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BIS Updates EAR to Reflect Dissolution of Netherlands Antilles, Etc.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective September 6, 2011 to update the Export Administration Regulations to reflect the fact that the Netherlands Antilles1 dissolved on October 10, 2010, Curaçao and Sint Maarten became semi-autonomous entities within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and to change "East Timor" to its proper name of "Timor-Leste" throughout the EAR.

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In particular, the final rule:

  • removes the Netherlands Antilles from all places where it is mentioned in the EAR, such as the Commerce Country Chart, the Country Groups, and License Exception APP.
  • adds Curaçao and Sint Maarten (but not Bonaire, Saba, or Sint Eustatius2), to the Commerce Country Chart.
  • revises the name “East Timor” to read “Timor-Leste” throughout the EAR.

1Netherlands Antilles had consisted of Curacao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. However, Curaçao and Sint Maarten (the Dutch two-fifths of the island of Saint Martin) are now semi-autonomous entities within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius now fall under the direct administration of the Netherlands.

2BIS notes that as the territories and dependencies of a country are treated as the parent country under the EAR. As Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius now fall under the direct administration of the Netherlands, these dependencies are treated like the Netherlands and will not be listed on the Commerce Country Chart.

BIS contact - Sharron Cook (202) 482 2440

(FR Pub 09/06/11, D/N 110802457-1467-01)