[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 10, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35376-35377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12580]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Parts 120, 122, 123, 124, and 129

[Public Notice: 11137]


International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Request for Comment 
Regarding the Temporary Suspension, Modification, or Exception to 
Regulations During SARS-COV2 Public Health Emergency

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State, is requesting comment from the public 
regarding certain temporary suspensions, modifications, and exceptions 
to several provisions of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations 
(ITAR) recently issued in order to ensure continuity of operations 
within the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and among 
entities registered with DDTC pursuant to the ITAR during the current 
SARS-COV2 public health emergency.

DATES: Comments are due by June 25, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments by one of the 
following methods:
     Email: [email protected] with the subject line, 
``Request

[[Page 35377]]

for Comment: ITAR Suspension, Modification, or Exception--SARS-COV2.''
     Internet: At www.regulations.gov, search for this notice 
using its docket number, DOS-2020-0024.
    Comments submitted through www.regulations.gov will be visible to 
other members of the public; the Department will publish responsive 
comments on the DDTC website (www.pmddtc.state.gov). Commenters are 
therefore cautioned not to include proprietary or other sensitive 
information in their comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Hart, Office of Defense Trade 
Controls Policy, U.S. Department of State, telephone (202) 632-2788, or 
email [email protected]. ATTN: Request for Comment: 
Suspension, Modification, or Exception--SARS-COV2.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In order to ensure continuity of operations 
within the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and among 
entities registered with DDTC pursuant to part 122 of the International 
Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), on May 1, 2020, DDTC issued a 
document (85 FR 25287) informing the public of the temporary 
suspension, modification, and exception to several ITAR provisions. 
These actions were taken in the interest of the security and foreign 
policy of the United States as warranted due to the exceptional and 
undue hardships and risks to safety caused by the public health 
emergency related to the SARS-COV2 pandemic. DDTC is limiting its 
consideration of comments to the following three areas and requests 
commenters confine their submissions to the requested topics.
    1. The efficacy of each of the temporary suspensions, 
modifications, and exceptions to the ITAR on the operating environments 
of the regulated community members during the COVID-19 emergency.
    2. Expiration dates of suspensions, modifications, and exceptions 
to the ITAR--for each expiration date, is the period of efficacy 
sufficient, or should DDTC consider an extension of the expiration 
date, and why?
    3. Are there additional temporary suspensions, modifications, or 
exceptions to the ITAR that DDTC should consider in response to 
specific difficulties in operating conditions under the regulations 
that have arisen for the regulated community as a direct result of the 
crisis, and why?

Michael F. Miller,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense Trade Controls, U.S. Department 
of State.
[FR Doc. 2020-12580 Filed 6-5-20; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 4710-25-P