BIS Issues New Guidance Documents
In January 2010, BIS posted on its website updated guidance for freight forwarders, see http://www.bis.doc.gov/complianceandenforcement/freightforwarderguidance.htm. More recently, BIS posted an updated version of its Export Management System. Now called the Export Management and Compliance Program, the new EMCP can be found at http://www.bis.doc.gov/complianceandenforcement/emcp_guidelines.pdf. Also of interest is the self-assessment tool which can be found at http://www.bis.doc.gov/complianceandenforcement/revised_emcp_audit.pdf. Together these tools allow exporters to benchmark how they are doing with their overall export compliance. Of course, these BIS materials only apply if your exports are subject to Commerce/BIS jurisdiction. If your goods are intended for the military or law enforcement or are of a similar nature and so subject to State/ITAR control, BIS’ EMCP and self-audit materials are still valuable tools to use as a starting point to test your overall level of export compliance.
