[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 152 (Monday, August 9, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 48183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17954]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Foreign Assets Control

31 CFR Part 538, 550, and 560


Comment Request Regarding the Effectiveness of Licensing 
Procedures for Exportation of Agricultural Commodities, Medicine, and 
Medical Devices to Sudan, Libya, and Iran

AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC``) of the U.S. 
Department of the Treasury is soliciting comments concerning the 
effectiveness of OFAC's licensing procedures implementing the Trade 
Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (the ``Act''), for 
the exportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical 
devices to Sudan, Libya, and Iran. Pursuant to section 906(c) of the 
Act, OFAC is required to submit a biennial report to the Congress on 
the operation of licensing procedures for such exports.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before September 8, 
2004 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the Licensing Division, 
Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury, 1500 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
about these licensing procedures should be directed to the Licensing 
Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury, 
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220, telephone: (202) 
622-2480. Additional information about these licensing procedures is 
also available under the heading ``Sanctions Program and Country 
Summaries'' at http://www.treas.gov/ofac.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The current procedures used by the Office of 
Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC'') for authorizing the export of 
agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Sudan, 
Libya, and Iran are set forth in 31 CFR 538.523 through 538.526, 31 CFR 
550.569 through 550.573, and 31 CFR 560.530 through 560.533. Under the 
provisions of section 906(c) of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export 
Enhancement Act of 2000 (Title IX of Pub. L. 106-387, 22 U.S.C. 7201 et 
seq.) (the ``Act''), OFAC must submit a report to the Congress on the 
operation, during the preceding two year period, of the licensing 
procedures required by section 906 of the Act for the export of 
agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Sudan, 
Libya, and Iran. This report is to include:
    (1) The number and types of licenses applied for;
    (2) The number and types of licenses approved;
    (3) The average amount of time elapsed from the date of filing of a 
license application until the date of its approval;
    (4) The extent to which the licensing procedures were effectively 
implemented; and
    (5) A description of comments received from interested parties 
about the extent to which the licensing procedures were effective, 
after holding a public 30-day comment period.
    This notice serves as public notice soliciting comments from 
interested parties regarding the effectiveness of OFAC's licensing 
procedures for the export of agricultural commodities, medicine, and 
medical devices to Sudan, Libya, and Iran. Interested parties 
submitting comments are asked to be as specific as possible. All 
comments received on or before September 8, 2004 will be considered by 
OFAC in developing the report to the Congress. In the interest of 
accuracy and completeness, OFAC requires written comments. Comments 
received after the end of the comment period will be considered, if 
possible, but their consideration cannot be assured. OFAC will not 
accept comments accompanied by a request that part or all of the 
comments be treated confidentially because of their business 
proprietary nature or for any other reason. OFAC will return such 
comments when submitted by regular mail to the person submitting the 
comments and will not consider them. All comments made will be a matter 
of public record. Copies of the public record concerning these 
regulations may be obtained from OFAC's Web site (http://www.treas.gov/ofac). If that service is unavailable, written requests may be sent to: 
Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of Treasury, 1500 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20220, Attn: Merete Evans.

    Note: Effective April 29, 2004, General License of April 23, 
2004 and 31 CFR Part 550, Libya Sanctions Regulations (``LSR''), 
authorize U.S. persons to engage in most transactions previously 
prohibited by the LSR, including the exportation and reexportation 
of goods, software or technology by U.S. persons to Libya or the 
Government of Libya. Accordingly, specific licenses issued by OFAC 
for the export of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical 
devices to Libya are no longer required pursuant to the LSR. This 
authorization does not, however, eliminate the need to comply with 
other provisions of law, including the Export Administration 
Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730 through 799, which are administered by 
the U.S. Department of Commerce.


    Approved: July 27, 2004.
R. Richard Newcomb,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
[FR Doc. 04-17954 Filed 8-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-M