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Bureau of Industry and Security

Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230

202-482-2721
http://www.bis.doc.gov

Industry and Security

Industry and Security
UNDER SECRETARYJeremy Pelter, Acting
Deputy Under SecretaryJeremy Pelter

Chief CounselOpher Shweiki, Acting
https://www.commerce.gov/about/leadership

Export

Export
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES
AdministrationMatthew S. Borman, Acting
EnforcementKevin J. Kurland, Acting
https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/about-bis/organization/senior-management-team

The Bureau of Industry and Security ensures an effective export control and treaty compliance system and promotes the Nation's strategic leadership in technology to strengthen national security, advance U.S. foreign policy, and achieve economic objectives.

ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION

The Bureau of Export Administration, which was later renamed the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), was established within the Department of Commerce on October 1, 1987.

On March 10, 1988, the Department of Commerce issued Department Organization Order 10–16. It set forth the scope of authority and the functions of the new Under Secretary for Export Administration. A copy of the order was published in the Federal Register on June 7, 1988 (53 FR 20881).

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1988-06-07/pdf/FR-1988-06-07.pdf

The Department of Commerce used an internal organization order to change the name of the Bureau of Export Administration to the BIS on April 18, 2002. The nomenclature change was published as a final rule in the Federal Register on April 26, 2002 (67 FR 20630).

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2002-04-26/pdf/02-10166.pdf

The BIS posts an organization chart on its website.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/about-bis/organization

ACTIVITIES

The BIS advances U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives. The Bureau ensures an effective export control and treaty compliance system and promotes U.S. leadership in strategic technologies. The BIS maintains and strengthens adaptable, efficient, and effective export controls and treaty compliance systems. It also is involved with international export control regimes, often playing a lead role.

https://www.commerce.gov/bureaus-and-offices/bis

Export Administration

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration is responsible for export licenses, treaty compliance, treaty obligations relating to weapons of mass destruction, and the defense industrial and technology base. The Office regulates the export of dual-use items requiring licenses for national security, nonproliferation, foreign policy, and short supply; ensures that approval or denial of license applications is consistent with economic and security concerns; promotes an understanding of export control regulations within the business community; represents the Department in interagency and international forums relating to export controls, particularly in multilateral regimes; monitors the availability of industrial resources of national defense; analyzes the impact of export controls on strategic industries; and assesses the security consequences of certain foreign investments.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/regulations/export-administration-regulations-ear

Export Enforcement

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement enforces dual-use export controls. This enables exporters to take advantage of legal export opportunities while ensuring that illegal exports will be detected and either prevented or investigated and sanctioned. The Office also ensures prompt, aggressive action against restrictive trade practices; and conducts cooperative enforcement activities on an international basis. Export Enforcement also enforces U.S. antiboycott laws and regulations by advising U.S. exporters on potential prohibited requests contained in foreign contracts; investigating violations such as the furnishing of boycott-related information, refusing to deal with blacklisted businesses; and pursuing criminal and administrative sanctions for violations.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/enforcement

Sources of Information

Additional Programs

The "Add'l Programs" web page provides convenient access to information on technology evaluation, strategic industries and economic security, chemical weapons, and nuclear fuel cycle-related activities.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/other-areas

Archived Records

The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that records of the Bureau of Export Administration have been assigned to record group 476. The Administration was renamed the BIS in 2002. Record group 476 does not have a description that currently is associated with it.

https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/index-numeric/401-to-500.html

Boycott Requests

The Office of Antiboycott Compliance posts recent examples of boycott requests that have been reported. The list of prohibited conditions is illustrative and not exhaustive.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/all-articles/7-enforcement/1755-examples-of-recent-boycott-related-requests

Career Opportunities

BIS career opportunities are posted on USAJobs, which is a free web-based job board that serves as the Federal Government's official source of Federal job listings and employment opportunity information.

https://www.usajobs.gov

In 2020, the BIS ranked 136th among 411 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.

https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/?c=CM67

Commerce Control List

Export control classification numbers are helpful for determining whether or not a Department of Commerce-issued export license is needed for exporting a particular export item.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/regulations/commerce-control-list-ccl

Commerce Country Chart

The BIS has posted an overview of the commerce control list and the commerce country chart.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/regulations-docs/federal-register-notices/federal-register-2014/1033-738-supp-1/file

Contact Information

Forms and telephone numbers are available on the "Contact Us" web page.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/about-bis/contact-bis

Descriptions of BIS activities and contact information for its program offices are available online.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/program-offices

Data

The "BIS Data Portal" web page allows access to datasets that are relevant for analyzing exports and licensing.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/data-portal

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR)

Title 15 of the e-CFR is dedicated to rules and regulations on commerce and foreign trade.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=713f591c01d176fc38d7d3cc23a07ffd&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title15/15tab_02.tpl

Enforcement Resources

Descriptions of the sentinel program and outreach program, as well as links to enforcement resources, are available online.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/compliance-a-training/export-management-a-compliance/enforcement-resources

Federal Register

Significant documents and documents that the BIS recently published in the Federal Register are accessible online.

https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/industry-and-security-bureau

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The FOIA is a Federal freedom of information law. It allows a person the right to request access to Federal agency records that are maintained by agencies within the Government's executive branch. After receiving a written request, an agency must disclose the requested information; however, some records may be shielded from disclosure by one or more of nine FOIA exemptions or by one of three special law enforcement record exclusions.

https://efoia.bis.doc.gov

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The BIS posts answers to a lot of questions on its "FAQs" web page.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/policy-guidance/faqs

Links to Resources

The "Resource Links" web page has contact information for and links to other Government departments and agencies whose activities include export control. The web page also has links to Federal agencies that offer trade promotion information and other related services.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/about-bis/resource-links

Newsroom

The newsroom has information on the Bureau's current activities, as well as historical records and speeches by and testimony from senior managers.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/about-bis/newsroom

Press Releases

The BIS posts press releases.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/about-bis/newsroom/press-releases

Publications

Publications that are available online include the BIS's Annual Report to Congress, the guidance on the Commerce Department’s Reexport Controls, and the Exporter User Manual and Licensing FAQ.

http://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/about-bis/newsroom/publications

Regulations

Subscribers to the "Export Administration Regulations" can stay informed of the latest rules. Phone, 301-208-0700 (ext. 112).

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/regulations/order-a-hard-copy-of-the-ear | Email: pubs@ocr-inc.com

The "Recently Published Regulations" web page contains helpful links to regulatory publications that are electronic.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/regulations

Social Media

The BIS tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/BISgov

Statistical Reports

The BIS posts statistical reports on its website.

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/statistical-reports