DDTC Announces Suspension of Certain Fees, Extensions of Registrations, Licenses

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls announced a series of compliance, licensing and management measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic response measures on industry, the DDTC said in an April 23 notice. The measures include temporary suspensions on certain registration renewal requirements, temporary reductions of certain registration fees and measures to allow companies to work remotely.

Among the changes, DDTC will grant a 30-day extension for all responses to its “request-for-information letters” related to voluntary disclosures and is considering further extensions for full voluntary disclosures on a case-by-case basis. The agency is also extending the durations of certain International Traffic in Arms Regulations licenses that were to expire between March 13 and May 31 for six months if the scope of the license remains unchanged. DDTC suspended an ITAR requirement that employees must work at a company’s facilities “to allow the individual to work at a remote work location” in “this extraordinary period.” The remote work exception is in effect through July 31.

During the pandemic, the agency said it will “ensure streamlined interagency licensing reviews” and will complete most paperwork through email, scanned documents or physical mail. As part of this effort, DDTC is accepting electronic submissions of FMS Part 130 reports to DDTC-Part130Notices@state.gov and updated “additional points of contact” to increase “timely responses to inquiries.” This includes “additional staffing and [information technology] resources” to DDTC’s response team and help desk.