Export Controls

Export controls laws are federal statutes that control the conditions under which certain information, technologies, and commodities can be transmitted overseas to anyone, including U.S. citizens, or to a foreign national here in the U.S. These statutes are implemented by the U.S. Department of Commerce through its Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the U.S. Department of State through its International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Export control affects three main areas at UNT:

• Research
• Travel outside the U.S.
• Shipping

If a research project involves certain types of technologies as specified in the regulations, EAR and/or ITAR may require UNT to obtain prior federal approval and licensing before allowing foreign nationals to participate in the research, before partnering with a foreign company, or before sharing research results in any manner (including by publication or presentation at academic conferences) with persons who are not U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens. Travel to sanctioned countries or contracting with persons or entities in sanctioned countries or individuals on denied parties lists may be prohibited or limited by OFAC’s regulations. Shipping items outside the U.S. could require a license from OFAC (the Office of Foreign Assets Control), the Department of State, or BIS (Bureau of Industry and Security). Licensing could take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months, and shipping without a permit could lead to a fine for violators and UNT. For guidance, visit UNT’s Export Controls website.