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Voluntary Self Disclosure (VSD)
Export Compliance News

Voluntary Self Disclosure (VSD) Guidelines

A Voluntary Self-Disclosure (VSD) is conducted when an organization recognizes that violations or suspected violations of export regulations of the United States have occurred.  The three major sets of U.S. Regulations are the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).   International Traffic in

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OFAC Non SDN Sanction
Export Compliance News

OFAC Non SDN Sanction List

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Non SDN Sanction List is a reference tool that is published by the United States Department of Treasury to identify persons subject to specific types of sanctions.  This list includes non-blocking prohibitions of the export specific goods and services and prohibitions based on statutory exceptions for imports.  The

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CGP Security Plan
Export Compliance News

CGP Security Plan Development Requirements

Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) security plans are a requirement for work sites where goods are examined, possessed, or transferred.  This is a requirement for all companies registered in the CGP as described in section 10 of the Controlled Goods Regulations.   Controlled goods are primarily items, components and technical data that have been designated as

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Explosive Atmosphere MIL-STD-810
Product Testing News

Explosive Atmosphere MIL-STD-810 Method 511

Explosive Atmosphere, MIL-STD-810, Method 511, is used to evaluate how equipment will function in an explosive fuel-air environment.  This method has two procedures.  Procedure I – Explosive Atmosphere evaluates the ability of equipment to operate in a fuel-air environment without causing the fuel air mixture to ignite.  Procedure II – Explosive Containment evaluates the equipment’s

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300 Million Dollar Penalty
Export Compliance News

300 Million Dollar Penalty Imposed by BIS

A 300 million dollar penalty was imposed on Seagate Technology, LCC, by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).  These administrative penalties were leveled at the business’s operations in Fremont, California and Singapore and include a five-year suspended Denial Order, which if activated, would terminate the organization’s ability to conduct export business under the Export

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Export Compliance Penalties
Export Compliance News

Export Compliance Penalties for ITAR and EAR

The U.S. Government continues to impose export compliance penalties for companies that commit violations.  This is the case for exports that fall under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).  These penalties can include both civil and criminal fines, imprisonment, and denial of export privileges. Penalties Under the ITAR

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ITAR-Expands-Treaty-Exemptions
Export Compliance News

ITAR Expands Treaty Exemptions for Transfers

The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) expands treaty exemptions for the transfer of defense articles, services, and technical data enumerated on the Munitions List.  This rule, which will become effective on May 12, 2023, is in effect for transfers between the United States and Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada.   Effect of Rulemaking This

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New DoD Requirement For Contractors
Export Compliance News

New DoD Requirement For Contractors

A new Department of Defense (DoD) requirement for contractors has been proposed.  This would require contractors to provide applicable export authorizations when receiving certain types of government contracts.  This proposed amendment to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) would empower the Defense Contract Management Agency (DMCA) to request export authorizations when contracts require Government

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BIS Addresses Human Rights
Export Compliance News

BIS Addressed Human Rights Through Entity List

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) addressed human rights abuses with additions to the Entity List of individuals and organizations that are enabling or engaging in human rights violations.  The eleven entities added, in March of 2023, are based in China, Burma, Russia, and Nicaragua.  These actions demonstrate the ongoing efforts by the Department

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Microsoft export violations
Export Compliance News

Microsoft Export Violations Make News

Microsoft export violations have resulted in multi-million-dollar penalties for the software provider.  The company has made voluntary disclosures to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC), and the Department of Justice (DOJ).  Most of these reported violations occurred between 2012 and 2019.  These violations

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Quality Management Internal Auditing
Quality News

Quality Management Internal Auditing Tips

Quality Management internal auditing is performed in an organization to assess strengths and weakness, and identify areas of noncompliance. These audits are usually conducted by employees of the organization to assess processes they are not directly involved in to ensure an unbiased analysis.  Information gathered from a well performed internal audit can provide insights for

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GoDaddy Multi-Year Security Breach
Cyber Security

GoDaddy Multi-Year Security Breach

Hosting giant, GoDaddy, has disclosed a Multi-Year Security Breach that has compromised customer security and may cause infection of websites.  This is a noteworthy concern as the company acts as a hosting service for 20 million customers worldwide.  The first breach was reported in November of 2019.  Since this time the company has reported two

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BIS Assessing Civil Space
Export Compliance News

BIS Assessing Civil Space Industrial Base

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is Assessing the Civil Space Industrial Base in the United States in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to better understand this important supply chain network.  This study will use surveys to collect data from U.S. organizations

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Tabletop Exercises for Cyber Incident
Cyber Security

Tabletop Exercises for Cyber Incident Response

Tabletop Exercises for Cyber Incident Response teams are effective tools for assessing the ability of an organization to protect and preserve sensitive data.  These exercises engage team members to respond to a variety of scenarios.  This provides an evaluation of the Cyber Incident Response Plan’s technologies, processes, and personnel’s ability to maintain confidentiality, integrity, and

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Temperature Shock MIL-STD-810 Method 503
Product Testing News

Temperature Shock MIL-STD-810 Method 503

MIL-STD-810 Temperature Shock testing (Method 503) is used to evaluate equipment’s ability to withstand sudden changes in temperature.  This laboratory test method is conducted in environmental test chambers and can be tailored to replicate the anticipated thermal profiles during storage, transit, and operation.  Such shock could be experienced when a jet fighter on a tarmac

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Disruptive Technology Strike Force
Export Compliance News

Disruptive Technology Strike Force to Enforce EAR

The Department of Commerce has initiated the Disruptive Technology Strike Force which will partner the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) with the Department of Justice (DoJ) in the enforcement of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).  Export Administration Regulations (EAR) control the export of commodities determined to be dual-use.  Dual-use items refer to commodities and

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