[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1684-1689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00789]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

15 CFR Parts 742, 744, and 748

[Docket No. 260112-0028]
RIN 0694-AK43


Revision to License Review Policy for Advanced Computing 
Commodities

AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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[[Page 1685]]

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is revising its 
license review policy for exports of certain semiconductors to China 
and Macau--changing it from a presumption of denial to a case-by-case 
review. The semiconductors covered by this rule are the Nvidia H200 and 
its equivalents, as well as less advanced chips--provided that (1) the 
semiconductors are commercially available in the United States at the 
time of publication of this rule and (2) the exporter certifies that: 
there is sufficient supply of this product in the United States; 
production of this product for exports to China will not divert global 
foundry capacity for similar or more advanced products for end users in 
the United States; the recipient has demonstrated sufficient security 
procedures; and the item undergoes independent, third-party testing in 
the United States to verify its performance specifications.

DATES: Effective date: The effective date of this rule is January 15, 
2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
     For general questions, contact Regulatory Policy Division, 
Office of Exporter Services, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. 
Department of Commerce at 202-482-2440 or by email: [email protected].
     For Category 3 technical questions, contact Carlos Monroy 
at 202-482-3246 or by email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Consistent with U.S. national security and foreign policy 
objectives, which recognize the need to maintain the United States' 
technological superiority, BIS is adjusting the license review policy 
to case-by-case for exports of certain commercially available advanced 
computing commodities to end-users located in China and Macau. BIS 
finds this action necessary to ensure the national security benefits of 
U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence (AI).
    Specifically, for advanced computing commodities with a TPP less 
than 21,000 (as defined in Technical Note 2 to 3A090.a and 3A090.b), 
and a `total DRAM bandwidth' less than 6,500 GB/s (as defined in the 
notes to paragraph (dd)(1) in supplement no. 2 to part 748), such as 
the NVIDIA H200 or AMD MI325X, this final rule specifies certain 
conditions that, if satisfied, allow for license applicants to move 
from a presumption of denial to a case-by-case license review policy 
for exports from the United States destined to China or Macau.
    This rule maintains a presumption of denial licensing policy for 
exports to end-users located outside of Macau or destinations in 
Country Group D:5 to entities that are headquartered or have a parent 
company headquartered in Macau or a destination in Country Group D:5.
    As part of the licensing process associated with the new case-by-
case license review policy, the applicant must certify and provide 
necessary supporting data, that:
     the items operate below the performance criteria included 
in this final rule and specify how many units of the items have been 
shipped in the United States at the time of license application;
     there is sufficient supply of the product in the United 
States such that export of the product authorized by this license would 
not result in any delay in fulfilling any existing or new orders of any 
of its ``advanced-node integrated circuits'' from customers in the 
United States for end use in the United States (taking into account 
normal lead times); that global foundry capacity that would otherwise 
be used to produce similar node or more advanced integrated circuits 
for end users in the United States will not be diverted to produce the 
commodities authorized by this license for exports to China;
     the aggregate shipments of the product to China and Macau 
will be no more than 50% of the total product shipped to customers for 
end use in the United States of that product;
     the transaction is not prohibited by end user/use controls 
and controls for nonmilitary end uses/end-users;
     the ultimate consignee will employ rigorous Know Your 
Customer (KYC) procedures to screen and prevent unauthorized remote 
access to unauthorized parties (e.g., prohibited part 744 parties); and
     prior to export from the United States, every shipment of 
advance computing commodities will be reviewed by a qualified third-
party testing lab to confirm the technical capabilities and functions 
of the AI commodities described in the exporter's license application.
    The applicant must also provide a list of remote end users located 
in Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Macau, North Korea, Russia, and 
Venezuela, or whose ultimate parent company is headquartered in, 
Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Macau, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. 
Based on the records and information provided as part of the 
application process, BIS and reviewing agencies will determine, on a 
case-by-case basis, whether to approve or deny the license of these 
specific commodities.

II. Revisions to Sec.  742.6 Regional Stability

    Section 742.6 (Regional stability) is being amended to provide a 
case-by-case licensing policy for license applications for certain 
advanced computing commodities described in Sec.  742.6(a)(6)(iii). BIS 
is revising paragraph (b)(10)(iii)(A)(1) to include a case-by-case 
license review policy for license applications to export from the 
United States commodities with a TPP less than 21,000, and a `total 
DRAM bandwidth' less than 6,500 GB/s (e.g., NVIDIA H200 or AMD MI325X), 
when destined to end-users located in either China or Macau, provided 
certain conditions are met. The additional conditions are set forth in 
supplement no. 2 to part 748 and described in section IV of this rule; 
they are intended to protect U.S. national security interests while 
allowing for a discretionary case-by-case licensing policy. These 
additional conditions will provide additional transparency on the 
commodities being exported and are intended to ensure that the advanced 
computing capabilities of the destination country do not exceed the 
capabilities or supply capacity of the United States, or negatively 
impact the global foundry capacity that would otherwise be used to 
produce similar node or more advanced integrated circuits, in a way 
that would be detrimental to U.S. national security interests. For 
reexports (including exports from abroad) and transfers (in-country) of 
AI commodities subject to the EAR with a TPP less than 21,000, and a 
`total DRAM bandwidth' less than 6,500 GB/s, when destined to either 
Macau or a destination specified in Country Group D:5, the licensing 
policy remains a presumption of denial. For exports to entities that 
are headquartered or have a parent company headquartered in Macau or a 
destination in Country Group D:5, including end-users located outside 
of destinations in Country Group D:5 or Macau, the licensing policy is 
a presumption of denial. If a license application meets the criteria of 
more than one licensing policy, then this licensing policy and its 
requirements will apply. This final rule also makes a conforming change 
for case-by-case review policy under Sec.  744.23 with revised Sec.  
742.6(b)(10)(iii). See Section III for more details.

[[Page 1686]]

III. Revisions to Sec.  744.23 ``Supercomputer,'' ``Advanced-Node 
Integrated Circuits,'' and Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment End 
Use Controls

    This final rule makes a change to add a case-by-case license review 
policy based on the case-by-case license review policy described in 
Sec.  742.6(b)(10)(iii) of the EAR. This final rule makes this change 
in Sec.  744.23(d) (License review standards) by redesignating 
paragraph (d)(3)(iii) as new paragraph (d)(3)(iv) and adding a new 
paragraph (d)(3)(iii) to specify that license applications for items 
specified in Sec.  744.23(a)(3)(i)(A) that meet the criteria for case-
by-case license review under Sec.  742.6(b)(10)(iii), will also be 
reviewed on a case-by-case basis for purposes of Sec.  744.23. This 
final rule also includes a change that removes ``or'' at the end of 
paragraph (d)(3)(ii) and revises newly redesignated paragraph 
(d)(3)(iv) to add a reference to paragraph (d)(3)(iii).

IV. Supplement No. 2 to Part 748--Unique Application and Submission 
Requirements

    This final rule adds paragraph (dd) to supplement no. 2 to part 748 
to set forth the conditions that enable moving from a license review 
policy of presumption of denial to one of case-by-case for exports of 
advanced-node ICs with a TPP less than 21,000, and a `total DRAM 
bandwidth' less than 6,500 GB/s, from the United States to end-users 
located in China or Macau.
    BIS will require, prior to export from the United States, that an 
exporter confirm as part of the license application process that the AI 
commodities described in their license application will be reviewed by 
a qualified third-party testing lab to confirm the technical 
capabilities and functions of the AI commodities described in the 
exporter's license application. Such a review can be performed by a 
representative sampling of a batch of semiconductors chosen by the lab, 
rather than the lab reviewing every individual semiconductor that the 
exporter intends to export. Third-party testing labs are independent 
organizations that evaluate products to ensure they meet quality, 
safety, and regulatory standards, and their impartiality sets them 
apart from in-house testing facilities. Because third-party testing 
labs must be free from any ties to manufacturers or suppliers, these 
labs provide unbiased assessments to produce test results that are 
credible and reliable.
    Among the qualifications for a third-party testing lab, it must be 
headquartered in the United States, not otherwise under the control of 
a company or other entity headquartered in or whose ultimate parent 
company or other entity is headquartered in Country Group D:5 or Macau, 
and the testing must take place in the United States. Further, the lab 
must not have any financial interest or ownership in any party to the 
transaction, and it must have the expertise to confirm that 
representations made on the technical capabilities and functions of the 
AI commodities described in the exporter's license application--
including but not limited to the `total processing performance,' `total 
DRAM bandwidth,' `interconnect bandwidth,' and `copackaged DRAM 
capacity'--are accurate. Paragraph (dd)(3) of supplement no. 2 to part 
748 describes the requirements and responsibilities of a third-party 
testing lab for an exporter to obtain the case-by-case licensing policy 
review described in Sec.  742.6(b)(10)(iii)(A)(1).
    The export application must clearly enumerate KYC and physical 
security measures adopted by the ultimate consignee/customer and 
stipulate that the receiving facility will also manage and limit 
Infrastructure as a Service (including AI model training and inference) 
for its customers to prevent unauthorized access to these advanced 
computing commodities.
    In Sec.  748.8 ``Unique application and submission requirements,'' 
this final rule adds a conforming change for the addition of new 
paragraph (dd) in supplement no. 2 to part 748, by adding a new 
paragraph (bb) (Export license application for advanced computing 
commodities) to make export license applicants aware of this new 
application requirement.

Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA)

    On August 13, 2018, the President signed into law the John S. 
McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which 
included the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) (codified, as amended, at 
50 U.S.C. 4801-4852). ECRA provides the legal basis for BIS's principal 
authorities and serves as the authority under which BIS issues this 
rule. In particular, and as noted elsewhere, Section 1753 of ECRA (50 
U.S.C. 4812) authorizes the regulation of exports, reexports, and 
transfers (in-country) of items subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Further, 
Section 1754(a)(1)-(16) of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4813(a)(1)-(16)) authorizes, 
inter alia, the establishment of a list of controlled items; the 
prohibition of unauthorized exports, reexports, and transfers (in-
country); the requirement of licenses or other authorizations for 
exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) of controlled items; 
apprising the public of changes in policy, regulations, and procedures; 
and any other action necessary to carry out ECRA that is not otherwise 
prohibited by law. Pursuant to Section 1762(a) of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 
4821(a)), these changes can be imposed in a final rule without prior 
notice and comment.

Rulemaking Requirements

    1. This rule has been determined to be significant pursuant to 
section 3(f) of E.O. 12866. Although it is a ``significant regulatory 
action'' for purposes of E.O. 12866, this rule is exempt from the 
requirements of E.O. 14192, because its primary direct benefit is to 
improve national security, per section 5(a) of E.O. 14192.
    2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.), unless that collection of information displays a 
currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number.
    This rule involves the following OMB-approved collections of 
information subject to the PRA:
     0694-0088, ``Multi-Purpose Application,'' which carries a 
burden hour estimate of 29.7 minutes for a manual or electronic 
submission;
     0694-0096 ``Five Year Records Retention Period,'' which 
carries a burden hour estimate of less than 1 minute;
     0694-0122, ``Licensing Responsibilities and Enforcement;'' 
which carries a burden hour estimate of 10 minutes per electronic 
submission;
     0694-0137, ``License Exceptions and Exclusions;'' which 
carries a burden hour estimate of 5 minutes per electronic submission; 
and
     0607-0152 ``Automated Export System (AES) Program,'' which 
carries a burden hour estimate of 3 minutes per electronic submission.
    The revision of license review policy for advanced computing 
commodities will affect the collection under control number 0694-0088, 
for the multipurpose application because of the increase of 100 more 
license applications per year, because industry is more likely to 
submit licenses when there is a case-by-case review versus a 
presumption of denial license review policy. BIS estimates that these 
changes will result in an increase in burden

[[Page 1687]]

hours of 28.3 hours. However, the increase in burden falls within the 
existing burden estimates currently associated with these control 
numbers. BIS also estimates a minimal increase under OMB control number 
0694-0122 to account for the responsibility of the exporter to report 
the results from third-party testing lab confirmation.
    Changes impacting OMB control numbers 0694-0096, 0694-0137, and 
0607-0152 are not expected to result in an increase in burden hours.
    Additional information regarding these collections of information--
including all background materials--can be found at: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain by using the search function to enter 
either the title of the collection or the OMB Control Number.
    3. This rule does not contain policies with federalism implications 
as that term is defined in Executive Order 13132.
    4. Pursuant to Section 1762 of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4821), this action 
is exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) 
requirements for notice of proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public 
participation, and delay in effective date.
    5. Because a notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for 
public comment are not required to be given for this rule under the APA 
(5 U.S.C. 553) or by any other law, the analytical requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are not applicable. 
Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required, and none 
has been prepared.

List of Subjects

15 CFR Part 742

    Exports, Terrorism.

15 CFR Part 744

    Exports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Terrorism.

15 CFR Part 748

    Administrative practice and procedure, Exports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Terrorism.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, parts 742, 744, and 748 of 
the Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts 730 through 774) is 
amended as follows:

PART 742--CONTROL POLICY--CCL BASED CONTROLS

0
1. The authority citation for part 742 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 2139a; 22 
U.S.C. 7201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7210; Sec. 1503, Pub. L. 108-11, 117 
Stat. 559; E.O. 12058, 43 FR 20947, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 179; E.O. 
12851, 58 FR 33181, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 608; E.O. 12938, 59 FR 
59099, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 950; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 
1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 
783; Presidential Determination 2003-23, 68 FR 26459, 3 CFR, 2004 
Comp., p. 320; Notice of November 5, 2025, 90 FR 50737 (November 7, 
2025).


0
2. Section 742.6 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(10)(iii) heading 
and paragraph (b)(10)(iii)(A)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  742.6  Regional stability.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (10) * * *
    (iii) License review policy for items specified in paragraph 
(a)(6)(iii) of this section.
    (A)
    (1) Policy for Country Group D:5 and Macau. There is a case-by-case 
license review policy for license applications for exports of 
commodities with a TPP (as defined in Technical Note 2 to 3A090.a and 
3A090.b) less than 21,000, and a `total DRAM bandwidth' (as defined in 
the notes to paragraph (dd)(1) in supplement no. 2 to part 748) less 
than 6,500 GB/s, when destined to end-users located in China or Macau, 
provided the applicant provides the additional information described in 
supplement no. 2 to part 748 under paragraph (dd). All other 
applications for exports, reexports, or transfers (in-country) will be 
reviewed under a presumption of denial to or within Macau or 
destinations specified in Country Group D:5 or to an entity 
headquartered in, or whose ultimate parent company is headquartered in, 
either Macau or a destination specified in Country Group D:5. If the 
license application meets the criteria of more than one licensing 
policy, then this licensing policy and its requirements will be 
applied.
* * * * *

PART 744--CONTROL POLICY: END-USER AND END-USE BASED

0
3. The authority citation for part 744 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority:  50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 2139a; 22 
U.S.C. 7201 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7210; E.O. 12058, 43 FR 20947, 3 CFR, 
1978 Comp., p. 179; E.O. 12851, 58 FR 33181, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 
608; E.O. 12938, 59 FR 59099, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 950; E.O. 13026, 
61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13099, 63 FR 45167, 3 
CFR, 1998 Comp., p. 208; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., 
p. 783; E.O. 13224, 66 FR 49079, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 786; Notice 
of August 4, 2025, 90 FR 37999 (August 6, 2025); Notice of September 
8, 2025, 90 FR 43903 (September 10, 2025); Notice of November 5, 
2025, 90 FR 50737 (November 7, 2025).


0
4. Section 744.23 is amended by:
0
a. Revising paragraph (d)(3)(ii);
0
b. Revising paragraph (d)(3)(iii); and
0
c. Adding paragraph (d)(3)(iv).
    These amendments to read as follows:


Sec.  744.23  ``Supercomputer,'' ``advanced-node integrated circuits,'' 
and semiconductor manufacturing equipment end use controls.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (ii) For items subject to the license requirements of this section 
where there is a foreign-made item that is not subject to the license 
requirements of this section and performs the same function as an item 
subject to the EAR license requirements of this section;
    (iii) For items specified in paragraph (a)(3)(i)(A) of this section 
that meet the criteria for case-by-case license review under Sec.  
742.6(b)(10)(iii)(A)(1); or
    (iv) For all other applications not specified in paragraph (d)(1) 
or (2) or (d)(3)(i), (ii), or (iii).
* * * * *

PART 748--APPLICATIONS (CLASSIFICATION, ADVISORY, AND LICENSE) AND 
DOCUMENTATION

0
5. The authority citation for part 748 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.; 50 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 
228.


0
6. Section 748.8 is amended by adding paragraph (bb) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  748.8  Unique application and submission requirements.

* * * * *
    (bb) Export license application for AI commodities.

0
7. Supplement no. 2 to part 748 is amended by adding paragraph (dd) to 
read as follows:

Supplement No. 2 to Part 748--Unique Application and Submission 
Requirements

* * * * *
    (dd) AI commodities. If you are submitting an application for 
advanced computing commodities for export to end-users located in China 
or Macau and want to have the application reviewed under the case-by-
case license review policy under (b)(10)(iii)(A)(1), the following 
certification must be

[[Page 1688]]

provided as part of the license application. License applications that 
are not supported by the certification described under this paragraph 
or a commitment to submit the certificate prior to export, will be 
reviewed under the presumption of denial license review policy 
specified under Sec.  742.6(b)(10)(iii)(A)(1) of the EAR.
    (1) Certification. To qualify for the case-by-case licensing policy 
under Sec.  742.6(b)(10)(iii)(A)(1), for commodities with a TPP less 
than 21,000, and a `total DRAM bandwidth' less than 6,500 GB/s the 
license applicants must provide the following certifications that this 
license application meets all of these requirements described under 
paragraphs (dd)(1)(i) through (ix). BIS will routinely confirm the 
accuracy of relevant elements of the following certifications, using 
any methods it deems appropriate.
    (i) The applicant provides the U.S. Government, at the time of the 
license application, the total number of units of any AI commodity 
described in the license application that were shipped to commercial 
customers in the United States for end use in the United States. The 
applicant must also provide the following performance specifications to 
BIS in the license application: the TPP, the `total DRAM bandwidth', 
the `interconnect bandwidth', `copackaged DRAM capacity' and the peak 
power consumption at max TPP. The applicant must also provide an 
explanation for any changes to the specifications for this model since 
launched or previously shipped;
    (ii) The applicant certifies and provides necessary supporting 
data, showing that there are sufficient supplies of the product in the 
United States such that any exports authorized by this license will not 
be filled if doing so would result in any delay in fulfilling any 
existing or new orders from customers in the United States for end use 
in the United States for any of its ``advanced-node integrated 
circuits'' products (taking into account normal lead times), and that 
global foundry capacity that would otherwise be used to produce similar 
node or more advanced integrated circuits for end users in the United 
States will not be diverted to produce commodities authorized by this 
license for exports to China;
    (iii) The applicant shall supply evidence to BIS that, for the AI 
commodities described in the license application, (i.e., as specified 
by the TPP, the ``total DRAM bandwidth'', the ``interconnect 
bandwidth'', ``copackaged DRAM capacity'' and the peak power 
consumption at max TPP), the aggregate TPP of ``advanced-node integrate 
circuits'' exported to China or Macau will be no more than 50 percent 
of the aggregate TPP shipped to customers in the United States for end-
use in the United States for the same advanced computing commodities 
from when such circuits started shipping to commercial U.S. customers 
in the United States for end-use in the United States to the time of 
the license application;
    (iv) The applicant confirms the AI commodities described in the 
license application are not for a `military end use', `military-
intelligence end use', `military end user', or `military-intelligence 
end user' as those terms are defined in Sec. Sec.  744.21(f) and (g) 
and 744.22(f)(1) and (f)(2), respectively, are not for a nuclear, 
missile, or chemical or biological weapons end use or end user pursuant 
to Sec. Sec.  744.2-4, the transaction does not involve a transaction 
party subject to Sec. Sec.  744.8 or 744.11, and no parties subject to 
Sec. Sec.  744.8, 744.11, or meeting the definition of a `military end 
user' or `military-intelligence end user' as defined in Sec. Sec.  
744.21(g) and 744.22(f)(2) will be granted remote access to the items;
    (v) The applicant obtains a description of Know Your Customer 
procedures from the ultimate consignee for the AI commodities described 
in the license application to prevent remote access from end uses or 
end users described in paragraph (dd)(1)(iv). The applicant must submit 
this information to BIS.
    (vi) Remote end users. The applicant provides BIS with a list of 
any intended `Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) remote end users of 
the AI commodities described in the license application, located in 
Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Macau, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela, 
or an entity headquartered in, or whose ultimate parent company is 
headquartered in the foregoing destinations. The applicant must obtain 
this information from the ultimate consignee, or any other party to the 
transaction, with knowledge about the remote end users necessary to 
prevent unauthorized remote access from end users described in 
paragraph (dd)(1)(iv);
    (vii) Infrastructure-as-a-Service. If the ultimate consignee or end 
user of the AI commodities described in the license application 
provides IaaS, the applicant verifies (through the ultimate consignee, 
if necessary) that the ultimate consignee or any Infrastructure-as-a-
Service end user:
    (1) is compliant with paragraph (dd)(1)(iv);
    (2) will not transfer model weights trained on the AI commodities 
to any end user not previously disclosed on the license or without 
authorization from BIS; and
    (3) will not directly or indirectly provide a party described in 
(dd)(1)(iv) with remote access to any algorithm trained on the AI 
commodities;
    (viii) Security demonstration. The applicant must describe the 
physical security for the ultimate consignee of the AI commodities 
described in the license application; and
    (ix) The applicant confirms that, prior to export on an approved 
license from the United States, every shipment of advanced computing 
commodities described in this license application will be reviewed by a 
qualified third-party testing lab who meets the qualifications 
described in paragraph (dd)(3) of this supplement. The applicant shall 
also provide BIS with the name and U.S. address of the third-party 
testing lab in the certification prior to export from the United 
States.
    Notes to paragraph (dd)(1):
    1. `Total DRAM bandwidth' refers to the aggregate memory bandwidth 
in gigabytes per second between the IC and dynamic random access memory 
(DRAM) ICs, including copackaged DRAM ICs and non-copackaged DRAM ICs. 
Copackaged DRAM ICs include, for example, high bandwidth memory (HBM). 
Non-copackaged DRAM ICs include, for example, graphics double data rate 
(GDDR) ICs.
    1.a. `Total DRAM bandwidth' does not include bandwidth from DRAM 
ICs accessed remotely over an interconnect medium if that bandwidth is 
included in the IC's `interconnect bandwidth'.
    1.b. All bandwidth between the IC and DRAM ICs, regardless of 
wherever those circuits are located and however those circuits are 
accessed, that is not included in the IC's `interconnect bandwidth', 
must be included in `total DRAM bandwidth'.
    2. `Interconnect bandwidth' refers to the aggregate bidirectional 
transfer rate over all of the IC's inputs and outputs, including but 
not limited to connections over a system peripheral bus. `Interconnect 
bandwidth' does not include bandwidth to other ICs on the same package.
    (2) Submissions. License applicants must submit certifications to 
BIS via SNAP-R prior to the export of the advanced computing 
commodities from the United States.
    (3) Third-party testing lab qualifications and confirmation.
    (i) Third-party testing lab qualifications. A third-party testing 
lab must meet all of the following criteria:
    (A) The third-party testing lab must be headquartered in the United 
States, not

[[Page 1689]]

otherwise under the control of a company or other entity headquartered 
in or whose ultimate parent company is headquartered in Country Group 
D:5 or Macau, and the testing must be conducted in the customs 
territory of the United States;
    (B) The third-party testing lab must not have any ownership or 
financial stake in either the ultimate consignee, the exporter, or any 
other party to the transaction, and not otherwise benefit from the 
export other than by the fees they are paid for their testing service; 
and
    (C) The third-party testing lab must have the expertise to ensure 
the representations made on the technical capabilities and functions of 
the advanced computing commodities described in this license 
application are accurate, including confirming that the `total 
processing performance' (as defined in Technical Note 2 to 3A090.a and 
3A090.b), the `total DRAM bandwidth', the `interconnect bandwidth', and 
the `copackaged DRAM capacity' are at or below the specifications 
described in the license application.
    (ii) Third-party testing lab confirmation. Prior to any export from 
the United States, the exporter must receive from the third-party 
testing lab a certification confirming that the technical capabilities 
and functions of the advanced computing commodities described in the 
exporter's license application are accurate and submit that 
certification to BIS in accordance with the certification prior to 
export.
    (iii) BIS may revoke the qualification of any third-party testing 
lab at any time and for any reason. This could be communicated, for 
example, in a letter to an exporter or a BIS publication such as 
website guidance. Such revocation suspends the case-by-case license 
review policy availability of Sec.  742.6(b)(10)(iii)(A)(1) for any 
exporter working with that third-party testing lab until BIS is 
notified by the exporter that a new qualified third-party testing lab 
has been chosen pursuant to the terms of paragraph (dd)(3)(i) of this 
supplement.
* * * * *

Julia A. Khersonsky,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Trade.
[FR Doc. 2026-00789 Filed 1-13-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P