The first major implementation event of export control reform took place on Oct. 15, 2013, when the revised Cat. VIII and new Cat. XIX of the US Munitions List (USML) and the corresponding provisions in the 600 series of the Commerce Control List (CCL) went into effect.

The next implementation is on Jan. 6, 2014, when four revised categories of the USML and new provisions in the CCL become effective.  The Final Rule for these changes was published on July 8, 2013, with a 180 day transition period.  The affected USML categories and defense articles are:

• Cat. VI –  Surface Vessels of War and Special Naval Equipment
• Cat. VII – Military Ground Vehicles
• Cat. XIII – Materials and Miscellaneous Articles
• Cat. XX – Submersible Vessels and Related Articles

The revisions utilized the same philosophy and guidelines as before.  The controlled articles are specifically described, as opposed to the more general “catch-all” language used previously. This is what the Departments of State and Commerce describe as a “positive list.”   The new provisions create a “bright line” between what is controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and what isn’t.  One of the main goals is to remove many parts, components, accessories and attachments from the USML and ITAR control.  Under the new provisions, many specialized parts and components used in military vehicles and naval vessels will no longer be subject to ITAR controls.  Instead they will be classified in the CCL and require a Department of Commerce license or license exception for export.

Many companies may look at the above categories and conclude that they are not affected by the Jan. 6 changes.  However, the primary impact will be felt by companies that provide parts and subassemblies that go into military vessels, vehicles, submersibles in Cats. VI, VII and XIX, or the materials and articles in Cat. XIII. They will need to determine how the articles they manufacture are used, or the products into which they are integrated.  They may find that the articles they produce are used in a naval vessel subsystem described in Cat. VI, or a camera or cryptographic equipment described in Cat. XIII. Those companies will need to classify their products under the revised regulations to determine how the products, or associated technical data, are now controlled.  Classifying them the old way will not be acceptable, and could lead to license applications being returned without action.

Classification will be a more complex process.  As an example, prior to Jan. 6, 2014, a part or subsystem specially designed for a naval vessel would go in Cat. VI. Now the exporter must carefully read the descriptions of controlled articles in Cat. VI to determine whether an article to be exported is controlled on the USML.  Among other things, those descriptions in revised Cat. VI control:

(2) Systems that manage, store, create, distribute, conserve, and transfer energy, and specially designed parts and components therefor, that have:

(i) Storage exceeding 30MJ;

(ii) A discharge rate less than 3 seconds; and

(iii) A cycle time under 45 seconds”

If you have a good technical background this may be simple; if not, get some assistance.

A decision tree approach will work well with the revised USML and CCL.  The decision tree for parts, components, accessories and attachments would look something like this:

1.  Is the article (or technical data) used in a naval vessel, submersible, or military vehicle in Cats. VI, VII, or XX or a material or article described in USML Cat. XIII?

2.  If yes, is it a part, component, accessory or attachment?

3.  If yes, is it described in the revised USML Cats. VI, VIII, XIII or XX?

4.  If yes, does it meet the specially designed definition?

5.  If no, is it described anywhere else on the USML?

6.  If no, is it described in any of the 600 series provisions of the CCL?

7.  If no, is it described in any other provision of the CCL?

8.  If no, it is classified under EAR99

The end result of export control reform will be reduced controls; however determining whether a particular component or technical data qualifies for those reduced controls will be a challenge.

Time to ask for that raise!

By Bruce Leeds,  Attorney