Background

The Bureau of Industry and Security and the State Department have issued interim final rules (available here and here) that, effective Nov. 20, will move certain silencers, mufflers, and sound suppressors for non-automatic and semi-automatic firearms from the U.S. Munitions List to the Export Administration Regulations (in paragraphs 0A501.f and 0A502.f). The Bureau of Industry and Security states that this deregulatory action will align export controls on suppressors with the controls already applied to firearms.

Under the BIS rule, these items will be added to the Commerce Control List and a license will be required for certain exports, reexports, or in-country transfers of these items, including releases of related software and technology, to foreign persons. License exceptions currently available for firearms will also be available for suppressors.

Comments on these rules are due no later than Aug. 24.

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