*EPF312 12/29/2004
United States Implements Australia Group Understandings
(Changes intended to prevent diversion of materials to biochemical weapons) (330)

Washington ���� The U.S. government has amended its export regulations to comply with an Australia Group agreement intended to prevent groups or other states from acquiring a biochemical weapons capability.

The final rule amending U.S. export regulations was adopted by the Department of Commerce December 29.

The 38 members of the Australia Group, formed in 1984 in response to the massive use oof chemical and biological weapons in the Iran-Iraq war, are committed to ensuring their industries do not deliberately or accidentally assist those seeking to acquire chemical or biological weapons capability. ��All AG members, who are also parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, reached a series of understandings during a June 2004 plenary meeting.

The AG maintains a list a chemicals, biological agents, and related equipment and technology that could be used in a chemical or biological weapons programs and for which it recommends member nations set export controls.

In accordance with AG understandings reached in June and a subsequent intersessional decision, the Commerce Department added three bacteria (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, Clavibacter michiganensis subspecies sepedonicus, and Ralstonia solanacearum) and two viruses (Potato Andean latent tymovirus and Potato spindle tuber viroid) to the list of plant pathogens subject to U.S. export restrictions.

 
The rule change also lists nine additional precursor chemicals as subject to export restrictions:�� methylphosphonic acid, diethyl methylphosphonate, N,N-dimethylamino-phosphoryl dichloride,�� methylphosphonothioic dichloride, ethyldiethanolamine, tri-isopropyl phosphite; O,O-diethyl phosphorothioate; O,O-diethyl phosphorodithioate, and sodium hexafluorosilicate.  Listed substances require a license for export or re-export worldwide, according to the department.

 

  The Commerce Department is also requiring export-licensing authorities to consider the extent and effectiveness of controls in place at the receiving countries and any intermediary countries when evaluating export-license applications.

 

  The rule is effective immediately. The full text of rulemaking document may be viewed at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-28538.htm


(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)


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