, and Patents FAQs at https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/compliance-training/export-administrationregulations-training/1554-ear-definitions-faq/file. The
examples are illustrative, not comprehensive. Note that encryption
software classified under ECCN 5D002 on the Commerce Control List
(refer to supplement no. 1 to part 774 of the EAR) is subject to the
EAR even if publicly available, except for publicly available
encryption object code software classified under ECCN 5D002 when the
corresponding source code meets the criteria specified in Sec.
740.13(e) of the EAR. The following also remains subject to the EAR:
``Software'' or ``technology'' for the production of a firearm, or
firearm frame or receiver, controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, 0A507,
or 0A509, as referenced in Sec. 734.7(c) of the EAR.
* * * * *
PART 734--SCOPE OF THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS
0
3. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 734 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 12938, 59 FR 59099, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p.
950; E.O. 13020, 61 FR 54079, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 219; E.O. 13026,
61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3
CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; E.O. 13637, 78 FR 16129, 3 CFR, 2014 Comp.,
p. 223; Notice of November 8, 2022, 87 FR 68015 (November 10, 2022).
0
4. Section 734.7 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as
follows:
Sec. 734.7 Published.
* * * * *
(c) The following remains subject to the EAR: ``software'' or
``technology'' for the production of a firearm, or firearm
[[Page 34699]]
frame or receiver, controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, 0A507, or
0A509, that is made available by posting on the internet in an
electronic format, such as AMF or G-code, and is ready for insertion
into a computer numerically controlled machine tool, additive
manufacturing equipment, or any other equipment that makes use of the
``software'' or ``technology'' to produce the firearm frame or receiver
or complete firearm.
* * * * *
PART 738--COMMERCE CONTROL LIST OVERVIEW AND THE COUNTRY CHART
0
5. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 738 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 10 U.S.C. 8720; 10 U.S.C. 8730(e); 22 U.S.C.
287c; 22 U.S.C. 2151 note; 22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6004;
42 U.S.C. 2139a; 15 U.S.C. 1824; 50 U.S.C. 4305; 22 U.S.C. 7201 et
seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7210; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p.
228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783.
0
6. Supplement no. 1 to part 738 is revised to read as follows:
Supplement No. 1 to Part 738--Commerce Country Chart
[Reason for control]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chemical and biological Nuclear National security Missile Regional stability Firearms Crime control Anti- terrorism
weapons nonproliferation -------------------- tech -------------------- convention -------------------------------------------------
Countries -------------------------------------------------- ---------- --------------
CB 1 CB 2 CB 3 NP 1 NP 2 NS 1 NS 2 MT 1 RS 1 RS 2 FC 1 CC 1 CC 2 CC 3 AT 1 AT 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afghanistan................. X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Albania 2 3................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ ........ X ........
Algeria..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Andorra..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Angola...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Antigua and Barbuda......... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Argentina................... X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ X X X X
Armenia..................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Aruba....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Australia \3\............... X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Austria 3 4................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Azerbaijan.................. X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Bahamas, The................ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Bahrain..................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Bangladesh.................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Barbados.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Belarus \6\................. X X X X X X X X X X ............ X X ........
Belgium \3\................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Belize...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Benin....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Bhutan...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Bolivia..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Bosnia and Herzegovina...... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Botswana.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Brazil...................... X X ........ ........ ........ X X X X X X X X X
Brunei...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Bulgaria \3\................ X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Burkina Faso................ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Burma....................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Burundi..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Cambodia.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Cameroon.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Canada...................... X ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ ........ ........
Cape Verde.................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Central African Republic.... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Chad........................ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Chile....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
China....................... X X X X X X X X X X ............ X X X
Colombia.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Comoros..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Congo (Democratic Republic X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
of the) \1\................
Congo (Republic of the)..... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Costa Rica.................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Cote d'Ivoire............... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Croatia \3\................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cuba........................ See part 746 of the EAR to determine whether a license is required in order to export or reexport to this destination.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cura[ccedil]ao.............. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Cyprus 2 3 4................ X ........ ........ ........ ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Czech Republic \3\.......... X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Denmark \3\................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Djibouti.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Dominica.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Dominican Republic.......... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Ecuador..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Egypt....................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
El Salvador................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Equatorial Guinea........... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Eritrea \1\................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Estonia \3\................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Ethiopia.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Fiji........................ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Finland 3 4................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
France \3\.................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Gabon....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Gambia, The................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Georgia..................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Germany \3\................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Ghana....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Greece \3\.................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Grenada..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Guatemala................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
[[Page 34700]]
Guinea...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Guinea-Bissau............... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Guyana...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Haiti....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Honduras.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Hungary \3\................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Iceland \3\................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
India \7\................... X ........ ........ X ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Indonesia................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iran \1\.................... See part 746 of the EAR to determine whether a license is required in order to export or reexport to this destination..
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraq \1\.................... X X X X X X X X X X ............ X X ........
Ireland 3 4................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Israel...................... X X X X X X X X X X ............ X X X
Italy \3\................... X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Jamaica..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Japan\3\................... X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Jordan...................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Kazakhstan.................. X X X ........ ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Kenya....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Kiribati.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Korea, North \1\............ See Sections 742.19 and 746.4 of the EAR to determine whether a license is required in order to export or reexport to this destination.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Korea, South 3 4............ X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Kosovo...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Kuwait...................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Kyrgyzstan.................. X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Laos........................ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Latvia \3\.................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Lebanon \1\................. X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Lesotho..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Liberia..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X ........ X
Libya \1\................... X X X X X X X X X X ............ X X X
Liechtenstein \5\........... X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Lithuania \3\............... X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Luxembourg \3\.............. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Macau....................... X X X X X X X X X X ............ X X X
Macedonia (The Former X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Yugoslav Republic of)......
Madagascar.................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Malawi...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Malaysia.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Maldives.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Mali........................ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Malta 2 3 4................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Marshall Islands............ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Mauritania.................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Mauritius................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Mexico...................... X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ X X X X
Micronesia (Federated State X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
of)........................
Moldova..................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Monaco...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Mongolia.................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Montenegro.................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Morocco..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Mozambique.................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Namibia..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Nauru....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Nepal....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Netherlands \3\............. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
New Zealand \3\............. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Nicaragua................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Niger....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Nigeria..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Norway \3\.................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Oman........................ X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Pakistan.................... X X X X X X X X X X ............ X X X
Palau....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Panama...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Papua New Guinea............ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Paraguay.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Peru........................ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Philippines................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Poland \3\.................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Portugal \3\................ X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Qatar....................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Romania \3\................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Russia \6\.................. X X X X X X X X X X ............ X X ........
Rwanda...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
St. Kitts and Nevis......... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
St. Lucia................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
St. Vincent and the X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Grenadines.................
Samoa....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
San Marino.................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Sao Tome and Principe....... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Saudi Arabia................ X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
[[Page 34701]]
Senegal..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Serbia...................... X X ........ ........ ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Seycheles................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Sierra Leone................ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Singapore................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Sint Maarten (the Dutch two- X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
fifths of the island of
Saint Martin)..............
Slovakia \3\................ X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Slovenia \3\................ X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Solomon Islands............. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Somalia \1\................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
South Africa 2 3 4.......... X X ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ X X X
South Sudan, Republic of.... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Spain \3\................... X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Sri Lanka................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Sudan \1\................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Suriname.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Swaziland................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Sweden 3 4.................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Switzerland 3 4............. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Syria....................... See Sec. 746.9 of the EAR to determine whether a license is required in order to export or reexport to this destination.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taiwan...................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Tajikistan.................. X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Tanzania.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Thailand.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Timor-Leste................. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Togo........................ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Tonga....................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Trinidad and Tobago......... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Tunisia..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Turkey \3\.................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Turkmenistan................ X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Tuvalu...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Uganda...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Ukraine \8\................. X ........ ........ ........ ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
United Arab Emirates........ X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
United Kingdom \3\.......... X ........ ........ ........ ........ X ........ X X ........ ............ ........ X ........
Uruguay..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X X X X X
Uzbekistan.................. X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Vanuatu..................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Vatican City................ X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Venezuela................... X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Vietnam..................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X ........
Western Sahara.............. X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Yemen....................... X X X X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Zambia...................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
Zimbabwe.................... X X ........ X ........ X X X X X ............ X X X
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Sec. 746.1(b) for United Nations Security Council Sanctions under the EAR. See Sec. 746.3 for United Nations Security Council-related license requirements for exports and reexports
to Iraq or transfer within Iraq under the EAR, as well as regional stability licensing requirements not included in the Country Chart.
\2\ See Sec. 742.4(a) for special provisions that apply to exports and reexports to these countries of certain thermal imaging cameras.
\3\ See Sec. 742.6(a)(3) for special provisions that apply to military commodities that are subject to ECCN 0A919.
\4\ See Sec. 742.6(a)(2) and (4)(ii) regarding special provisions for exports and reexports of certain thermal imaging cameras to these countries.
\5\ Refer to Switzerland for licensing requirements for Liechtenstein under the EAR.
\6\ See Sec. 746.5 of the EAR for additional license requirements under the Russian Industry Sector Sanctions for ECCNs 0A998, 1C992, 3A229, 3A231, 3A232, 6A991, 8A992, and 8D999 and items
identified in supplement no. 2 to part 746 of the EAR. See Sec. 746.8 of the EAR for Sanctions against Russia and Belarus, including additional license requirements for items listed in any
ECCN on the CCL.
\7\ Note that a license is still required for items controlled under ECCNs 6A003.b.4.b and 9A515.e for RS column 2 reasons when destined to India.
\8\ See Sec. 746.6 of the EAR for additional license requirements for exports and reexports to the Crimea region of Ukraine and the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and Luhansk
People's Republic (LNR) regions of Ukraine and transfers (in-country) within the Crimea, DNR, and LNR regions of Ukraine for all items subject to the EAR, other than food and medicine
designated as EAR99 and certain EAR99 or ECCN 5D992.c software for internet-based communications.
PART 740--LICENSE EXCEPTIONS
0
7. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 740 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.; E.O. 13026, 61 FR
58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR,
2001 Comp., p. 783.
0
8. Section 740.2 is amended by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs (a)(4)(iii), (a)(21) and (23); and
0
b. Adding paragraph (a)(24).
The revisions and addition read as follows:
Sec. 740.2 Restrictions on all License Exceptions.
* * * * *
(a) * * *
(4) * * *
(iii) Authorized by Sec. 740.14(e) of the EAR; or
* * * * *
(21) The reexport or transfer (in-country) of firearms classified
under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A506, 0A507, or 0A508 with either an ITAR-
defined ``foreign defense article'' (22 CFR 120.39) that is not subject
to Department of State jurisdiction that is incorporated into the
firearm or ``knowledge'' that an ITAR-defined ``defense article'' (22
CFR 120.31) will be subsequently incorporated into the firearm, where
the ``(foreign) defense article'' is described in USML Category
I(h)(2). In such instances, no license exceptions are available except
for License Exception GOV (Sec. 740.11(b)(2)(ii)).
* * * * *
(23) Exports, reexports, or transfers (in-country) of semi-
automatic firearms or shotguns controlled under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, or
0A508 sold under a contract or otherwise part of an export that
includes $4,000,000 or more of such items are not eligible for any
license exceptions except to personnel and agencies of the U.S.
Government
[[Page 34702]]
under License Exception GOV (Sec. 740.11(b) of the EAR), for official
use by an agency of NATO, or where a license exception would otherwise
be available for the export, reexport, or transfer (in-country) of such
items to a destination specified in Country Groups A:5 or A:6 (see
supplement no. 1 to part 740 of the EAR) except Mexico, South Africa,
or Turkey.
(24) Exporters of items controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504,
0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or 0A509 wishing to use an EAR license
exception for such items must first have the consignee obtain and
provide to the exporter an import certification or equivalent document,
if the importing country requires one, prior to using an EAR license
exception.
* * * * *
0
9. Section 740.3 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as
follows:
Sec. 740.3 Shipments of limited value (LVS).
* * * * *
(b) Eligible destinations. This License Exception is available for
all destinations in Country Group B (see supplement no. 1 to this
part), provided that the net value of the commodities included in the
same order and controlled under the same ECCN entry on the CCL does not
exceed the amount specified in the LVS paragraph for that entry.
However, License Exception LVS is not available for 0x5zz items (except
0A504.g) when destined for countries in ``CARICOM'' or countries in
Country Group D:5.
* * * * *
0
10. Section 740.9 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) introductory
text, (b) introductory text, and (b)(5) to read as follows:
Sec. 740.9 Temporary imports, exports, reexports, and transfers (in-
country) (TMP).
(a) Temporary exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country).
License Exception TMP authorizes exports, reexports, and transfers (in-
country) of items for temporary use abroad (including use in or above
international waters) subject to the conditions specified in this
paragraph (a). No item may be exported, reexported, or transferred (in-
country) under this paragraph (a) if an order to acquire the item, such
as a purchase order, has been received before shipment; with prior
knowledge that the item will stay abroad beyond the terms of this
License Exception; or when the item is for subsequent lease or rental
abroad. The references to various countries and country groups in these
TMP-specific provisions do not limit or amend the prohibitions in Sec.
740.2 of the EAR on the use of license exceptions generally, such as
for exports of 9x515 or ``600 series'' items to destinations in Country
Group D:5. This paragraph (a) does not authorize any export of a
commodity controlled under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506 or 0A507, or
shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled under ECCN
0A502 or 0A508 to, or any export of such an item that was imported into
the United States from, a country in Country Group D:5 (supplement no.
1 to this part), or from Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan. The only provisions of
this paragraph (a) that are eligible for use to export such items are
paragraph (a)(5) of this section (``Exhibition and demonstration'') and
paragraph (a)(6) of this section (``Inspection, test, calibration, and
repair''). In addition, this paragraph (a) may not be used to export
more than 75 firearms per shipment. In accordance with the requirements
in Sec. 758.1(b)(9) and (g)(4) of the EAR, the exporter or its agent
must provide documentation that includes the serial number, make,
model, and caliber of each firearm being exported by filing these data
elements in an EEI filing in AES. In accordance with the exclusions in
License Exception TMP under paragraph (b)(5) of this section, the entry
clearance requirements in Sec. 758.1(b)(9) do not permit the temporary
import of: Firearms controlled in ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507
that are shipped from or manufactured in a Country Group D:5 country,
or that are shipped from or manufactured in Russia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan
(except for any firearm model designation (if assigned) controlled by
ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, or 0A507 that is specified under annex A in
supplement no. 4 to this part); or shotguns with a barrel length less
than 18 inches controlled in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508 that are shipped from
or manufactured in a Country Group D:5 country, or from Russia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or
Uzbekistan, because of the exclusions in License Exception TMP under
paragraph (b)(5) of this section.
* * * * *
(b) Exports of items temporarily in the United States. No provision
of this paragraph (b), other than paragraph (b)(3), (4), or (5), may be
used to export firearms controlled by ECCN 0A501.a, .b, 0A506, 0A507,
or shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled in ECCN
0A502 or 0A508.
* * * * *
(5) Exports of firearms and certain shotguns temporarily in the
United States. This paragraph (b)(5) authorizes the export of no more
than 75 firearms per shipment controlled by ECCN 0A501.a or .b, 0A506,
0A507, or shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled
in ECCN 0A502 or 0A508 that are temporarily in the United States for a
period not exceeding one year, provided that:
(i) The firearms were not shipped from or manufactured in a U.S.
arms embargoed country, i.e., destination listed in Country Group D:5
in supplement no. 1 to this part;
(ii) The firearms were not shipped from or manufactured in Russia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or
Uzbekistan, except for any firearm model controlled by 0A501, 0A506, or
0A507 that is specified under annex A in supplement no. 4 to this part;
and
(iii) The firearms are not ultimately destined to a U.S. arms
embargoed country, i.e., destination listed in Country Group D:5 in
supplement no. 1 to this part;
(iv) When the firearms entered the U.S. as a temporary import, the
temporary importer or its agent:
(A) Provided the following statement to U.S. Customs and Border
Protection: ``This shipment will be exported in accordance with and
under the authority of License Exception TMP (15 CFR 740.9(b)(5))'';
(B) Provided to U.S. Customs and Border Protection an invoice or
other appropriate import-related documentation (or electronic
equivalents) that includes a complete list and description of the
firearms being temporarily imported, including their model, make,
caliber, serial numbers, quantity, and U.S. dollar value; and
(C) Provided (if temporarily imported for a trade show, exhibition,
demonstration, or testing) to U.S. Customs and Border Protection the
relevant invitation or registration documentation for the event and an
accompanying letter that details the arrangements to maintain effective
control of the firearms while they are in the United States; and
(v) In addition to the export clearance requirements of part 758 of
the EAR, the exporter or its agent must provide the import
documentation related to paragraph (b)(5)(iv)(B) of this section to
U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the time of export.
Note 1 to paragraph (b)(5): In addition to complying with all
applicable EAR
[[Page 34703]]
requirements for the export of commodities described in paragraph
(b)(5) of this section, exporters and temporary importers should
contact U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of
temporary import or export, or at the CBP website, for the proper
procedures for temporarily importing or exporting firearms
controlled in ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507, or shotguns with
a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled in ECCN 0A502 or
0A508, including regarding how to provide any data or documentation
required by BIS.
Note 2 to paragraph (b): A commodity withdrawn from a bonded
warehouse in the United States under a `withdrawal for export'
customs entry is considered as `moving in transit'. It is not
considered as `moving in transit' if it is withdrawn from a bonded
warehouse under any other type of customs entry or if its transit
has been broken for a processing operation, regardless of the type
of customs entry.
Note 3 to paragraph (b): Items shipped on board a vessel or
aircraft and passing through the United States from one foreign
country to another may be exported without a license provided that
(a) while passing in transit through the United States, they have
not been unladen from the vessel or aircraft on which they entered,
and (b) they are not originally manifested to the United States.
Note 4 to paragraph (b): A shipment originating in Canada or
Mexico that incidentally transits the United States en route to a
delivery point in the same country does not require a license.
* * * * *
0
11. Section 740.10 is amended by revising paragraphs (b)(1) and (4) to
read as follows:
Sec. 740.10 License Exception Servicing and replacement of parts and
equipment (RPL).
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) The provisions of this paragraph (b) authorize the export and
reexport to any destination, except for 9x515 or ``600 series'' items
to destinations identified in Country Group D:5 (see supplement no. 1
to this part) or otherwise prohibited under the EAR, of commodities and
software that were sent to the United States or to a foreign party for
servicing and replacement of commodities and software ``subject to the
EAR'' (see Sec. 734.2(a) of the EAR) that are defective or that an end
user or ultimate consignee has found unacceptable. The export of
firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507 or shotguns
with a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled in ECCN 0A502 or
0A508 temporarily in the United States for servicing and replacement
may be exported under paragraph (b)(2) or (3) of this section only if
the additional requirements in paragraph (b)(4) of this section are
also met.
* * * * *
(4) This paragraph (b)(4) authorizes the export of firearms
controlled by ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, 0A507 or shotguns with a
barrel length less than 18 inches controlled in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508
that are temporarily in the United States for servicing or replacement
for a period not exceeding one year or the time it takes to service or
replace the commodity, whichever is shorter, provided that the
requirements of paragraph (b)(2) or (3) of this section are met and:
(i) The firearms were not shipped from or manufactured in Russia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or
Uzbekistan, except for any firearm model controlled by 0A501, 0A506, or
0A507 that is specified under Annex A in Supplement No. 4 to this part;
(ii) When the firearms entered the U.S. as a temporary import, the
temporary importer or its agent:
(A) Provided the following statement to U.S. Customs and Border
Protection: ``This shipment will be exported in accordance with and
under the authority of License Exception RPL (15 CFR 740.10(b))'';
(B) Provided to U.S. Customs and Border Protection an invoice or
other appropriate import-related documentation (or electronic
equivalents) that includes a complete list and description of the
firearms being temporarily imported, including their model, make,
caliber, serial numbers, quantity, and U.S. dollar value; and
(C) Provided (if temporarily imported for servicing or replacement)
to U.S. Customs and Border Protection the name, address and contact
information (telephone number and/or email) of the organization or
individual in the U.S. that will be receiving the item for servicing or
replacement; and
(iii) In addition to the export clearance requirements of part 758
of the EAR, the exporter or its agent must provide the import
documentation related to paragraph (b)(4)(iii)(B) of this section to
U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the time of export.
Note 1 to paragraph (b)(4): In addition to complying with all
applicable EAR requirements for the export of commodities described
in this paragraph (b)(4), exporters and temporary importers should
contact U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of
temporary import or export, or at the CBP website, for the proper
procedures for temporarily importing or exporting firearms
controlled in ECCN 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, 0A507 or shotguns with a
barrel length less than 18 inches controlled in ECCN 0A502 or 0A508,
including regarding how to provide any data or documentation
required by BIS.
* * * * *
0
12. Section 740.11 is amended by revising the introductory text to read
as follows:
Sec. 740.11 Governments, international organizations, international
inspections under the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the
International Space Station (GOV).
This License Exception authorizes exports and reexports for
international nuclear safeguards; U.S. government agencies or
personnel; agencies of cooperating governments; international
inspections under the Chemical Weapons Convention; and the
International Space Station. Commodities listed in ECCNs 0A501, 0A506,
0A507, 0A508, and 0A509 are eligible only for transactions described in
paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section. Any item listed in a
0x5zz ECCN for export, reexport, or transfer (in-country) to an E:1
country is eligible only for transactions described in paragraphs
(b)(2)(i) and (ii) solely for U.S. Government official use of this
section.
* * * * *
0
13. Section 740.14 is amended by revising paragraph (e) to read as
follows:
Sec. 740.14 Baggage (BAG).
* * * * *
(e) Special provisions for firearms and ammunition. (1) A United
States citizen or a permanent resident alien leaving the United States
may export or reexport shotguns with a barrel length of 18 inches or
over controlled under ECCN 0A502 and 0A508 and shotgun shells
controlled under ECCN 0A505.b and .c under this License Exception,
subject to the following limitations:
(i) Not more than three firearms may be taken on any one trip (this
includes shotguns in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508, as well as firearms in ECCNs
0A501, 0A506, or 0A507).
(ii) The shotguns and shotgun shells must be with the person's
baggage.
(iii) The shotguns and shotgun shells must be for the person's
exclusive use for legitimate hunting or lawful sporting purposes,
scientific purposes, or personal protection, and not for resale or
other transfer of ownership or control. Accordingly, except as provided
in (e)(2) of this section, shotguns may not be exported permanently
under this License Exception. All shotguns and unused shotgun shells
must be returned to the United States. Note that since certain
countries may require an Import Certificate or a U.S. export license
[[Page 34704]]
before allowing the import of a shotgun, you should determine the
import requirements of your country of destination in advance.
(2) A nonresident alien leaving the United States may export or
reexport under this License Exception only such shotguns and shotgun
shells as he or she brought into the United States under the provisions
of the Department of Justice Regulations (27 CFR 478.115(d)).
(3) A United States citizen or a permanent resident alien leaving
the United States may export under this License Exception firearms,
``parts,'' ``components,'' ``accessories,'' or ``attachments''
controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, 0A507, and 0A509 and ammunition
controlled under ECCN 0A505.a, subject to the following limitations:
(i) Not more than three firearms may be taken on any one trip (this
includes firearms in ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, or 0A507, as well as shotguns
in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508), and no more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition
may be taken on any one trip.
(ii) ``Parts,'' ``components,'' ``accessories,'' and
``attachments'' exported pursuant to this paragraph (e)(3) must be of a
kind and limited to quantities that are reasonable for the activities
described in paragraph (e)(3)(iv) of this section or that are necessary
for routine maintenance of the firearms being exported.
(iii) The commodities must be with the person's baggage.
(iv) The commodities must be for the person's exclusive use and not
for resale or other transfer of ownership or control. Accordingly,
except as provided in paragraph (e)(4) of this section, firearms,
``parts,'' ``components,'' ``accessories,'' ``attachments,'' and
ammunition, may not be exported permanently under this License
Exception. All firearms, ``parts,'' ``components,'' ``accessories,'' or
``attachments'' controlled under ECCN 0A501, 0A506, 0A507, and 0A509
and all unused ammunition controlled under ECCN 0A505.a exported under
this License Exception must be returned to the United States.
(v) Travelers leaving the United States temporarily are required to
declare the firearms, ``parts,'' ``components,'' ``accessories,''
``attachments,'' and ammunition being exported under this License
Exception to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer prior to
departure from the United States and present such items to the CBP
officer for inspection, confirming that the authority for the export is
License Exception BAG and that the exporter is compliant with its
terms.
(4) A nonimmigrant alien leaving the United States may export or
reexport under this License Exception only such firearms controlled
under ECCN 0A501, 0A506, 0A507, and ammunition controlled under ECCN
0A505 as he or she brought into the United States under the relevant
provisions of Department of Justice regulations at 27 CFR part 478.
(5) Destination eligibility under this License Exception for items
controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508,
or 0A509 is limited to countries other than those in Country Group D:5
(except for Zimbabwe) and ``CARICOM'' countries.
* * * * *
0
14. Section 740.20 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(2)(ii) to read
as follows:
Sec. 740.20 License Exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA).
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) License Exception STA may not be used for:
(A) Any item controlled in ECCNs 0A501.a, .b, .c, .d, or .e; 0A506;
0A507; 0A509; 0A981; 0A982; 0A983; 0A503; 0E504; 0E982; or
(B) Shotguns with barrel length less than 18 inches controlled in
0A502 or 0A508.
* * * * *
PART 742--CONTROL POLICY--CCL BASED CONTROLS
0
15. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 742 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 2139a; 22
U.S.C. 7201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7210; Sec. 1503, Pub. L. 108-11, 117
Stat. 559; E.O. 12058, 43 FR 20947, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 179; E.O.
12851, 58 FR 33181, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 608; E.O. 12938, 59 FR
59099, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 950; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR,
1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p.
783; Presidential Determination 2003-23, 68 FR 26459, 3 CFR, 2004
Comp., p. 320; Notice of November 8, 2022, 87 FR 68015 (November 10,
2022).
0
16. Section 742.6 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(1)(i) to read as
follows:
Sec. 742.6 Regional stability.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(i) Applications for exports and reexports of ECCN 0A501, 0A502,
0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509, 0B501, 0B505, 0D501, 0D505,
0E501, 0E504, and 0E505 items, 9x515, and ``600 series'' items will be
reviewed under the following policies:
(A) Applications for exports and reexports of ECCN 0A501, 0A502,
0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509, 0B501, 0B505, 0D501, 0D505,
0E501, 0E504, and 0E505 items; 9x515 and ``600 series'' items will be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the transaction
is contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the
United States, including the foreign policy interest of promoting the
observance of human rights throughout the world.
(B) Other applications for exports and reexports described in
paragraph (a)(1), (2), (6), or (8) of this section will be reviewed on
a case-by-case basis to determine whether the export or reexport could
contribute directly or indirectly to any country's military
capabilities in a manner that would alter or destabilize a region's
military balance contrary to the foreign policy interests of the United
States.
(C) Applications for reexports of items described in paragraph
(a)(3) of this section will be reviewed applying the policies for
similar commodities that are subject to the ITAR.
(D) Applications for export or reexport of items classified under
ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or 0A509, or any 9x515
or ``600 series'' ECCN requiring a license in accordance with paragraph
(a)(1) or (9) of this section, will also be reviewed consistent with
United States arms embargo policies in Sec. 126.1 of the ITAR (22 CFR
126.1), if destined to a country set forth in Country Group D:5 in
Supplement No. 1 to part 740 of the EAR.
(E) Applications for export or reexport of ``parts,''
``components,'' ``accessories,'' ``attachments,'' ``software,'' or
``technology'' ``specially designed'' or otherwise required for the F-
14 aircraft will generally be denied.
(F) Applications for exports and reexports of items classified
under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509,
0B501, 0B505, 0D501, 0D505, 0E501, 0E504, or 0E505, or any 9x515 ECCN
will be subject to a policy of denial, when destined to China or a
country listed in E:1 in Supplement No. 1 to part 740 of the EAR.
(G) Applications for exports and reexports of ECCNs 0A501, 0A502,
0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509, 0B501, 0B505, 0D501, 0D505,
0E501, 0E504, and 0E505 items will be subject to a policy of denial
when there is reason to believe the transaction involves criminal
organizations, rebel groups, street gangs, or other similar
[[Page 34705]]
groups or individuals, that may be disruptive to regional stability,
including within individual countries. * * *
* * * * *
0
17. Revise Sec. 742.7 to read as follows:
Sec. 742.7 Crime control and detection.
(a) License requirements. In support of U.S. foreign policy to
promote the observance of human rights throughout the world, a license
is required to export and reexport crime control and detection
equipment, related technology and software as follows:
(1) Crime control and detection instruments and equipment and
related ``technology'' and ``software'' identified in the appropriate
ECCNs on the CCL under CC Column 1 in the Country Chart column of the
``License Requirements'' section. A license is required to countries
listed in CC Column 1 (Supplement No. 1 to part 738 of the EAR). Items
affected by this requirement are identified on the CCL under the
following ECCNs: 0A977, 0A978, 0A979, 0D977, 0E977, 1A984, 1A985,
3A980, 3A981, 3D980, 3E980, 4A003 (for fingerprint computers only),
4A980, 4D001 (for fingerprint computers only), 4D980, 4E001 (for
fingerprint computers only), 4E980, 6A002 (for police-model infrared
viewers only), 6E001 (for police-model infrared viewers only), 6E002
(for police-model infrared viewers only), and 9A980.
(2) Items designed for the execution of human beings as identified
in ECCN 0A981 require a license to all destinations including
Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Controls for these items
appear in each ECCN; a column specific to these controls does not
appear in the Country Chart (supplement no. 1 to part 738 of the EAR).
(3) Certain crime control items require a license to all
destinations, except Canada only. These items are identified under
ECCNs 0A982, 0A503, and 0E982. Controls for these items appear in each
ECCN; a column specific to these controls does not appear in the
Country Chart (supplement no. 1 to part 738 of the EAR).
(4) See Sec. 742.11 of the EAR for further information on items
controlled under ECCN 0A983, which require a license to all
destinations, including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Controls for these items appear in each ECCN; a column specific to
these controls does not appear in the Country Chart (supplement no. 1
to part 738 of the EAR).
(5) Items detailed under this paragraph are specific to certain
firearms, shotguns, and related items. Crime control and detection
instruments and equipment and related ``technology'' and ``software''
identified in the appropriate ECCNs on the CCL under CC Column 2 in the
Country Chart column of the ``License Requirements'' section. A license
is required to countries listed in CC Column 2 (supplement no. 1 to
part 738 of the EAR). Items affected by this requirement are identified
on the CCL under the following ECCNs: 0A501 (except 0A501.y), 0A502,
0A504, 0A505. a, .b, and .x, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, 0A509, 0D501, 0D505,
0E501, 0E502, 0E504, and 0E505.
(b) Licensing policy. (1) Applications for items controlled under
paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section will generally be
considered favorably on a case-by-case basis, unless there is civil
disorder in the country or region or unless there is a risk that the
items will be used to violate or abuse human rights. The judicious use
of export controls is intended to deter human rights violations and
abuses, distance the United States from such violations and abuses, and
avoid contributing to civil disorder in a country or region.
(2) BIS will review license applications in accordance with the
licensing policy in paragraph (b)(1) of this section for items that are
not controlled under this section but that require a license pursuant
to another section for any reason other than short supply and could be
used by the recipient Government or other end user specifically to
violate or abuse human rights.
(3) Applications for items controlled under paragraph (a)(5) of
this section will be reviewed under the following license review
policies:
(i) Applications destined for government end users will be reviewed
on a case-by-case basis to determine whether there is a risk of
diversion or misuse of the items in a manner that would adversely
impact U.S. national security or foreign policy.
(ii) Those applications destined for non-government end users will
be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, unless one of the following apply,
in which case they will be reviewed under a presumption of denial:
(A) The destination is identified in supplement no. 3 to this part;
or
(B) There is a substantial risk that the items will be diverted or
misused in a manner that would adversely impact U.S. national security
or foreign policy.
Note 1 to paragraph (b)(3): In reviewing applications under
this paragraph, BIS will consider the following risks in the
destination country or region: firearms trafficking or diversion,
terrorism, corruption, human rights concerns and political violence,
state fragility, organized crime or gang-related activity, and drug
trafficking. BIS will also consider prior instances of diversion or
misuse; the capabilities, potential uses, and lethality of the item;
the nature of the end user; and other factors as appropriate.
(c) Contract sanctity. Contract sanctity date: August 22, 2000.
Contract sanctity applies only to items controlled under ECCNs 0A982,
0A503, and 0E982 destined for countries not listed in CC Column 1 of
the Country Chart (supplement no. 1 to part 738 of the EAR).
(d) U.S. controls. In maintaining its controls on crime control and
detection items, the United States considers international norms
regarding human rights and the practices of other countries that
control exports to promote the observance of human rights. However,
these controls are not based on the decisions of any multinational
export control regime and may differ from controls imposed by other
countries.
0
18. Section 742.17 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (f) to
read as follows:
Sec. 742.17 Exports of firearms to OAS member countries.
* * * * *
(b) Licensing policy. Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-
case basis when supported by an FC Import Certificate or equivalent
official document issued by the government of the importing country.
However, there is a policy of denial for applications to export items
linked to such activities as drug trafficking, terrorism, and
transnational organized crime.
* * * * *
(f) Items/Commodities. Items requiring a license under this section
are ECCNs 0A501 (except 0A501.y), 0A502, 0A504 (except 0A504.f), 0A505
(except 0A505.d), 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509. (See supplement no. 1
to part 774 of the EAR).
* * * * *
0
19. Add supplement no. 3 to part 742 to read as follows:
Supplement No. 3 to Part 742--High-Risk Destinations for Firearms and
Related Items
Bahamas,
The Bangladesh
Belize
Bolivia
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Chad
Colombia
[[Page 34706]]
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Indonesia
Jamaica
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Malaysia
Mali
Mozambique
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Tajikistan
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
Vietnam
Yemen
PART 743--SPECIAL REPORTING AND NOTIFICATION
0
20. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 743 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p.
783; E.O. 13637, 78 FR 16129, 3 CFR, 2014 Comp., p. 223; 78 FR
16129. (January 23, 2020).
0
21. Section 743.4 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 743.4 Conventional arms reporting.
(a) Scope. This section outlines special reporting requirements for
exports of certain items included in the UN Register of Conventional
Arms (UNRoCA) and Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) Munitions List. These
reports cover substantially similar arms. States participating in the
UNRoCA report annually on all transfers of arms (see
www.disarmament.unoda.org/convarms/register/); Participating States of
the Wassenaar Arrangement exchange information every six months on
deliveries and transfers to non-WA governments of conventional arms set
forth in the Wassenaar Arrangement's Basic Documents under Part II
``Guideline and Procedures, including the Initial Elements'', Appendix
3: ``Specific Information Exchange on Arms Content by Category''.
Public Documents, Vol. 1--Founding Documents at https://www.wassenaar.org/app/uploads/2021/12/Public-Docs-Vol-I-Founding-Documents.pdf). BIS obtains the information needed for such
conventional arms reporting from the information exporters are required
to submit in the EEI submission in AES, pursuant to Sec. 758.1(b)(9)
and (g)(4)(ii) of the EAR. No additional reporting to BIS is required
for purposes of this section. BIS does not submit reports for reexports
or transfers (in-country) under this section. BIS does not include
exports to Wassenaar member countries, identified in supplement no. 1
to part 743 in the Wassenaar reports. required under this section.
(b) Information included in the reports--(1) Authorizations
reported. Exports authorized under BIS licenses, License Exceptions
TMP, RPL, STA, or GOV (see part 740 of the EAR) and under the Validated
End User authorization (see Sec. 748.15 of the EAR).
(2) ECCNs reported. ECCNs 0A501.a and .b, 0A506.a. and .b, and
0A507.a and .b.
(3) Quantity and recipient state reported. The quantity and the
name of the recipient state.
(c) Contacts. Information concerning the reporting requirements for
items identified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section is available from
the Office of Nonproliferation and Foreign Policy Controls (NFPC),
Tel.: (202) 482-4188, Fax: (202) 482-4145.
0
22. Section 743.6 is amended by revising paragraphs (a), (b), and (c)
to read as follows:
Sec. 743.6 Prior notifications to Congress of exports of certain
semi-automatic firearms.
(a) General requirement. Applications to export semi-automatic
firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507 will be notified to
Congress as provided in this section before licenses for such items are
issued, except as specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this
section.
(1) Exports of semi-automatic firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or
0A507 to personnel and agencies of the U.S. Government under License
Exception GOV (Sec. 740.11(b) of the EAR) do not require such
notification.
(2) Exports of semi-automatic firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or
0A507 for official use by an agency of NATO do not require such
notification.
(b) Notification criteria. Unless excluded in paragraphs (a)(1) and
(2) of this section, BIS will notify Congress prior to issuing a
license authorizing the export of items to Mexico, South Africa, or
Turkey or any other country not listed in Country Group A:5 or A:6 (see
supplement no. 1 to part 740 of the EAR) if the items are sold under a
contract or are otherwise part of an export transaction that includes
$4,000,000 or more of semi-automatic firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A506
or 0A507.
(c) License application information. In addition to information
required on the application, the exporter must include a copy of the
signed contract or, if there is no contract, a written explanation from
the applicant (including a statement of the value of the firearms
controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507 to be exported) for any proposed
export described in paragraph (b) of this section. License applications
for semi-automatic firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507 may
include other nonautomatic firearms, shotguns, other 0x5zz items, or
other items subject to the EAR, but the applicant must clearly identify
the semi-automatic firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507. The
applicant clearly distinguishing the semi-automatic firearms controlled
by ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507 from any other items on the license application
will assist BIS in assessing whether the license application requires
congressional notification under this section and identifying the
information that will need to be reported to Congress. Any activity
intended to circumvent notification requirements is prohibited. Such
devices include, but are not limited to, the splitting or structuring
of contracts to avoid exceeding applicable notification dollar value
limits described in paragraph (a) of this section.
* * * * *
PART 748--APPLICATIONS (CLASSIFICATION, ADVISORY, AND LICENSE) AND
DOCUMENTATION
0
23. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 748 is revised to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p.
228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; Notice of
August 4, 2022, 87 FR 48077 (August 5, 2022).
0
24. Section 748.8 is amended by revising paragraph (z) to read as
follows:
Sec. 748.8 Unique application and submission requirements.
* * * * *
(z) Firearms.
0
25. Section 748.12 is amended by revising the introductory text, and
paragraphs (a) through (d) to read as follows:
Sec. 748.12 Firearms import certificate or import permit.
License applications for certain firearms and related commodities
require support documents in accordance with this section.
(a) Requirement to obtain and submit documentation. Unless an
exception in
[[Page 34707]]
Sec. 748.9(c) applies, an import certificate or permit is required for
license applications for firearms and related commodities, regardless
of value, if required by the importing country. For OAS member states,
this requirement is consistent with the OAS Model Regulations described
in Sec. 742.17 of the EAR. The exporter or reexporter must obtain and
submit with the license application the original or a copy of the
import certificate or permit before applying for an export or reexport
license in situations in which an import certificate or permit is
required by the importing country.
(1) Items subject to requirement. Firearms and related commodities
are those commodities controlled under 0x5zz ECCNs.
(2) Countries subject to requirement. (i) OAS member countries
include: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, and any member
country that has acceded in accordance with Chapter III of the Charter
of the Organization of American States.
(ii) All other countries that require an import certificate or
permit.
(3) Equivalent official document in place of an import certificate
or permit. For those countries that have not yet established or
implemented an import certificate procedure, BIS will accept an
equivalent official document (e.g., import license or letter of
authorization) issued by the government of the importing country as
supporting documentation for the export of commodities detailed under
paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(b) Obtaining the document. (1) Applicants must request that the
importer (e.g., ultimate consignee or purchaser) obtain the import
certificate, permit, or an equivalent official document from the
government of the importing country, and that it be issued covering the
quantities and types of firearms and related items that the applicant
intends to export. Upon receipt of this document or a certified copy,
the importer must provide the original or a certified copy to the
license applicant.
(2) If the government of the importing country will not issue such
document, the applicant must supply the information described in
paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(6) through (c)(8) of this section on company
letterhead.
(c) Content of the document. The document must contain the
following information:
(1) Applicant's name and address. The applicant may be either the
exporter, supplier, or order party.
(2) Import Certificate Identifier/Number.
(3) Name of the country issuing the certificate or unique country
code.
(4) Date the document was issued, in international date format
(e.g., 24/12/12 for 24 December 2012, or 3/1/99 for 3 January 1999).
(5) Name of the agency issuing the certificate, address, telephone
and facsimile numbers, signing officer name, and signature.
(6) Name of the importer, address, telephone and facsimile numbers,
country of residence, representative's name if commercial or government
body, citizenship, and signature.
(7) Name of the end user(s), if known and different from the
importer, address, telephone and facsimile numbers, country of
residence, representative's name if commercial (authorized distributor
or reseller) or government body, citizenship, and signature. Note that
BIS does not require the identification of each end user when the
firearms and related commodities will be resold by a distributor or
reseller if unknown at the time of export.
(8) Description of the commodities approved for import including a
technical description and total quantity of firearms, parts and
components, ammunition and parts.
Note 1 to paragraph (c)(8): You must furnish the consignee with
a detailed technical description of each commodity to be given to
the government for its use in issuing the document. For example, for
shotguns, provide the type, barrel length, overall length, number of
shots, the manufacturer's name, and the country of manufacture. For
ammunition, provide the caliber, velocity and force, type of bullet,
manufacturer's name and country of manufacture.
(9) Expiration date of the document in international date format
(e.g., 24/12/12) or the date the items must be imported, whichever is
earlier.
(10) Name of the country of export (i.e., United States).
(11) Additional information. Certain countries may require the
tariff classification number, by class, under the Brussels Convention
(Harmonized Tariff Code) or the specific technical description of a
commodity. For example, shotguns may need to be described in barrel
length, overall length, number of shots, manufacturer's name and
country of manufacture. The technical description is not the Export
Control Classification Number (ECCN).
(d) Procedures for using document with license application--(1)
Information necessary for license application. The license application
must include the same commodities as those listed on the document.
(2) Alterations. After the document is used to support the issuance
of a license, no corrections, additions, or alterations may be made on
the same document by any person. Any necessary corrections, additions,
or alterations should be noted by the applicant in a separate statement
on file with the applicant.
(3) Validity period. Documents issued by the importing country will
be valid until the expiration date on the documents themselves.
Note 2 to paragraph (d)(3): Applicants for license applications
for exports and reexports must submit an import certificate, permit,
or comparable document with the license application. All BIS
licenses for ECCNs 0A501, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509
commodities will include a standard rider that requires that the
applicant/exporter must have a current FC Import Certificate on file
prior to export. The text of the standard rider will generally be as
follows: ``A current, complete, accurate and valid Firearms
Convention (FC) Import Certificate (or equivalent official document)
shall be obtained, if required by the government of the importing
country, from the Ultimate Consignee and maintained in the
exporter's file prior to any export of the item(s) listed on this
license. A copy shall be provided to the U.S. Government upon
request. (Refer to Sec. 742.17(b) of the EAR for guidance.)''
* * * * *
0
26. Supplement no. 2 to part 748 is amended by revising paragraph
(z)(1), note 1 to paragraph (z), and paragraphs (aa) and (bb) to read
as follows:
Supplement No. 2 to Part 748--Unique Application and Submission
Requirements
* * * * *
(z) * * *
(1) Certification. If you are submitting a license application for
the export of firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or
0A507, or shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled
in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508 that will be temporarily in the United States,
e.g., for servicing and repair or for intransit shipments, you must
include the following certification in Block 24:
The firearms in this license application will not be shipped from
or manufactured in Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan,
[[Page 34708]]
except for any firearm model controlled by 0A501, 0A506, or 0A507 that
is specified under Annex A in supplement no. 4 to part 740. I and the
parties to this transaction will comply with the requirements specified
in paragraphs (z)(2)(i) and (ii) of supplement no. 2 to part 748.
* * * * *
Note 1 to paragraph (z): In addition to complying with all
applicable EAR requirements for the export of commodities described
in paragraph (z) of this supplement, exporters and temporary
importers should contact U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at
the port of temporary import or export, or at the CBP website, for
the proper procedures for temporarily importing or exporting
firearms controlled in ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507 or
shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled in
ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508, including regarding how to provide any data or
documentation required by BIS.
* * * * *
(aa) Exports of other firearms, certain shotguns, and related
commodities. (1) Semi-automatic firearms controlled under 0A506 and
0A507. For export license applications that require prior notifications
to congress of exports of semi-automatic firearms controlled under
ECCNs 0A506 and 0A507 under the criteria of Sec. 743.6, the exporter
must include a copy of the signed contract or, if there is no contract,
a written explanation from the applicant (including a statement of the
value of the firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A506 and 0A507 to be
exported). License applications for semi-automatic firearms controlled
by ECCNs 0A506 and 0A507 may include other non-automatic firearms,
shotguns, other 0x5zz items, or other items subject to the EAR, but the
applicant must clearly identify the semi-automatic firearms controlled
by ECCNs 0A506 and 0A507.
(2) Purchase orders for certain commodities controlled under ECCNs
0A501, 0A502, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509. License
applications for items controlled under ECCNs 0A501 (except 0A501.y),
0A502, 0A505 (except 0A505.c, 0A505.d, and 0A505.e), 0A506, 0A507,
0A508, or 0A509 to destinations other than Country Group A:1 require
the submission of purchase documentation (e.g., a purchase order,
request for proposals, or other appropriate documentation) with the
submission of the license application, dated within one year of
submission with the license application. Upon approving a license for
these items, BIS will generally limit the licensed quantity to the
quantity specified on the purchase order. However, applicants may
request up to a 10% variance in quantity from the purchase order
amount, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Additionally,
exporters may export various model types under the approved license, so
long as the items remain consistent with the ECCN and ECCN item
paragraph specified on the approved application.
(3) Passport or other national identity card information. License
applications for items controlled under ECCNs 0A501 (except 0A501.y),
0A502, 0A505 (except 0A505.c, 0A505.d, and 0A505.e), 0A506, 0A507,
0A508, or 0A509 to destinations other than Country Group A:1 require
the submission of passport or other national identity card information
when the end user is an individual person.
(bb) ``600 Series Major Defense Equipment.'' For license
applications that require prior notifications to Congress of exports of
``600 series major defense equipment'' pursuant to Sec. 743.5, the
exporter must include a copy of the signed contract (including a
statement of the value of the ``600 Series Major Defense Equipment'' to
be exported under the contract). (See Sec. 743.5(d) of the EAR)
PART 750--APPLICATION PROCESSING, ISSUANCE, AND DENIAL
0
27. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 750 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; Sec. 1503, Pub. L. 108-11, 117 Stat. 559; E.O.
13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR
44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; E.O. 13637, 78 FR 16129, 3 CFR,
2013 Comp., p. 223; Presidential Determination 2003-23, 68 FR 26459,
3 CFR, 2004 Comp., p. 320.
0
28. Section 750.4 is amended by adding paragraph (d)(2)(v) to read as
follows:
Sec. 750.4 Procedures for processing license applications.
* * * * *
(d) * * *
(2) * * *
(v) The Safeguard. The Safeguard, chaired by the Department of
State, reviews license applications involving firearm and shotgun
related items controlled under 0x5zz ECCNs.
* * * * *
0
29. Section 750.7 is amended by revising paragraph (g) to read as
follows:
Sec. 750.7 Issuance of licenses.
* * * * *
(g) License validity period. Licenses involving the export or
reexport of items will generally have a four-year validity period,
unless a different validity period has been requested and specifically
approved by BIS or is otherwise specified on the license at the time
that it is issued. Exceptions from the four-year validity period
include: license applications for items controlled for short supply
reasons, which will be limited to a one-year validity period and
license applications reviewed and approved as an ``emergency'' (see
Sec. 748.4(h) of the EAR); and controlled under ECCNs 0A501, 0A502,
0A504, 0A505, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, or 0A509, which will generally be
limited to a one-year validity period. Emergency licenses will expire
no later than the last day of the calendar month following the month in
which the emergency license is issued. The expiration date will be
clearly stated on the face of the license. If the expiration date falls
on a legal holiday (Federal or State), the validity period is
automatically extended to midnight of the first business day following
the expiration date.
(1) Extended validity period. BIS will consider granting a validity
period exceeding four years (or exceeding one year for applications
subject to that shorter validity period) on a case-by-case basis when
extenuating circumstances warrant such an extension. Requests for such
extensions may be made at the time of application or after the license
has been issued and it is still valid. BIS will not approve changes
regarding other aspects of the license, such as the parties to the
transaction and the countries of ultimate destination. An extended
validity period will generally be granted where, for example, the
transaction is related to a multi-year project; when the period
corresponds to the duration of a manufacturing license agreement,
technical assistance agreement, warehouse and distribution agreement,
or license issued under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations;
when production lead time will not permit an export or reexport during
the original validity period of the license; when an unforeseen
emergency prevents shipment within the 4-year validity of the license;
or for other similar circumstances.
(2) Request for extension. (i) The applicant must submit a letter
in writing to request an extension in the validity period of a
previously approved license. The subject of the letter must be titled:
``Request for Validity Period Extension'' and contain the following
information:
(A) The name, address, and telephone number of the requestor;
(B) A copy of the original license, with the license number,
validation
[[Page 34709]]
date, and current expiration date legible; and
(C) Justification for the extension;
(ii) It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all
applicable support documents remain valid and are in the possession of
the applicant. If the request for extension is approved, BIS will
provide the applicant with a written response.
* * * * *
PART 758--EXPORT CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS AND AUTHORITIES
0
30. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 758 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p.
783.
0
31. Section 758.1 is amended by revising paragraphs (b)(9), (c)(1), and
(g)(4) to read as follows:
Sec. 758.1 The Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing to the
Automated Export System (AES).
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(9) For all exports, except for exports authorized under License
Exception BAG, as set forth in Sec. 740.14 of the EAR, of commodities
controlled under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507, shotguns with a
barrel length less than 18 inches controlled under ECCNs 0A502 or
0A508, or ammunition controlled under ECCN 0A505 except for .c,
regardless of value or destination, including exports to Australia,
Canada, and the United Kingdom.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(1) License Exception Baggage (BAG), as set forth in Sec. 740.14
of the EAR. See 15 CFR 30.37(x) of the FTR;
Note 1 to paragraph (c)(1): See the export clearance
requirements for exports of firearms controlled under ECCNs 0A501.a
or .b, 0A506, or 0A507, shotguns with a barrel length less than 18
inches controlled under ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508, or ammunition
controlled under ECCN 0A505, authorized under License Exception BAG,
as set forth in Sec. 740.14 of the EAR.
* * * * *
(g) * * *
(4) Exports of firearms and related items. This paragraph (g)(4)
includes two separate requirements under paragraphs (g)(4)(i) and (ii)
of this section that are used to better identify exports of certain
firearms under the EAR. Paragraph (g)(4)(i) of this section is limited
to certain EAR authorizations. Paragraph (g)(4)(ii) of this section
applies to all EAR authorizations that require EEI filing in AES.
(i) Identifying firearms by manufacturer, model, caliber, and
serial number in the EEI filing in AES. For any export authorized under
License Exception TMP or a BIS license authorizing a temporary export
of items controlled under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507 or
shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled under
ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508, in addition to any other required data for the
associated EEI filing, you must report the manufacturer, model,
caliber, and serial number of the exported items. The requirements of
this paragraph (g)(4)(i) also apply to any other export authorized
under a BIS license that includes a condition or proviso on the license
requiring the submission of this information specified in paragraph (g)
of this section when the EEI is filed in AES.
(ii) Identifying firearms and certain ``parts,'' ``components,''
devices, ``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' by ``items'' level
classification or other control descriptor in the EEI filing in AES.
For any export of items controlled under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506,
0A507, shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches controlled
under ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508.a.1, or .a.2, or ``parts,'' ``components,''
devices, ``accessories,'' or ``attachments'' controlled under 0A509.a,
.b, .c, or .d, in addition to any other required data for the
associated EEI filing, the exporter must include the items paragraph
classification or other control descriptor as specified in paragraphs
(g)(4)(ii)(A) through (F) for ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A506, 0A507, 0A508,
or 0A509, as applicable, as the first text to appear in the Commodity
description block in the EEI filing in AES. (See Sec. 743.4 of the EAR
for the use of this information for ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506.a or .b,
and 0A507.a, or .b for conventional arms reporting).
(A) If exporting firearms controlled under 0A501, enter .a or .b,
as applicable;
(B) If exporting shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches
controlled under 0A502, enter .SB;
(C) If exporting semi-automatic rifles controlled under 0A506,
enter .a or .b, as applicable;
(D) If exporting semi-automatic pistols controlled under 0A507,
enter .a or .b, as applicable;
(E) If exporting semi-automatic shotguns controlled under 0A508,
enter .a or .b, as applicable; or
(F) If exporting ``parts,'' ``components,'' devices,
``accessories,'' or ``attachments'' controlled under ECCN 0A509, enter
.a, .b, .c, .d, or .e, as applicable.
Note 2 to paragraph (g)(4): If a commodity described in
paragraph (g)(4) of this section is exported under License Exception
TMP under Sec. 740.9(a)(6) of the EAR for inspection, test,
calibration, or repair is not consumed or destroyed in the normal
course of authorized temporary use abroad, the commodity must be
disposed of or retained in one of the ways specified in Sec.
740.9(a)(14)(i), (ii), or (iii) of the EAR. For example, if a
commodity described in this paragraph (g)(4) was destroyed while
being repaired after being exported under Sec. 740.9(a)(6), the
commodity described in this paragraph (g)(4) would not be required
to be returned. If the entity doing the repair returned a
replacement of the commodity to the exporter from the United States,
the import would not require an EAR authorization. The entity that
exported the commodity described in this paragraph (g)(4) and the
entity that received the commodity would need to document this as
part of their recordkeeping related to this export and subsequent
import to the United States.
* * * * *
0
32. Section 758.10 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and notes 1
and 2 to paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:
Sec. 758.10 Entry clearance requirements for temporary imports.
(a) Scope. This section specifies the temporary import entry
clearance requirements for firearms ``subject to the EAR'' that are on
the United States Munitions Import List (USMIL, 27 CFR 447.21), except
for firearms ``subject to the EAR'' that are temporarily brought into
the United States by nonimmigrant aliens under the provisions of
Department of Justice regulations at 27 CFR part 478 (See Sec.
740.14(e) of the EAR for information on the export of these firearms
``subject to the EAR''). These firearms are controlled in ECCNs 0A501.a
or .b, 0A506 or 0A507, or shotguns with a barrel length less than 18
inches controlled in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508. Items that are temporarily
exported under the EAR must have met the export clearance requirements
specified in Sec. 758.1.
(1) An authorization under the EAR is not required for the
temporary import of ``items'' that are ``subject to the EAR,''
including for ``items'' ``subject to the EAR'' that are on the USMIL.
Temporary imports of firearms described in this section must meet the
entry clearance requirements specified in paragraph (b) of this
section.
(2) Permanent imports are regulated by the Attorney General under
the direction of the Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (see 28 CFR 0.130; 27 CFR parts 447,
478, 479, and 555).
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
Note 1 to paragraph (b)(1): In accordance with the exclusions in
License Exception
[[Page 34710]]
TMP under Sec. 740.9(b)(5) of the EAR, the entry clearance
requirements in Sec. 758.1(b)(9) do not permit the temporary import
of: Firearms controlled in ECCN 0A501.a or .b, 0A506 or 0A507 that
are shipped from or manufactured in a Country Group D:5 country; or
that are shipped from or manufactured in Russia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or
Uzbekistan (except for any firearm model controlled by 0A501.a or
.b, 0A506, or 0A507 that is specified under annex A in supplement
no. 4 to part 740 of the EAR); or shotguns with a barrel length less
than 18 inches controlled in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508 that are shipped
from or manufactured in a Country Group D:5 country, or from Russia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or
Uzbekistan, because of the exclusions in License Exception TMP under
Sec. 740.9(b)(5).
Note 2 to paragraph (b)(1): In accordance with the exclusions in
License Exception RPL under Sec. 740.10(b)(4) and supplement no. 2
to part 748, paragraph (z), of the EAR, the entry clearance
requirements in Sec. 758.1(b)(9) do not permit the temporary import
of: Firearms controlled in ECCN 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507 that
are shipped from or manufactured in Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan (except
for any firearm model controlled by 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507
that is specified under Annex A in Supplement No. 4 to part 740 of
the EAR); or shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches
controlled in ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508 that are shipped from or
manufactured in Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan, because of the exclusions in
License Exception RPL under Sec. 740.10(b)(4) and supplement no. 2
to part 748, paragraph (z), of the EAR.
* * * * *
0
33. Section 758.11 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b)(2) to
read as follows:
Sec. 758.11 Export clearance requirements for firearms and related
items.
(a) Scope. The export clearance requirements of this section apply
to all exports of commodities controlled under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b,
0A506, or 0A507, or shotguns with a barrel length less than 18 inches
controlled under ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508, or ammunition controlled under
ECCN 0A505 except for .c, regardless of value or destination, including
exports to Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, that are
authorized under License Exception BAG, as set forth in Sec. 740.14 of
the EAR.
(b) * * *
(2) Required ``description of articles'' for firearms to be
included on the CBP Form 4457. For all exports of firearms controlled
under ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506, or 0A507, or shotguns with a barrel
length less than 18 inches controlled under ECCNs 0A502 or 0A508, the
exporter must provide to CBP the serial number, make, model, and
caliber for each firearm being exported by entering this information
under the ``Description of Articles'' field of the CBP Form 4457,
Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad.
* * * * *
PART 762--RECORDKEEPING
0
34. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 762 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p.
783.
0
35. Section 762.2 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(11) to read as
follows:
Sec. 762.2 Records to be retained.
(a) * * *
(11) The serial number, make, model, and caliber for any firearm
controlled in ECCNs 0A501.a, 0A506, or 0A507 and for shotguns with
barrel length less than 18 inches controlled in 0A502 and 0A508 that
have been exported. The ``exporter'' or any other party to the
transaction (see Sec. 758.3 of the EAR), that creates or receives such
records is a person responsible for retaining this record; and
* * * * *
0
36. Section 762.3 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(5) to read as
follows:
Sec. 762.3 Records exempt from recordkeeping requirements.
(a) * * *
(5) Warranty certificate, except for a warranty certificate issued
for an address located outside the United States for any firearm
controlled in ECCNs 0A501.a or .b, 0A506 or 0A507 and for shotguns with
barrel length less than 18 inches controlled in 0A502 or 0A508;
* * * * *
PART 772--DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
0
37. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 772 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p.
783.
0
38. Section 772.1 is amended by adding a definition in alphabetical
order for ``CARICOM,'' to read as follows:
Sec. 772.1 Definitions of terms as used in the Export Administration
Regulations (EAR).
* * * * *
CARICOM (Caribbean Community). For purposes of Sec. Sec. 740.3 and
740.14 of the EAR, the term CARICOM is defined as follows: An
intergovernmental organization that consists of the following (1)
member states Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica,
Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, Suriname, St.
Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and
Tobago; (2) associate members Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos; and (3) any other state
or associate member that has acceded to membership in accordance with
Article 3 or Article 231 of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Note to definition of CARICOM: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos are
treated as the United Kingdom under all other EAR provisions that
govern licensing requirements and license exceptions.
* * * * *
PART 774--THE COMMERCE CONTROL LIST
0
39. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 774 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 10 U.S.C. 8720; 10 U.S.C. 8730(e); 22 U.S.C.
287c, 22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6004; 42 U.S.C. 2139a; 15
U.S.C. 1824; 50 U.S.C. 4305; 22 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7210;
E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66
FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783.
0
40. Supplement no. 1 to part 774 is amended by:
0
a. In Category 0:
0
i. Revising ECCNs 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, and 0A505;
0
ii. Adding ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, 0A508, and 0A509; and
0
iii. Revising ECCNs 0B501, 0D501, 0E501, 0E502, 0E504 and 0E505; and
0
b. In Category 2, by revising ECCN 2B018.
The revisions and additions read as follows:
Supplement No. 1 to Part 774
Category 0--Nuclear Materials, Facilities, and Equipment [and
Miscellaneous Items]
A. ``End Items,'' ``Equipment,'' ``Accessories,'' ``Attachments,''
``Parts,'' ``Components,'' and ``Systems''
* * * * *
0A501 Firearms (except 0A502 shotguns, 0A506 semi-automatic rifles,
0A507 semi-automatic pistols, and 0A508 semi-automatic shotguns) and
related commodities (except semi-automatic related commodities
enumerated or otherwise described in ECCN 0A509 for
[[Page 34711]]
ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, or 0A508) as follows (see List of Items
controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see Supp. No.
Control(s) 1 to part 738)
NS applies to entire entry except 0A501.y. NS Column 1
RS applies to entire entry except 0A501.y. RS Column 1
FC applies to entire entry except 0A501.y. FC Column 1
CC applies to entire entry except 0A501.y. CC Column 2
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
AT applies to entire entry................ AT Column 1
License Requirement Note: In addition to using the Commerce
Country Chart to determine license requirements, a license is
required for exports and reexports of ECCN 0A501.y.7 firearms to the
People's Republic of China.
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
LVS: $500 for 0A501.c, .d, and .x.
$500 for 0A501.c, .d, .e, and .x if the ultimate destination is
Canada.
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception STA (Sec. 740.20(c)(2)
of the EAR) may not be used for any item in this entry.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for firearms that are
fully automatic, and certain related parts, components, accessories,
and attachments (including magazines with a capacity of greater than
50 rounds). (2) See ECCN 0A506 for semi-automatic rifles. (3) See
ECCN 0A507 for semi-automatic pistols. (4) See ECCN 0A508 for semi-
automatic shotguns and ECCN 0A502 for certain ``parts'' and
``components'' for semi-automatic shotguns that are not controlled
by 0A509.a or .c. (5) See ECCN 0A509 for enumerated or otherwise
described ``parts,'' ``components,'' devices, ``accessories,'' and
``attachments'' for ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508. (6) See .d, .x,
and .y of this entry for other ``parts,'' ``components,''
``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' ``specially designed'' for
0A506 and 0A507, or 0A508. (7) See ECCN 0A502 for non-automatic
shotguns and their ``parts'' and ``components'' that are subject to
the EAR and for certain ``parts'' and ``components'' for semi-
automatic shotguns that are not controlled by 0A509.a or .c. (8) See
ECCN 0A504 and USML Category XII for controls on optical sighting
devices.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Non-automatic and non-semi-automatic firearms equal to .50
caliber (12.7 mm) or less.
Note 1 to paragraph 0A501.a: `Combination pistols' are
controlled under ECCN 0A501.a. A `combination pistol' (a.k.a., a
combination gun) has at least one rifled barrel and at least one
smoothbore barrel (generally a shotgun style barrel).
Note 2 to paragraph 0A501.a: Semi-automatic firearms equal to
.50 caliber (12.7 mm) or less are controlled under ECCNs 0A506 and
0A507.
Technical Note to 0A501.a: Firearms described in 0A501.a include
those chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge.
b. Non-automatic and non-semi-automatic rifles, carbines,
revolvers or pistols with a caliber greater than .50 inches (12.7
mm) but less than or equal to .72 inches (18.0 mm).
c. The following types of ``parts'' and ``components'' if
``specially designed'' for a commodity controlled by paragraph .a or
.b of this entry or ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507, or USML Category I (unless
otherwise enumerated or elsewhere specified on the USML or
controlled under ECCN 0A509): Barrels, cylinders, barrel extensions,
mounting blocks (trunnions), bolts, bolt carriers, operating rods,
gas pistons, trigger housings, triggers, hammers/striker, sears,
disconnectors, pistol grips that contain fire control ``parts'' or
``components'' (e.g., triggers, hammers/striker, sears,
disconnectors) and buttstocks that contain fire control ``parts'' or
``components.''
Technical Note to 0A501.c: Barrel blanks that have reached a
stage in manufacturing in which they are either chambered or rifled
are controlled by 0A501.c.
d. Detachable magazines with a capacity of 17 to 50 rounds
``specially designed'' for a commodity controlled by paragraph .a or
.b of this entry or controlled by ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507.
Note 3 to paragraph 0A501.d: Magazines with a capacity of 16
rounds or less are controlled under 0A501.x; for magazines with a
capacity greater than 50 rounds, see USML Category I.
e. Receivers (frames) and ``complete breech mechanisms,''
including castings, forgings, stampings, or machined items thereof,
``specially designed'' for a commodity controlled by paragraph .a or
.b of this entry.
Note 4 to 0A501.e: Frames (receivers) under 0A501.e refers to
any ``part'' or ``component'' of the firearm that has or is
customarily marked with a serial number when required by law. This
paragraph 0A501.e is synonymous with a ``part'' or ``component''
that is regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (see 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3); 27 CFR parts 447, 478, and
479,) as a firearm.
Note 5 to 0A501.e: Frames (receivers) ``specially designed''
for semi-automatic firearms are controlled under ECCN 0A509.b or .c.
f. through w. [Reserved]
x. ``Parts'' and ``components'' that are ``specially designed''
for a commodity classified under paragraphs .a through .c of this
entry, a commodity classified under ECCNs 0A506 or 0A507, or the
USML and not elsewhere specified on the USML or CCL or controlled
under ECCN 0A509.
y. Specific ``parts,'' ``components,'' ``accessories'' and
``attachments'' ``specially designed'' for a commodity subject to
control in this ECCN, ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, or common to a defense
article in USML Category I and not elsewhere specified in the USML
or CCL as follows, and ``parts,'' ``components,'' ``accessories,''
and ``attachments'' ``specially designed'' therefor.
y.1. Stocks (including adjustable, collapsible, blades and
braces), grips, handguards, or forends, that do not contain any fire
control ``parts'' or ``components'' (e.g., triggers, hammers/
striker, sears, disconnectors);
y.2 to y.5. [Reserved]
y.6. Bayonets; and
y.7. Firearms manufactured from 1890 to 1898 and reproductions
thereof.
Technical Note 1 to 0A501: ECCN 0A501 includes ``parts'' and
``components'' that are not ``subject to the ITAR'' even though they
are common to firearms described in ECCN 0A501 and to those firearms
``subject to the ITAR.''
Technical Note 2 to 0A501: A receiver with any other controlled
``part'' or ``component'' (e.g., a barrel (0A501.c), or trigger
guard (0A501.x), or stock (0A501.y.1)) is still controlled under
0A501.e.
Note 6 to 0A501: Antique firearms i.e., those manufactured
before 1890) and reproductions thereof, muzzle loading and black
powder firearms except those designs based on centerfire weapons of
a post 1937 design, BB guns, pellet rifles, paint ball, and all
other air rifles are EAR99 commodities.
Note 7 to 0A501: Muzzle loading and black powder firearms with a
caliber less than 20 mm that were manufactured post 1937 that are
used for hunting or sporting purposes that were not ``specially
designed'' for military use and are not described on the USML nor
controlled as shotguns under ECCN 0A502 are EAR99 commodities.
Note 8 to 0A501: Scope mounts or accessory rails, iron sights,
sling swivels, and butt plates or recoil pads that are subject to
the EAR are designated as EAR99. These commodities have been
determined to no longer warrant being ``specially designed'' for
purposes of ECCN 0A501.
Note 9 to 0A501: A kit, including a replacement or repair kit,
of firearms ``parts'' or ``components'' customarily sold and
exported together takes on the classification of the most
restrictive ``part'' or ``component'' that is included in the kit.
For example, a kit containing 0A501.y and .x ``parts,'' is
controlled as a 0A501.x kit because the .x ``part'' is the most
restrictive ``part'' included in the kit. A complete 0A501 firearm
disassembled in a kit form is controlled as a firearm under 0A501.a,
.b, or .y.7.
0A502 Shotguns; shotguns ``parts'' and ``components,'' consisting of
complete trigger mechanisms; magazines and magazine extension tubes;
``complete breech mechanisms;'' except: semi-
[[Page 34712]]
automatic shotguns controlled under ECCN 0A508; certain ``parts,''
components,'' devices, ``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' for
semi-automatic shotguns controlled under ECCN 0A509; equipment used
to slaughter domestic animals or used exclusively to treat or
tranquilize animals; and arms designed solely for signal, flare, or
saluting use.
License Requirements
Reason for Control: RS, FC, CC, UN, AT, NS
Country chart (see Supp. No.
Control(s) 1 to part 738)
NS applies to shotguns with a barrel NS Column 1
length less than 18 inches (45.72 cm).
RS applies to shotguns with a barrel RS Column 1
length less than 18 inches (45.72 cm).
FC applies to entire entry................ FC Column 1
CC applies to entire entry................ CC Column 2
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1(b) of the
EAR for UN controls
AT applies to shotguns with a barrel AT Column 1
length less than 18 inches (45.72 cm).
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
LVS: $500 for 0A502 shotgun ``parts'' and ``components,'' consisting
of complete trigger mechanisms; magazines and magazine extension
tubes. $500 for 0A502 shotgun ``parts'' and ``components,''
consisting of complete trigger mechanisms; magazines and magazine
extension tubes, ``complete breech mechanisms'' if the ultimate
destination is Canada.
GBS: N/A
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for shotguns that are
fully automatic. (2) See ECCN 0A508 for semi-automatic shotguns. (3)
See ECCN 0A509 for enumerated or otherwise described ``parts,''
``components,'' devices, ``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' for
ECCN 0A508. (4) See 0A501.d, .x, and .y for other ``parts,''
``components,'' ``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' ``specially
designed'' for 0A508. (5) See ECCNs 0A501 for non-semi-automatic
firearms, 0A506 for semi-automatic rifles, and 0A507 for semi-
automatic pistols.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items: The list of items controlled is contained in the ECCN
heading.
Note 1 to 0A502: Shotguns made in or before 1898 are considered
antique shotguns and designated as EAR99.
Technical Note: Non-automatic and non-semi-automatic shot
pistols or shotguns that have had the shoulder stock removed and a
pistol grip attached are controlled by ECCN 0A502. Non-automatic and
non-semi-automatic slug guns are also controlled under ECCN 0A502.
* * * * *
0A504 Optical sighting devices for firearms (including shotguns
controlled by 0A502); and ``components'' as follows (see List of
Items Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: FC, RS, CC, UN
Country chart (see Supp.
Control(s) No. 1 to part 738)
RS applies to paragraph .i................ RS Column 1
FC applies to paragraphs .a, .b, .c, .d, FC Column 1
.e, .g, and .i of this entry.
CC applies to entire entry................ CC Column 2
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1(b) of the
EAR for UN controls
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
LVS: $500 for 0A504.g.
GBS: N/A
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category XII(c) for sighting devices
using second generation image intensifier tubes having luminous
sensitivity greater than 350 [mu]A/lm, or third generation or higher
image intensifier tubes, that are ``subject to the ITAR.'' (2) See
USML Category XII(b) for laser aiming or laser illumination systems
``subject to the ITAR.'' (3) Section 744.9 of the EAR imposes a
license requirement on certain commodities described in 0A504 if
being exported, reexported, or transferred (in-country) for use by a
military end user or for incorporation into an item controlled by
ECCN 0A919.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Telescopic sights.
b. Holographic sights.
c. Reflex or ``red dot'' sights.
d. Reticle sights.
e. Other sighting devices that contain optical elements.
f. Laser aiming devices or laser illuminators ``specially
designed'' for use on firearms, and having an operational wavelength
exceeding 400 nm but not exceeding 710 nm.
Note 1 to 0A504.f: 0A504.f does not control laser boresighting
devices that must be placed in the bore or chamber to provide a
reference for aligning the firearms sights.
g. Lenses, other optical elements and adjustment mechanisms for
articles in paragraphs .a, .b, .c, .d, .e, or .i.
h. [Reserved]
i. Riflescopes that were not ``subject to the EAR'' as of March
8, 2020 and are ``specially designed'' for use in firearms that are
``subject to the ITAR.''
Note 2 to paragraph i: For purpose of the application of
``specially designed'' for the riflescopes controlled under 0A504.i,
paragraph (a)(1) of the definition of ``specially designed'' in
Sec. 772.1 of the EAR is what is used to determine whether the
riflescope is ``specially designed.''
0A505 Ammunition as follows (see List of Items Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see Supp. No.
Control(s) 1 to part 738)
NS applies to 0A505.a and .x.............. NS Column 1
RS applies to 0A505.a and .x.............. RS Column 1
FC applies to entire entry except 0A505.d. FC Column 1
CC applies to 0A505.a, .b, and .x......... CC Column 2
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
AT applies to 0A505.a, .d, and .x......... AT Column 1
AT applies to 0A505.c..................... A license is required for
items controlled by
paragraph .c of this entry
to North Korea for anti-
terrorism reasons. The
Commerce Country Chart is
not designed to determine
AT licensing requirements
for this entry. See Sec.
742.19 of the EAR for
additional information.
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
LVS: $500 for items in 0A505.x, except $3,000 for items in 0A505.x
that, immediately prior to March 9, 2020, were classified under
0A018.b. (i.e., ``Specially designed'' components and parts for
ammunition, except cartridge cases, powder bags, bullets, jackets,
cores, shells, projectiles, boosters, fuses and components, primers,
and other detonating devices and ammunition belting and linking
machines (all of which are ``subject to the ITAR''). (See 22 CFR
parts 120 through 130))
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception STA (Sec. 740.20(c)(2)
of the EAR) may not be used for any item in 0A505.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category III for ammunition for
modern heavy weapons such as howitzers, artillery, cannon, mortars
and recoilless rifles as well as inherently military ammunition
types such as ammunition preassembled into links or belts, caseless
ammunition, tracer ammunition, ammunition with a depleted uranium
projectile or a projectile with a hardened tip or core and
ammunition with
[[Page 34713]]
an explosive projectile. (2) Percussion caps, and lead balls and
bullets, for use with muzzle-loading firearms are EAR99 items. (3)
See USML Category III for shotgun projectiles that are flechettes,
incendiary, tracer, or explosive.
Related Definitions: 'Marking rounds' are non-lethal, typically used
for training purposes, and contain a dye or paint in a capsule that
is not a chemical irritant.
Items:
a. Ammunition for firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, or
0A507 or USML Category I and not enumerated in paragraph .b, .c, or
.d of this entry or described in USML Category III.
b. Buckshot (No. 4 .24'' diameter and larger, any material)
shotgun shells and shotgun shells that contain only buckshot, or are
for the dispersion of chemical irritants.
c. Shotgun shells (including less than lethal rounds) that do
not contain buckshot; and ``specially designed'' ``parts'' and
``components'' of shotgun shells.
d. Blank ammunition for firearms controlled by ECCNs 0A501,
0A502, 0A506, 0A507, or 0A508 and not described in USML Category
III.
Technical Note to 0A505.d: Includes `marking rounds' that have
paint/dye as the projectile.
e. through w. [Reserved]
x. ``Parts'' and ``components'' that are ``specially designed''
for a commodity subject to control in this ECCN or a defense article
in USML Category III and not elsewhere specified on the USML or the
CCL.
Note 1 to 0A505.x: The controls on ``parts'' and ``components''
in this entry include Berdan and boxer primers, metallic cartridge
cases, and standard metallic projectiles such as full metal jacket,
lead core, copper projectiles, and frangible projectiles.
Note 2 to 0A505: Metal shot smaller than No. 4 Buckshot, empty
and unprimed shotgun shells, shotgun wads, smokeless gunpowder,
'dummy rounds' and 'drill rounds' (unless linked or belted), not
incorporating a lethal or non-lethal projectile(s) are designated
EAR99. A 'dummy round' or 'drill round' is a round that is
completely inert, (i.e., contains no primer, propellant, or
explosive charge). It is typically used to check weapon function and
for crew training.
Note 3 to 0A505: Shotgun shells that contain two or more balls/
shot larger than .24-inch are controlled under 0A505.b.
0A506 Semi-Automatic Rifles as follows (see List of Items
Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see Supp.
Control(s) No. 1 to part 738)
NS applies to entire entry................ NS Column 1
RS applies to entire entry................ RS Column 1
FC applies to entire entry................ FC Column 1
CC applies to entire entry................ CC Column 2
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
AT applies to entire entry................ AT Column 1
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
LVS: N/A
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: License Exception STA may not be used for 0A506.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for firearms that are
fully automatic, and magazines with a capacity of greater than 50
rounds. (2) See ECCN 0A507 for semi-automatic pistols, excluding
pistols built with, e.g., AR- or AK-style receivers (frames), which
are controlled under ECCN 0A506. (3) See ECCN 0A508 for semi-
automatic shotguns and ECCN 0A502 for certain ``parts'' and
``components'' for semi-automatic shotguns that are not controlled
by 0A509.a or .c. (4) See ECCN 0A509 for enumerated or otherwise
described ``parts,'' ``components,'' devices, ``accessories,'' and
``attachments'' for ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and 0A508. (5) See 0A501.c,
.d, .x, and .y for other ``parts,'' ``components,'' ``accessories,''
and ``attachments'' ``specially designed'' for 0A506 and 0A507, or
0A508. (6) See ECCN 0A501 for non-semi-automatic firearms (except
0A502 shotguns) and related commodities that are subject to the EAR.
(7) See ECCN 0A502 for non-automatic shotguns and their ``parts''
and ``components'' that are subject to the EAR and certain ``parts''
and ``components'' for semi-automatic shotguns that are not
controlled by 0A509.a or .c. (8) See ECCN 0A504 and USML Category
XII for controls on optical sighting devices.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Semi-automatic centerfire (non-rimfire) rifles equal to .50
caliber (12.7 mm) or less that has any one of the following:
a.1. ability to accept a detachable large capacity magazine
(more than 10 rounds); or may be easily modified to do so;
a.2. folding or telescoping stock;
a.3. separate pistol grips;
a.4. ability to accept a bayonet;
a.5. a flash suppressor; or
a.6. bipods.
b. Semi-automatic rifles equal to .50 caliber (12.7 mm) or less,
including all non-centerfire (rimfire), n.e.s.
Note 1 to 0A506.a and .b: ``Parts'' and ``components'' that are
``specially designed'' for a commodity classified under .a or .b of
this entry, except those controlled under ECCN 0A509, are controlled
under ECCN 0A501.c, .d, .x, or .y.
Technical Note 1 to 0A506: Firearms described in 0A506 include
those chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge.
Technical Note 2 to 0A506: Firearms described in 0A506 include
pistols built with, e.g., AR- or AK-style receivers (frames).
0A507 Semi-Automatic Pistols as follows (see List of Items
Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see Supp.
Control(s) No. 1 to part 738)
NS applies to entire entry................ NS Column 1
RS applies to entire entry................ RS Column 1
FC applies to entire entry................ FC Column 1
CC applies to entire entry................ CC Column 2
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
AT applies to entire entry................ AT Column 1
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
LVS: N/A
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: License Exception STA may not be used for 0A507.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for firearms that are
fully automatic, and magazines with a capacity of greater than 50
rounds. (2) See ECCN 0A506 for semi-automatic rifles. (3) See ECCN
0A508 for semi-automatic shotguns and ECCN 0A502 for certain
``parts'' and ``components'' for semi-automatic shotguns that are
not controlled by 0A509.a or .c. (4) See ECCN 0A509 for enumerated
or otherwise described ``parts,'' ``components,'' devices,
``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' for ECCNs 0A506, 0A507, and
0A508. (5) See ECCN 0A501.c, .d, .x, and .y for other ``parts,''
``components,'' ``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' ``specially
designed'' for 0A506 and 0A507, or 0A508. (6) See ECCN 0A501 for
non-semi-automatic firearms (except 0A502 shotguns) and related
commodities that are subject to the EAR. (7) See ECCN 0A502 for non-
automatic shotguns and their ``parts'' and ``components'' that are
subject to the EAR and certain ``parts'' and ``components'' for
semi-automatic shotguns that are not controlled by 0A509.a or .c.
(8) See ECCN 0A504 and USML Category XII for controls on optical
sighting devices.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Semi-automatic centerfire (non-rimfire) pistols equal to .50
caliber (12.7 mm) or less.
b. Semi-automatic rimfire pistols equal to .50 caliber (12.7 mm)
or less.
Note 1 to 0A507.a and .b: ``Parts'' and ``components'' that are
``specially designed''
[[Page 34714]]
for a commodity classified under .a or .b of this entry, except
those controlled under ECCN 0A509, are controlled under ECCN
0A501.c, .d, .x, or .y.
Technical Note to 0A507: Firearms described in 0A507 includes
those chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge, including revolvers, or
that may be developed to fire .50 BMG cartridges.
0A508 Semi-Automatic Shotguns as follows (see List of Items
Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see Supp. No.
Control(s) 1 to part 738)
NS applies to semi-automatic shotguns with NS Column 1
a barrel length less than 18 inches
(45.72 cm).
RS applies to semi-automatic shotguns with RS Column 1
a barrel length less than 18 inches
(45.72 cm).
FC applies to entire entry................ FC Column 1
CC applies to entire entry................ CC Column 2
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
AT applies to semi-automatic shotguns with AT Column 1
a barrel length less than 18 inches
(45.72 cm).
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
LVS: N/A
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: License Exception STA may not be used for 0A508.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for shotguns that are
fully automatic. (2) See ECCN 0A502 for non-semi-automatic shotguns.
(3) See ECCN 0A509 for enumerated or otherwise described ``parts,''
``components,'' devices, ``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' for
ECCN 0A508. (4) See 0A501.d, .x, and .y for other ``parts,''
``components,'' ``accessories,'' and ``attachments'' ``specially
designed'' for 0A508. (5) See ECCNs 0A501 for non-semi-automatic
firearms, 0A506 for semi-automatic rifles, and 0A507 for semi-
automatic pistols.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Semi-automatic centerfire (non-rimfire) shotguns with any one
of the following:
a.1. folding, telescoping, or collapsible stock;
a.2. a flash suppressor;
a.3. a magazine over five rounds;
a.4. a drum magazine;
a.5. Excessive Weight (greater than 10 lbs for 12 gauge or
smaller); or
a.6. Excessive Bulk (greater than 3 inches in width and/or
greater than 4 inches in depth).
b. Semi-automatic shotguns, including all non-centerfire
(rimfire), n.e.s.
0A509 Certain ``parts,'' ``components,'' devices, ``accessories,''
and ``attachments'' for items controlled under ECCNs 0A506, 0A507,
and 0A508 as follows (see List of Items Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, FC, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see Supp. No.
Control(s) 1 to part 738)
NS applies to entire entry................ NS Column 1
RS applies to entire entry................ RS Column 1
FC applies to entire entry................ FC Column 1
CC applies to entire entry................ CC Column 2
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
AT applies to entire entry................ AT Column 1
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
LVS: N/A
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: License Exception STA may not be used for 0A509.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: (1) See USML Category I for firearms that are
fully automatic, and magazines with a capacity of greater than 50
rounds. (2) See ECCN 0A506 for semi-automatic rifles. (3) See ECCN
0A507 for semi-automatic pistols. (4) See ECCN 0A508 for semi-
automatic shotguns and ECCN 0A502 for certain ``parts'' and
``components'' for semi-automatic shotguns that are not controlled
by .a or .c of this entry. (5) See ECCN 0A501.c, .d, .x, and .y for
other ``parts,'' ``components,'' ``accessories,'' and
``attachments'' ``specially designed'' for 0A506 and 0A507, or
0A508. (6) See ECCN 0A501 for non-semi-automatic firearms (except
0A502 shotguns) and related commodities that are subject to the EAR.
(7) See ECCN 0A502 for non-automatic shotguns and their ``parts''
and ``components'' that are subject to the EAR and certain ``parts''
and ``components'' for semi-automatic shotguns that are not
controlled by .a or .c of this entry. (8) See ECCN 0A504 and USML
Category XII for controls on optical sighting devices. (9) See USML
Category I for similar items.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Any ``part,'' ``component,'' device, ``attachment,'' or
``accessory'' not elsewhere specified on the USML that is designed
or functions to convert a non-semi-automatic firearm controlled by
0A501 or 0A502 to semi-automatic or to accelerate the rate of fire
of a semi-automatic firearm controlled by 0A506, 0A507, or 0A508.
b. Receivers (frames), including castings, forgings, stampings,
or machined items thereof, ``specially designed'' for an item
controlled by ECCN 0A506.
c. Receivers (frames), including castings, forgings, stampings,
or machined items thereof, ``specially designed'' for an item
controlled by ECCN 0A507.
d. Receivers (frames) and ``specially designed'' ``complete
breech mechanisms'' for a commodity controlled by ECCN 0A508.
Note 1 to 0A509.b and .c: Receivers (frames) under 0A509.b and
.c refers to any ``part'' or ``component'' of the firearm that has
or is customarily marked with a serial number when required by law.
Paragraph 0A509.b and .c are synonymous with a ``part'' or
``component'' that is regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (see 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3); 27 CFR parts 447,
478, and 479,) as a firearm.
* * * * *
B. ``Test'', ``Inspection'' and ``Production Equipment''
* * * * *
0B501 Test, inspection, and production ``equipment'' and related
commodities for the ``development'' or ``production'' of commodities
enumerated or otherwise described in ECCNs 0A501, 0A506, 0A507, or
0A509 or USML Category I as follows (see List of Items Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, UN, AT
Country chart (see Supp. No.
Control(s) 1 to part 738)
NS applies to entire entry except NS Column 1
equipment for ECCN 0A501.y.
RS applies to entire entry except RS Column 1
equipment for ECCN 0A501.y.
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
AT applies to entire entry................ AT Column 1
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of all
License Exceptions)
LVS: $3000
GBS: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception STA (Sec. 740.20(c)(2)
of the EAR) may not be used to ship any item in this entry.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: N/A
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. Small arms chambering machines.
b. Small arms deep hole drilling machines and drills therefor.
[[Page 34715]]
c. Small arms rifling machines.
d. Small arms boring/reaming machines.
e. Production equipment (including dies, fixtures, and other
tooling) ``specially designed'' for the ``production'' of the items
controlled in 0A501.a through .x., 0A506, 0A507, 0A509, or USML
Category I.
* * * * *
D. ``Software''
* * * * *
0D501 ``Software'' ``specially designed'' for the ``development,''
``production,'' operation, or maintenance of commodities controlled
by 0A501, 0A506, 0A507, 0A509 or 0B501.
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see Supp. No.
Control(s) 1 to part 738)
NS applies to entire entry except NS Column 1
``software'' for commodities in ECCN
0A501.y or equipment in ECCN 0B501 for
commodities in ECCN 0A501.y.
RS applies to entire entry except RS Column 1
``software'' for commodities in ECCN
0A501.y or equipment in ECCN 0B501 for
commodities in ECCN 0A501.y.
CC applies to entire entry except CC Column 2
``software'' for commodities in ECCN
0A501.y or equipment in ECCN 0B501 for
commodities in ECCN 0A501.y.
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
AT applies to entire entry................ AT Column 1
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
TSR: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception STA (Sec. 740.20(c)(2)
of the EAR) may not be used for any ``software'' in 0D501.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: See USML Category I for ``software'' directly
related to articles described in USML Category I.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items: The list of items controlled is contained in this ECCN
heading.
* * * * *
0D505 ``Software'' ``specially designed'' for the ``development,''
``production,'' operation, or maintenance of commodities controlled
by 0A505 or 0B505.
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see Supp.
Control(s) No. 1 to part 738)
NS applies to ``software'' for commodities NS Column 1
in ECCN 0A505.a and .x and equipment in
ECCN 0B505.a .and .x.
RS applies to ``software'' for commodities RS Column 1
in ECCN 0A505.a and .x and equipment in
ECCN 0B505.a and .x.
CC applies to ``software'' for commodities CC Column 2
in ECCN 0A505.a, .b, and .x and equipment
in ECCN 0B505.a and .x.
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
AT applies to ``software'' for commodities AT Column 1
in ECCN 0A505.a, .d, or .x and equipment
in ECCN 0B505.a, .d, or .x.
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
TSR: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception STA (Sec. 740.20(c)(2)
of the EAR) may not be used for any ``software'' in 0D505.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: See USML Category III for ``software'' directly
related to articles described in USML Category III.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items: The list of items controlled is contained in this ECCN
heading.
* * * * *
E. ``Technology''
* * * * *
0E501 ``Technology'' ``required'' for the ``development,''
``production,'' operation, installation, maintenance, repair, or
overhaul of commodities controlled by 0A501, 0A506, 0A507, 0A509, or
0B501 as follows (see List of Items Controlled).
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see Supp. No.
Control(s) 1 to part 738)
NS applies to entire entry................ NS Column 1
RS applies to entire entry................ RS Column 1
CC applies to entire entry................ CC Column 2
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
AT applies to entire entry................ AT Column 1
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
TSR: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception STA (Sec. 740.20(c)(2)
of the EAR) may not be used for any ``technology'' in ECCN 0E501.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: See USML Category I for technical data directly
related to articles described in USML Category I.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items:
a. ``Technology'' ``required'' for the ``development'' or
``production'' of commodities controlled by ECCN 0A501 (other than
0A501.y), 0A506, 0A507, 0A509, or 0B501.
b. ``Technology'' ``required'' for the operation, installation,
maintenance, repair, or overhaul of commodities controlled by ECCN
0A501 (other than 0A501.y), 0A506, 0A507, 0A509, or 0B501.
0E502 ``Technology'' ``required'' for the ``development'' or
``production'' of commodities controlled by 0A502, 0A508, or 0A509.
License Requirements
Reason for Control: CC, UN
Country chart (see Supp. No.
Control(s) 1 to part 738)
CC applies to entire entry................ CC Column 2
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
TSR: N/A
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: See USML Category I for technical data directly
related to articles described in USML Category I.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items: The list of items controlled is contained in the ECCN
heading.
* * * * *
0E504 ``Technology'' ``required'' for the ``development'' or
``production'' of commodities controlled by 0A504 that incorporate a
focal plane array or image intensifier tube.
[[Page 34716]]
License Requirements
Reason for Control: RS, CC, UN, AT
Country chart (see Supp.
Control(s) No. 1 to part 738)
RS applies to entire entry................ RS Column 1
CC applies to entire entry................ CC Column 2
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1(b) of the
EAR for UN controls
AT applies to entire entry................ AT Column 1
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
TSR: N/A
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: N/A
Related Definitions: N/A
Items: The list of items controlled is contained in the ECCN
heading.
0E505 ``Technology'' ``required'' for the ``development,''
``production,'' operation, installation, maintenance, repair,
overhaul, or refurbishing of commodities controlled by 0A505.
License Requirements
Reason for Control: NS, RS, UN, CC, AT
Country chart (see Supp. No.
Control(s) 1 to part 738)
NS applies to ``technology'' for NS Column 1
``development,'' ``production,''
operation, installation, maintenance,
repair, overhaul, or refurbishing
commodities in 0A505.a and .x; for
equipment for those commodities in 0B505;
and for ``software'' for that equipment
and those commodities in 0D505.
RS applies to ``technology'' for RS Column 1
``development,'' ``production,''
operation, installation, maintenance,
repair, overhaul, or refurbishing
commodities in 0A505.a and .x; for
equipment for those commodities in 0B505
and for ``software'' for those
commodities and that equipment in 0D505.
UN applies to entire entry................ See Sec. 746.1 of the EAR
for UN controls
CC applies to ``technology'' for the CC Column 2
``development'' or ``production'' of
commodities in 0A505.a, .b, and .x.
AT applies to ``technology'' for AT Column 1
``development,'' ``production,''
operation, installation, maintenance,
repair, overhaul, or refurbishing
commodities in 0A505.a, .d, and .x.
List Based License Exceptions (See Part 740 for a Description of All
License Exceptions)
TSR: N/A
Special Conditions for STA
STA: Paragraph (c)(2) of License Exception STA (Sec. 740.20(c)(2)
of the EAR) may not be used for any ``technology'' in 0E505.
List of Items Controlled
Related Controls: See USML Category III for technical data directly
related to articles described in USML Category III.
Related Definitions: N/A
Items: The list of items controlled is contained in this ECCN
heading.
* * * * *
Category 2--Materials Processing
* * * * *
B. ``Test'', ``Inspection'' and ``Production Equipment''
* * * * *
2B018 Equipment on the Wassenaar Arrangement Munitions List.
No commodities currently are controlled by this entry.
Commodities formerly controlled by paragraphs .a through .d, .m, and
.s of this entry are controlled in ECCN 0B606. Commodities formerly
controlled by paragraphs .e through .l of this entry are controlled
by ECCN 0B602. Commodities formerly controlled by paragraphs .o
through .r of this entry are controlled by ECCN 0B501. Commodities
formerly controlled by paragraph .n of this entry are controlled in
ECCN 0B501 if they are ``specially designed'' for the ``production''
of the items controlled in ECCNs 0A501.a through .x, 0A506, 0A507,
or 0A509 or USML Category I and controlled in ECCN 0B602 if they are
of the kind exclusively designed for use in the manufacture of items
in ECCN 0A602 or USML Category II.
* * * * *
Thea D. Rozman Kendler
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-08813 Filed 4-26-24; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P