BIS Revises Guidance Regarding EAR Enforcement Cases
/On Wednesday, June 22 the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published (81 FR 40499-40511) updated guidance (found in Supplement No. 1 to part 766) regarding violations of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
The guidance amends the EAR to make civil penalty decisions more transparent and aligns them with the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
OFAC criminal penalties can reach 20 years imprisonment and $1 million per violation. OFAC civil penalties use the transaction value as the starting point and can reach $250,000 or twice the value of the transaction, whichever is greater (Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines).
The updated guidance does not apply to alleged violations under part 760 of the EAR - Restrictive Trade Practices and Boycotts or to cases that are pending prior to July 22, 2016.
The effective date of the final rule change is July 22, 2016.
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