BIS Looking to Finalize Marine Toxins Export Control Rule

The Bureau of Industry and Security is looking to move forward with its May proposal for new export controls over four dual-use biological toxins (see 2205200017). The agency on Aug. 17 sent a final rule for interagency review that would implement the controls, which would apply to the marine toxins brevetoxin, gonyautoxin, nodularin and palytoxin. BIS said the toxins can be exploited for biological weapons purposes and the controls were proposed in May as unilateral restrictions because the Australia Group hadn't yet agreed to the controls. The agency received two public comments on the controls (see 2207190014).

BIS said its final rule also contains certain changes or updates to controls involving “plant pathogens” and biological equipment. The rule would specifically implement recent Australia Group decisions from the November and March virtual implementation meetings and the July plenary, when member states updated controls on certain chemical and biological items. The group said the updated controls cover “new items” in response to emerging threats and the “removal of items where they were no longer appropriate.”