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Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
Practical Law Glossary Item w-019-6040 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
An agency within the US Department of Commerce that is one of the main US government agencies responsible for administering and enforcing US export control laws. BIS's primary mission is to advance US national security, foreign policy, and economic goals, while ensuring the health of the US economy and the competitiveness of US industry. BIS's export-related activities include:
- Controlling the export, reexport, or transfer of most commercial items, items that have dual commercial and military applications (dual-use items), and certain munitions items.
- Administering and enforcing the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 C.F.R. §§ 730.1 to 774.1).
- Enforcing US antiboycott laws (through its Office of Antiboycott Compliance) under the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. §§ 4841 to 4843) and the antiboycott provisions of the EAR.
BIS also has several other responsibilities. For example, BIS's Office of Technology Evaluation conducts investigations and issues findings to the President on the effects of imports on national security under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. § 1862).
For more information on BIS, see BIS's website. For more information on export control laws, see Practice Note, Export Regulations: EAR, ITAR, and FTR. For more information on Section 232, see Practice Note, Section 232 National Security Trade Actions.