The State Department’s final rule amending Parts 124 and 126 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to exempt from approval requirements, under certain conditions, intra-company, intra-government, and intra-organization transfers of defense articles to dual or third-country national employees, takes effect on August 15, 2011.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued Federal Register notice that it is has amended its Temporary Denial Order (TDO) denying the export privileges of Mahan Airways, Gatewick LLC, Pejman Mahmood Kosarayanifard, and Mahmoud Amini to add the following additional respondent in order to prevent an imminent violation of the TDO: Zarand Aviation aka GIE Zarand Aviation of France. The order is currently in effect until August 24, 2011, unless renewed.

The State Department has issued a proposed rule to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to remove reference to the International Import Certificate (DSP-53). This proposal would effectively cease the Department's current practice of accepting DSP-53 submissions.

The State Department has issued a proposed rule to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to change the requirements for the return of electronic export licenses (DSP-5) in order to reduce the administrative burden on those currently required to do so.

The Bureau of Industry and Security reports that the 8th meeting of the India-U.S. High Technology Cooperation Group, the HTCG agreed to move forward expeditiously with implementing the remaining obligations of the President and Prime Minister’s November 2010 commitment to transform export control policies and to work together to expand opportunities in defense, homeland security, and other high technology sectors.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has announced the following entity name and/or address change(s) for new DDTC license applications. New license applications received after the listed deadline will be considered for return without action for correction to the new name and/or address (dates hyperlinked):

Export.gov has announced a series of domestic and international trade shows that are scheduled for 2011-2012.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking comments by August 12, 2011, on the impact of amending the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Regulations to reduce to 30% (from 80%) the concentration level for certain Schedule 3 chemical mixtures that trigger an exemption from (i) the declaration requirements that apply to production and (ii) the reporting requirements that apply to exports and imports. If these changes are implemented, additional declarations and reports would need to be filed for Schedule 3 chemicals.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking comments by August 12, 2011, on the impact of amending the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Regulations to reduce to 10% (from 30%) the concentration level for certain mixtures that trigger an exemption from the declaration requirements that apply to Schedule 2A chemical production, processing, and consumption. If this change is implemented, it would result in more declarations being filed for Schedule 2A chemicals.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has posted remarks by Under Secretary Eric Hirschhorn at the U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG), in which he discusses building stronger U.S.-India trade ties; the role of the HTCG; and U.S. export controls and high technology trade. Hirschhorn stated that the U.S. is now looking to India to act swiftly to complete its commitments to strengthen the global export control framework and further transform bilateral export control regulations.