BIS Adds MIEU Controls to Myanmar, Issues Technical Corrections

The Bureau of Industry and Security added Myanmar to its list of countries subject to military intelligence end-use and end-user (MIEU) controls, the agency said in a notice. It also made several technical corrections to the original MIEU rule, which was issued in January and took effect March 16 (see 2101140035). The interim final rule takes effect April 9.

BIS added Myanmar to its MIEU list to build on sanctions and export controls announced against the country last month (see 2103040075). The rule imposes a license requirement for all exports to Myanmar for items subject to the Export Administration Regulations if the exporter “has knowledge” or is informed by BIS that the item is destined to a military-intelligence end-use or end-user in Myanmar. The agency also added Myanmar to the list of countries in the EAR for which U.S. people are blocked from “supporting military-intelligence end uses or end users” even when the support doesn’t involve items subject to the EAR.

“BIS is taking this action to prevent the Burmese military, and specifically its intelligence operations, from benefiting from access to items subject to the EAR, including sensitive technology, or the expertise of U.S. persons,” the agency said. BIS said it will continue to review public comments it received earlier this year on the MIEU rule to “assess whether any revisions to the scope of controls” are “warranted” (see 2103160050 and 2103050016).