USDOC adds 14 parties to the entity list for support of Russian WMD Programs and chemical weapons activities

The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is adding 14 entities located in Russia, Germany, and Switzerland to the Entity List based on their proliferation activities in support of Russia’s weapons of mass destruction programs and chemical weapons activities. This action supplements the addition of five Russian Government facilities to the Entity List in August 2020 for supporting Russia’s chemical and biological weapons programs.

The Entity List is a tool utilized by BIS to restrict the export, re-export, and in-country transfer of items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to persons (individuals, organizations, companies) reasonably believed to be involved, or to pose a significant risk of becoming involved, in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. Additional license requirements apply to exports, re-exports, and in-country transfers of items subject to the EAR to listed entities, and the availability of most license exceptions is limited.

Additionally, BIS is actively assessing appropriate measures to be implemented under the EAR in light of the Secretary of State’s recent determination, under Section 306(a) of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (CBW Act), that the Government of Russia has used chemical or biological weapons against its own nationals in violation of international law.

The Department of Commerce released the following statement:

“The Russian Government's use of chemical weapons is contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, as well as international law. The Department of Commerce is committed to preventing Russia from accessing sensitive U.S. technologies that might be diverted to its malign chemical and other weapons of mass destruction activities.”