[Federal Register: August 9, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 152)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 48183]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09au04-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Foreign Assets Control
31 CFR Part 538, 550, and 560
Comment Request Regarding the Effectiveness of Licensing
Procedures for Exportation of Agricultural Commodities, Medicine, and
Medical Devices to Sudan, Libya, and Iran
AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.
ACTION: Request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC``) of the U.S.
Department of the Treasury is soliciting comments concerning the
effectiveness of OFAC's licensing procedures implementing the Trade
Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (the ``Act''), for
the exportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical
devices to Sudan, Libya, and Iran. Pursuant to section 906(c) of the
Act, OFAC is required to submit a biennial report to the Congress on
the operation of licensing procedures for such exports.
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before September 8,
2004 to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the Licensing Division,
Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury, 1500
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
about these licensing procedures should be directed to the Licensing
Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury,
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220, telephone: (202)
622-2480. Additional information about these licensing procedures is
also available under the heading ``Sanctions Program and Country
Summaries'' at http://www.treas.gov/ofac.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The current procedures used by the Office of
Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC'') for authorizing the export of
agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Sudan,
Libya, and Iran are set forth in 31 CFR 538.523 through 538.526, 31 CFR
550.569 through 550.573, and 31 CFR 560.530 through 560.533. Under the
provisions of section 906(c) of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export
Enhancement Act of 2000 (Title IX of Pub. L. 106-387, 22 U.S.C. 7201 et
seq.) (the ``Act''), OFAC must submit a report to the Congress on the
operation, during the preceding two year period, of the licensing
procedures required by section 906 of the Act for the export of
agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Sudan,
Libya, and Iran. This report is to include:
(1) The number and types of licenses applied for;
(2) The number and types of licenses approved;
(3) The average amount of time elapsed from the date of filing of a
license application until the date of its approval;
(4) The extent to which the licensing procedures were effectively
implemented; and
(5) A description of comments received from interested parties
about the extent to which the licensing procedures were effective,
after holding a public 30-day comment period.
This notice serves as public notice soliciting comments from
interested parties regarding the effectiveness of OFAC's licensing
procedures for the export of agricultural commodities, medicine, and
medical devices to Sudan, Libya, and Iran. Interested parties
submitting comments are asked to be as specific as possible. All
comments received on or before September 8, 2004 will be considered by
OFAC in developing the report to the Congress. In the interest of
accuracy and completeness, OFAC requires written comments. Comments
received after the end of the comment period will be considered, if
possible, but their consideration cannot be assured. OFAC will not
accept comments accompanied by a request that part or all of the
comments be treated confidentially because of their business
proprietary nature or for any other reason. OFAC will return such
comments when submitted by regular mail to the person submitting the
comments and will not consider them. All comments made will be a matter
of public record. Copies of the public record concerning these
regulations may be obtained from OFAC's Web site (http://www.treas.gov/ofac
). If that service is unavailable, written requests may be sent to:
Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of Treasury, 1500
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20220, Attn: Merete Evans.
Note: Effective April 29, 2004, General License of April 23,
2004 and 31 CFR Part 550, Libya Sanctions Regulations (``LSR''),
authorize U.S. persons to engage in most transactions previously
prohibited by the LSR, including the exportation and reexportation
of goods, software or technology by U.S. persons to Libya or the
Government of Libya. Accordingly, specific licenses issued by OFAC
for the export of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical
devices to Libya are no longer required pursuant to the LSR. This
authorization does not, however, eliminate the need to comply with
other provisions of law, including the Export Administration
Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730 through 799, which are administered by
the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Approved: July 27, 2004.
R. Richard Newcomb,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
[FR Doc. 04-17954 Filed 8-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-M