Revision of Export Controls for General Purpose Microprocessors

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement revisions to national security controls for microprocessors that were agreed upon in the February 2002 meeting of the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies (Wassenaar Arrangement). This final rule removes license requirements for exports and reexports of general purpose microprocessors to most destinations to conform with changes in the List of Dual-Use Goods and Technologies maintained and agreed to by governments participating in the Wassenaar Arrangement. This rule retains license requirements for exports and reexports to designated terrorist-supporting countries. In addition, this rule establishes a new license requirement for the export or reexport of general purpose microprocessors if, at the time of the export or reexport, the exporter or reexporter knows, has reason to know, or is informed by BIS that the item will be or is intended to be used for a "military end-use" in a country that is of concern for national security reasons or by a "military end-user" in such a country. This license requirement does not apply to items for the official use by personnel and agencies of the U.S. Government or agencies of a cooperating government in a country of concern for national security reasons. The license review standard for applications to export or reexport general purpose microprocessors subject to this license requirement is a presumption of denial. No license exceptions are available for this license requirement.