BXA EXPANDS CONTROL OF RESTRAINT DEVICE EXPORTS

BXA EXPANDS CONTROL OF RESTRAINT DEVICE EXPORTS    The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Export Administration has expanded its oversight of police restraint and discharge-types of arms in observance of human rights.
   The agency issued an interim rule Wednesday, effective immediately. However, the Export Administration will take comments from the industry regarding the rule through Oct. 13.
   The Export Administration maintains the Commerce Control List, which classifies export items under a system of Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs). Licensed items, such as police helmets, stun guns and fingerprinting powders, have been placed under new separate ECCNs to better track where these types of exports are headed.
   “The judicious use of export controls is intended to deter the development of a consistent pattern of human rights abuses, distance the United States from such abuses and avoid contributing to civil disorder in a country or region,” the Export Administration said.