The Bureau of Industry and Security announced a partially closed meeting on January 31, 2012 in Washington, DC of its Sensors and Instrumentation Technical Advisory Committee. The Committee advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration on technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to sensors and instrumentation equipment and technology. During the open session, the committee will hear remarks from BIS, have industry presentation, and discuss new business.

The Bureau of Industry and Security announced that it is recruiting private-sector members for the seven Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) that advise BIS on the technical parameters for export controls applicable to dual-use commodities and technology and on the administration of those controls. Industry representatives are selected from firms producing a broad range of goods, technologies, and software presently controlled for national security, non-proliferation, foreign policy, and short supply reasons or that are proposed for such controls, balanced to the extent possible among large and small firms. Each TAC meets approximately four times per year. Members of the Committees will not be compensated for their services. The notice of recruitment will be open until January 17, 2013.

The State Department has submitted two proposed rules to the Office of Management and Budget for approval that would amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations for U.S. Munitions List (USML) Categories V (Explosives and Energetic Materials, Propellants, Incendiary Agents, and Their Constituents) and XIV (Toxicological Agents, Including Chemical Agents, Biological Agents, and Associated Equipment). (Submitted 01/11/12)

The Bureau of Industry and Security has submitted two proposed rules to the Office of Management and Budget for approval that would revise the Commodity Control List for (1) dissemination, detection and protection equipment and related articles, and (2) energetic materials and related articles, that would no longer be controlled on the U.S. Munitions List (USML). (Submitted 01/10/12)

The Bureau of Industry and Security is requesting comments by March 12, 2012, on an existing information collection concerning licensing responsibilities and enforcement. BIS is proposing to extend the expiration date of this information collection. BIS sources have stated via email that this is a routine extension, without change, of the existing information collection.

The Bureau of Industry and Security is requesting comments by March 12, 2012, on an existing information collection concerning the Statement by Ultimate Consignee and Purchaser. BIS is proposing to extend the expiration date of this information collection. BIS sources have stated via email that this is a routine extension, without change, of the existing information collection.

Export.gov has announced a series of international trade shows that are scheduled for January through November 2012.

Francisco Sanchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, announced that he will lead the Department's first-ever ports and maritime technology industry trade mission to India on February 20-24, 2012. Representatives from 14 U.S. firms, including port authorities, dredging firms and IT companies, will visit Chennai, Ahmedabad and Mumbai during the mission, which is the first in a series of events planned for 2012 that are designed to expand U.S. export opportunities with India's infrastructure sectors.

The Census Bureau recently posted its list of Harmonized Tariff Schedule numbers that are invalid for use in the Automated Export System as of January 1, 2012. Schedule B numbers must be used for these invalid HTS numbers instead.

On January 10, 2012, the Office of Foreign Assets Control removed 64 persons (38 entities and 26 individuals) from its Specially Designated Nationals list. SDNs are (i) individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries or (ii) individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. The assets of listed SDNs are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.