What Are Export Controls?

UF Research Integrity – Export Controls brochure (PDF)

United States export controls are a complex set of laws and regulations in place to ensure national security and economic stability, prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and further U.S. foreign policy. U.S. export control laws govern the transfer of technology, information, and commodities overseas or to a foreign national within the U.S. These laws cover all types of entities, organizations, and individuals, including the University of Florida, its faculty, staff and students.

What Do Universities Export?

Most commonly, researchers export controlled technical data and information. However, physical items, including samples and prototypes, and any items owned by UF may require additional management.

Export Control concerns may arise not only in research but also in activities unrelated to research, including travel abroad, international shipping, hosting international visitors, business collaborations, and partnerships. It is important for the UF community to be aware of export control regulations and how they impact university activity.

UF Export Control Policy

It is the policy of University of Florida to comply fully with all federal and state laws pertaining to export controls. All UF projects and programs must adhere to the UF Export Control Policy and all applicable laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and all sanctions and embargoes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). For more information on governing agencies and regulations, go to US Governing Authorities & Regulations.

The Export Control Officer within UF Research Integrity, Security, and Compliance (UF RISC) serves as the institutional expert on export control laws and regulations and is responsible for managing controlled research and applying for government licenses on behalf of UF. UF RISC is here to provide export control guidance to faculty, staff and students.

Why Is Export Compliance Important?

Export control violations can result in penalties and fines which may apply to an individual, the institution or both. Administrative Penalties include loss of export privileges or suspension and debarment from government contracting. Additionally, monetary fines can be up to $1 million per violation and jail time can be up to 20 years per violation.

Do Export Controls Apply to Me?

Most campus activities will not be subject to export controls or licensing requirements, as they will fall under one of the following common exclusions:  fundamental research exclusion, publicly available or public domain information, or education exclusion.

However, some activities are ineligible for such protections and require either an export license from the U.S. government or some other form of security safeguard. Please contact the Export Control Officer if any of the following scenarios apply to your activity:

• Restricted Research (e.g. nationality, publication)
• Shipping or transferring physical items abroad
• Traveling outside the U.S. with UF-owned property (e.g. laptop, cell phone, PDA, flash drive)
• Traveling to foreign countries subject to embargo or trade sanctions
• Hiring a foreign national to work at UF under H1-B visa
• Signing a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement that may not be export control-compliant

Marsha Daerda
Export Control Officer
Grinter Hall
(352) 392-2369