Getting ready for export controls

ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA, U.K. - Dec. 15, 2014 - PRLog -- Software solution provider AEB will be exhibiting at C5's Forum on US Defence Trade Controls under Commerce and State, which takes place on 21^st and 22^nd January 2015 at the Kensington Close Hotel in London. Delegates attending this crucial event will better understand the impacts of the U.S. Export Control Reform, which affects UK companies in different industry sectors, including aerospace, automotive, defense, information technology, telecommunications, and software. AEB’s team of experts will be on hand to discuss current challenges and available solutions.

The U.S. Export Control Reform (ECR), initiated by the Obama Administration, means that some goods that were originally controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) governed by the US State Department will now fall under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) governed by the US Commerce Department. Part 5 of the reform was published on 1^st July 2014, and more changes will come into effect on 30^th December 2014, when additional United States Munitions List (USML) goods will be added to the new 600 series of the Commerce Control List (CCL). There will also be changes to various Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) of the CCL. The addition of goods to the CCL also requires changes to some license exceptions.

The reform ultimately aims to implement a single licensing agency with a single control list, and one single IT system for all U.S. license applications. Violations of export control regulations may result in severe criminal and/or civil penalties, including fines and even imprisonment for those responsible, such as managing directors or members of the managing board, and may also lead to cancellation of export privileges.

To help businesses understand when U.S. export controls apply and to guide them through the latest changes and mandatory global trade control obligations, AEB is offering free advice, including the white paper “U.S. Export Controls, A Global Challenge”, which can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.aeb-international.co.uk/uk/media/white-paper-us-export-controls.php. Further details about the changes under US ECR can be found on AEB’s customer portal at https://service.aeb.de/en/open/changes/us-exportcontroll-reform/.

AEB’s General Manager Claire Umney said: “The U.S. Export Control Reform has highlighted to many previously unaware UK businesses that U.S. export control laws may apply to them. The U.S. keenly enforces export control regulations that prohibit business activities involving certain technologies, entities, persons or countries. The legal consequences of violations are severe, and companies are well advised to revisit their processes and implement comprehensive compliance programmes. We look forward to discussing these challenges and the solutions offered by AEB during this year’s C5 Forum and to assist UK businesses in securing their supply chains.”

To register for the C5 Forum on US DefenceTrade Controls, visit http://www.c5-online.com/publications_list. Further information about the event is available at http://www.c5-online.com/TradeDefence.