[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 222 (Monday, November 17, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 67825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27242]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Foreign Assets Control

31 CFR Parts 538 and 560


Comment Request Regarding the Effectiveness of Licensing 
Procedures for Exportation of Agricultural Commodities, Medicine, and 
Medical Devices to Sudan 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 on the effectiveness 
of OFAC's licensing procedures for the exportation of agricultural 
commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Sudan and Iran. Pursuant 
to 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 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 December 17, 
2008 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Fax: Attn: Request for Comments (TSRA) (202) 622-0091.
    Mail: Attn: Request for Comments (TSRA), 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 ``Other OFAC Sanctions Programs'' at 
http://www.treas.gov/ofac.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The current procedures used by OFAC for 
authorizing the export of agricultural commodities, medicine, and 
medical devices to Sudan and Iran are set forth in 31 CFR 538.523-526 
and 31 CFR 560.530-533. Under the provisions of section 906(c) of the 
Act, OFAC must submit a biennial 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 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 solicits comments from interested parties regarding the 
effectiveness of OFAC's licensing procedures for the export of 
agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Sudan and 
Iran. Interested parties submitting comments are asked to be as 
specific as possible. All comments received on or before December 17, 
2008 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 the Treasury, 1500 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20220, Attn: Aydin M. 
Akg[uuml]n.

    Approved: November 10, 2008.
Adam J. Szubin,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
[FR Doc. E8-27242 Filed 11-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-P