Principles & Definitions

Export Control Principles

The export control regulations seek to limit the dissemination (i.e. export) of certain technologies, technical information, and services (e.g., training using technical information) to foreign countries, persons, or entities in order to:

1. Safeguard national security
2. Limit proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons
3. Monitor missile technology
4. Promote regional stability
5. Assist in U.S. antiterrorism efforts

Export Control Definitions

Export – an overseas transfer by any method of a physical item, computer program, or information ("technical data" or "technology") itemized on ITAR’s United States Munitions List (USML) or EAR’s Commerce Control List (CCL).

Deemed Export – the dissemination by any method (e.g., verbal, written, access to) of export-controlled information to a foreign-national from a restricted country; or a person or organization appearing on OFAC’s Sanctioned Programs and Country List and/or Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List.  A “deemed export” can take place in U.S. or abroad.

Export-controlled Services – supplying assistance (including training) to restricted foreign-nationals inside the U.S. or abroad with the design, development (i.e., engineering, manufacturing, production, assembly), testing, repair or maintenance, modification, operation or processing, and/or destruction of items or technical data on ITAR’s United States Munitions List (USML)

• Export-controlled services are also referred to as “defense services”
• Items and technical data on the USML are also referred to as “defense articles”

Technical Assistance – supplying instruction, skills training, working knowledge, or consulting services which involve the transfer of technical data for items on EAR’s Commerce Control List (CCL).

Public Domain/Publicly Available – information, software, technology (except encryption software), that is or will be published publicly and/or generally accessible to the public in any form (e.g., via libraries, patented) that arises during or results from fundamental research.  This includes information taught in courses at accredited U.S. universities, or presented at open conferences in the U.S. See the ITAR and EAR regulations for specific and detailed definitions.

Export Control Categories

In general, the export controls regulations apply to products and any related equipment, material, software or information that is required to develop, produce, or use a controlled product.  ~ MIT Office of Sponsored Programs, Export Controls web site, Scope

Both the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) categorize long lists of controlled products into broad categories, which may help you identify if your research will be subject to export controls or identify the section of the regulations to review.

ITAR - United States Munitions List (USML)

EAR - Commerce Control List (CCL)

EAR also has a “catchall” category, EAR99, that covers items not categorized.

Each CCL category lists controlled items in five (5) sub-categories, each item with its own five-character, alphanumeric Export Controls Classification Number (EECN).