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This is a list of acronyms commonly used in the Bureau of Industry and Security. It is intended to help you with the general meaning of each acronym. These are not the official definitions of the terms in question. Where an acronym refers to a provision of the Export Administration Regulations, or other legal authority, you should consult that authority for official guidance. The official definitions of terms used in the Export Administration Regulations are contained in Part 772.
ACEP- Advisory Committee on Export Policy. An interagency dispute resolution committee chaired by the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
AES- Automated Export System. A computerized method for filing Shipper's Export Declarations.
AG- Australia Group. An arrangement among cooperating nations that have agreed to adopt national export controls on dual-use chemical weapon precursors, biological microorganisms and related equipment to prevent the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons.
AT- Anti-Terrorism. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL). Countries subject to AT controls are those on the State Department's list of countries that support international terrorism.
BEET- Business Executives' Enforcement Team. Town-hall meetings hosted by Export Enforcement (EE) to provide opportunities for government officials and business executives to discuss export control and enforcement issues.
BIS- Bureau of Industry and Security. An agency of the Department of Commerce established by the Export Administration Act that is responsible for administering and enforcing export controls on "dual-use" items. BIS administers the Export Administration Act (EAA) by developing export control policies, issuing export licenses, prosecuting violators, and implementing the EAA's antiboycott provisions. BIS also enhances the defense industrial base, assists U.S. defense firms, and helps other countries develop export control systems.
CB- Chemical & Biological Weapons. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL) to prevent the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons.
CBM- Office of Chemical, Biological and Missile Proliferation, Nonproliferation Bureau, Department of State. CBM establishes and implements U.S. foreign policy relating to the proliferation and international transfers of weapons of mass destruction.
CC- Crime Control. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL) for the purpose of promoting human rights throughout the world.
CCAT - Commodity Classification Automated Tracking System.
CCL- Commerce Control List. A list of items subject to Bureau of Industry and Security export license requirements based on their identity. The Commerce Control List (CCL) is found in Supplement 1 to Part 774 of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). [NOTE: EAR99 items are not on the CCL.]
CFR- Code of Federal Regulations. The CFR is the codification of the general and permanent rules of the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Export Administration Regulations are in 15 CFR Parts 730-774. The CFR is amended by rules published in the Federal Register.
CIA- Central Intelligence Agency.
CJ- Commodity Jurisdiction. A commodity jurisdiction (CJ) request seeks to determine whether an item or service is subject to the export licensing authority of the Department of Commerce or the Department of State, Office of Defense Trade Controls (DTC). BIS is the licensing agency for dual-use exports, while the DTC licenses defense articles and services.
CTP- Composite Theoretical Performance. CTP is a measure of computational performance given in millions of theoretical operations per second (MTOPS), calculated using the aggregation of "computing elements" (CE). This measure is used in determining export license requirements of computers. CTP is the measure, MTOPS is the unit of measure. CTP is to temperature as MTOPS is to degrees.
CW- Chemical Weapons. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL) of chemicals that are listed on schedules of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
CWC- Chemical Weapons Convention. An international agreement among nations that agree they will not develop, produce, stockpile, or use chemical weapons.
DOD-Department of Defense.
DOE- Department of Energy.
DOJ- Department of Justice.
DOS- Department of State.
DPL- Denied Persons List. A list, available at Supplement No. 2 to Part 764 of the EAR, of persons whose export privileges are currently denied, in whole or in part. (Formerly known as the "Table of Denial Orders")
DTC- Office of Defense Trade Controls. The office in the Department of State (DOS) that administers licenses for defense services and defense (munitions) articles. (Formerly known as the Office of Munitions Control)
DTRA- Defense Treat Reduction Agency. An agency of the Department of Defense (DOD) responsible for the development and implementation of policies on international transfers of defense-related technology, and review of certain dual-use export license applications.
EAA- Export Administration Act. The EAA is the statute that authorizes the export control and antiboycott compliance activities of the Department of Commerce (DOC). The EAA is the basic authority for BIS to to issue regulations, and to administer and enforce export controls for national security, foreign policy and short supply.
EA- Export Administration. A principal operating unit of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) responsible for export control policy and licensing issues for "dual-use" items. EA also enhances the defense industrial base and assists U.S. defense firms which have felt the impact of reduced defense spending.
EAR- Export Administration Regulations. Regulations set forth in parts 730-774, of Title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and issued by the Department of Commerce to implement the Export Administration Act (EAA) and other statutory requirements.
EARB- Export Administration Review Board. The cabinet level interagency dispute resolution committee involved with the review of export license applications and chaired by the Secretary of Commerce.
EB- Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Department of State. Among the various duties of this bureau is fostering regional and global stability.
ECASS- Export Control Automated Support System. The electronic database of export license information that supports the Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) export licensing process and enforcement activities.
ECCN- Export Control Classification Number. Individual categories of items on the Commerce Control List (CCL) are identified by an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN).
ECNP- Office of Export Controls and Conventional Arms Nonproliferation Policy, Nonproliferation Bureau, Department of State. ECNP establishes and implements U.S. foreign policy relating to the proliferation and international transfer of conventional arms and sensitive dual-use technology.
EE- Export Enforcement. A principal operating unit of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) responsible for the enforcement of export controls on "dual-use" items. EE also enforces the Export Administration Act's (EAA) antiboycott provisions and the Fastener Quality Act.
EI- Encryption Items. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL) covering encryption commodities, software and technology.
ELAIN- Export License Application and Information Network. A system that allows electronic submission of license applications through private vendors.
EMS- Export Management System. An optional program developed by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to assist companies in complying with the export control provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
EPCI- Enhanced Proliferation Control Initiative. The Presidential initiative announced in December 1990, upon which many Commerce non-proliferation controls are based, focusing specifically on missile technology and chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. Although the 1990 EPCI announcement addressed both controls on items and end-use controls, the term is often used informally to specify the EPCI provision that requires an export license based upon what the exporter "knows" of the end-user or end-use, or upon what the exporter is "informed." See: EAR Part 744.
ERIC- Electronic Request for Item Classification. A supplementary service to ELAIN to allow the electronic submission of commodity classification requests to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
ESD- Electronic Support Documentation. A prototype system developed to permit the electronic submission of supporting documentation needed to accompany license applications.
FC- Firearms Convention. A reason for control on the Commerce Control list covering the export of certain shotguns and related items to Organization of American States member countries.
FORDTIS- Foreign Disclosure and Technical Information System. An electronic system that facilitates the review of license applications and international transfers within the Department of Defense.
FTO- Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Secretary of State designates FTO's. The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act prohibits persons within the United States or subject to U.S. jurisdiction from providing support or resources to an FTO. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control requires U.S. banks to block financial transactions with FTO's. The Export Administration Regulations impose controls on exports and reexport to FTO's.
FTSR- Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations - (15 CFR, Part 30) Issued by the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce to regulate the preparation and filing of the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) by exporters, freight forwarders, and ocean carriers.
HPC- High performance Computer. Computers whose processing capabilities require enhanced export control treatment. As computer technology advances, the export control threshold of an HPC changes. Consult EAR §742.12 for the current HPC threshold.
HWA- Hold Without Action. Placing an export license application on HWA stops the review of the export license application under limited circumstances, for example, while the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is waiting for information from the applicant necessary to review the proposed transaction.
ICP- Internal Control Program. To qualify for a Special Comprehensive License (SCL), the SCL holder and consignee must develop an ICP to assure that exports and reexports are not made contrary to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
IEEPA- International Emergency Economic Powers Act. IEEPA grants the President emergency power to respond to a threat to the U.S. national security, foreign policy, or the economy from abroad. Presidents have used IEEPA to continue the Export Administration Regulations in force during lapses of the Export Administration Act. IEEPA is found at 50 U.S.C. §1701 et seq.
ITAR- International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Govern the export and import of defense articles and services under State Department export licensing jurisdiction.
ITD- Intent to Deny. Under the EAR, BIS must notify the applicant of its intent to deny a license application and give the exporter the opportunity to respond prior to the actual denial. The "intent to deny" letter notifies the applicant of the planned denial and the reasons for it.
LO- Licensing Officer. Employees within the Bureau of Industry and Security who review, analyze and decide export license applications and other export control determinations.
MT- Missile Technology. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL) to limit the proliferation of missiles, as defined in the EAR.
MARC- Missile Annex Review Committee. The MARC is an interagency group that develops U.S. proposals and reviews foreign proposals to change the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Annex. The annex contains the list of items that the MTCR member countries have agreed to control.
MTCR- Missile Technology Control Regime. The United States and other nations in this multilateral control regime have agreed to guidelines for restricting the export of dual use items that may contribute to the development of missiles.
MTEC- Missile Technology Export Committee. An interagency group chaired by a representative of the Department of State (DOS) that reviews export license applications involving items controlled for missile technology reasons.
NDAA- National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998. This law provides authorization for the activities of the Department of Defense. The NDAA for FY1998 contained a provision that requires advance notification to BIS of certain exports and reexports of high performance computers to Tier 3 countries.
NLR- "no license required". A symbol entered on the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED), certifying that no BIS export license is required.
NP- Nuclear Nonproliferation. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL) whose purpose is to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
NPC- Non-proliferation Center. A unit within the Central Intelligence Agency that contributes to the interagency review of export license applications.
NPTC- Office of Nonproliferation Controls and Treaty Compliance. The office within BIS' Export Administration responsible for export licensing and policy relative to items controlled for Chemical and Nuclear Weapons, and Missile Technology reasons. NPTC deals with controls that implement the agreements of the Australia Group, Nuclear Suppliers Group and Missile Technology Control Regime. The office is also the principal representative of U.S. industrial interests under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
NS- National Security. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL) referring to items that are controlled for national security purposes.
NSG- Nuclear Suppliers Group. The international export control regime focusing on the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
OAC - Office of Antiboycott Compliance. OAC is responsible for implementing the antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This office performs three main functions: (1) enforcing the regulations; (2) assisting the public in antiboycott compliance; and (3) compiling and analyzing information regarding international boycotts.
OC- Operating Committee. The interagency working group, chaired by a representative from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) that reviews license applications in dispute among reviewing agencies.
OEA- Office of Enforcement Analysis. This office within BIS' Export Enforcement is the central point for the collection, research, and analysis of data relating to parties to export transactions. OEA analysts review export license applications, visa applications, and Shipper's Export Declarations, and initiate pre-license checks and post shipment verifications. (BIS previously had an "Office of Export Administration" which was designated "OEA." That office no longer exists.)
OEE- Office of Export Enforcement. OEE is responsible for investigating violations of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the Fastener Quality Act; apprehending violators; and recommending the prosecution of violators. OEE also conducts outreach to educate U.S. exporters how to identify and avoid illegal transactions.
OExS- Office of Exporter Services. The office in BIS' Export Administration responsible for administering the licensing process, counseling exporters, conducting export control seminars, and maintaining the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
OFAC- Office of Foreign Assets Control. The office at the Department of the Treasury that administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries, terrorism sponsoring organizations and international narcotics traffickers based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals. OFAC blocks assets of foreign countries subject to economic sanctions, controls participation by U.S. persons, including foreign subsidiaries, in transactions with specific countries or nationals of such countries, and administers embargoes on certain countries or areas of countries.
PECSEA- President's Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration. A subcommittee of the President's Export Council. The PECSEA is an advisory committee whose members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to advise the U.S. Government on matters and issues pertinent to implementation of the provisions of the Export Administration Act (EAA) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The PECSEA is composed primarily of representatives from the private sector.
PECSENC- President's Export Council Subcommittee on Encryption. A subcommittee of the President's Export Council whose members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to advise the U.S. Government on matters pertinent to U.S. policies regarding commercial encryption products. The PECSENC is composed of representatives from the private sector and from law enforcement at the state and federal level.
PINS- Proliferation Information Network System. An automated computer system that supports the Department of Energy's review and analysis of export license applications.
RS- Regional Stability. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL) that restricts exports that might affect the military balance in a region in a manner contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests.
RWA- Return Without Action. BIS' closing of a license application case without issuing the license or denying it. BIS may return an export license application to the applicant for one of the following reasons: (a) The applicant has requested the application be returned; (b) A License Exception applies; (c) The items are not under Department of Commerce jurisdiction; (d) Required documentation has not been submitted with the application; or (e) The applicant cannot be reached after several attempts to request additional information necessary for processing of the application.
SCL- Special Comprehensive License. An export license authorizing multiple shipments of pre-approved commodities, software, and/or technical data to pre-approved consignees and/or destinations.
SHIELD- (not an acronym) - An informal interagency working group that facilitates the review of license applications for chemicals, biological l agents, and related equipment and technology.
SDN- Specially Designated National. Specially designated nationals are identified by the Secretary of the Treasury under regulations issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Generally, the U.S. embargo on a country extends to SDNs of that country, wherever they may be located. You must consult OFAC before engaging in financial transactions with an SDN.
SDT- Specially Designated Terrorist. A specially designated terrorist is identified in regulations maintained by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Under OFAC administered regulations, U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in most transactions with SDTs. Additionally, the Export Administration Regulations impose export and reexport controls on SDTs.
SED- Shipper's Export Declaration. A shipping document used by the Bureau of Census for compiling U.S. trade statistics and by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in administering and enforcing the Export Administration Regulations.
SI- Significant Items. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL) requiring export licenses for "hot section" technology for the development, production, or overhaul of certain aircraft engines.
SIES- Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security. The office in BIS' Export Administration responsible for implementing programs to ensure that U.S. defense industries can meet national security requirements, facilitating diversification of U.S. defense related industries into civilian markets, and promoting the conversion of military enterprises in the Newly Independent States to civilian applications.
SNAP- Simplified Network Application Process. A method of submitting applications over the Internet with a web browser. To use SNAP, one must first apply to BIS for the issuance of a PIN.
SNEC- Sub-group on Nuclear Export Coordination. An interagency committee chaired by a representative from the Department of State (DOS) that reviews export license applications involving items controlled for nuclear nonproliferation (NP) reasons.
SS- Short Supply. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL) requiring licenses to protect the domestic economy from the excessive drain of scarce materials and to reduce the serious inflationary impact of foreign demand. Currently, licenses are needed for short supply reasons to export crude oil and other petroleum products, unprocessed Western Red Cedar, and horses exported by sea.
STELA- System for Tracking Export License Applications. An automated telephone voice response system that provides applicants with the status of their license and classification applications. The phone number is (202) 482-5247.
STFPC- Office of Strategic Trade and Foreign Policy Controls. The office in BIS' Export Administration that is responsible for implementing the multilateral export controls under the Wassenaar Arrangement dealing with conventional arms and related dual-use items as well as controls for encryption items, and items controlled for crime control, antiterrorism, and regional stability reasons.
T7 - An informal reference to the seven countries currently designated as state supporters of international terrorism. As of June 2001, there were seven countries with this designation--Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria--hence the term "T7." The Secretary of State must designate countries whose governments have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism under section 6(j) of the EAA.
TAC- Technical Advisory Committee. TACs are created under the Export Administration Act (EAA). Their membership includes representatives of industry. They advise the Department of Commerce and other agencies on technical issues related to export control regulations and policy.
USG- United States Government.
USML- United States Munitions List. The list of defense articles, technology and services under the export and import jurisdiction of the State Department.
WA- Wassenaar Arrangement. The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies is a multilateral regime that contributes to regional and international security by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in international transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
WRO- Western Regional Office. An arm of the Office of Exporter Services, WRO is responsible for counseling exporters throughout the Western United States. WRO is located in southern California with a satellite office in northern California.
XP- High Performance Computer. A reason for control on the Commerce Control List (CCL) requiring export licenses and other special provisions for exports, reexports, and certain intra-country transfers of high performance computers, including software, and technology.