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Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 11 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

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As a reminder to our readers, the annual encryption self-classification report and semi-annual sales report for certain encryption items are due to be filed by February 1, 2024.&nbsp;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Annual Self-Classification Report</h2>
The self-classification report covers less sensitive items described under the Department of Commerce&rsquo;s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) License Exception ENC (b)(1) (i.e.,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/subtitle-B/chapter-VII/subchapter-C/part-740/section-740.17#p-740.17(b)(1)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">15 C.F.R. &sect; 740.17(b)(1))</a>.&nbsp;Depending on the level of encryption, this may include wireless local area network (WLAN) software and equipment, certain disk/drive encryption devices, and many mass market consumer and mobile app items.&nbsp;Exporters may export items described under this License Exception without a license, but are required to take either of two additional steps:
<ol class="wp-block-list" start="1">
<li>They may self-classify their items as eligible and submit an annual self-classification report, which must be submitted to BIS by&nbsp;February 1 of each year. It must provide details on encryption commodities, software and components exported or reexported during the prior calendar year (i.e., January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023).</li>
<li>They may choose to obtain a CCATS&nbsp;for their items and are then&nbsp;no longer required to submit the annual report.</li>
</ol>
Annual reports must include the information outlined in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/subtitle-B/chapter-VII/subchapter-C/part-742/appendix-Supplement%20No.%208%20to%20Part%20742" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Supplement No. 8 to 15 C.F.R. Part 742</a>. BIS requires that each identified product be reported as it is typically distinguished in inventory, catalogs, marketing brochures and other promotional materials. Volume and details of actual exports are not required to be included in the report.&nbsp;If no information has changed since the previous annual report, exporters must still send an email stating that nothing has changed since the previous report; or submit a copy of the previous report. No self-classification report is required if no exports or reexports of covered encryption items occurred during the prior calendar year.&nbsp;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Semi-Annual Sales Report</h2>
BIS also requires semi-annual reports for exports to all destinations other than Canada, and for reexports from Canada, for items described under 15 C.F.R. &sect; 740.17&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/section-740.17#p-740.17(b)(2)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paragraphs (b)(2)</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/section-740.17#p-740.17(b)(3)(iii)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(b)(3)(iii)</a>.&nbsp;For exports occurring between January 1 and June 30, a report is due no later than August 1 of each year. For exports occurring between July 1 and December 31, a report is due no later than February 1 the following year.&nbsp;
For these semi-annual reports, BIS requires the reporting of the Commodity Classification Automated Tracking System (CCATS) number and the name of the item(s) exported (or reexported from Canada), and the following information: (i) for sales to distributors or resellers, the identity of the distributor or reseller, the item and the quantity exported or reexported and, if collected, the end user&rsquo;s name and address; (ii) if a direct sale, the name and address of the recipient, the item, and the quantity exported; or (iii) for export to a foreign developer or manufacturer headquartered in specified countries, the names and addresses of the manufacturers using these encryption items and, if known, when the product is made available for commercial sale, a non-proprietary technical description of the foreign products for which these encryption items are being used.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to Report</h2>
These reports are filed with both BIS and the ENC Encryption Request Coordinator.&nbsp;
Submissions of the annual self-classification report via email should be sent to BIS at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:crypt-supp8@bis.doc.gov">crypt-supp8@bis.doc.gov</a>&nbsp;and to the ENC Encryption Request Coordinator at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:enc@nsa.gov">enc@nsa.gov</a>, as an attachment to an email. Submissions of the semi-annual sales report via email should be sent to BIS at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:crypt@bis.doc.gov">crypt@bis.doc.gov</a>&nbsp;and to the ENC Encryption Request Coordinator at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:enc@nsa.gov">enc@nsa.gov</a>.
Submissions by email are preferred, but submissions may be made by disk or CD and sent to the following addresses:
Attn: Encryption Reports Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security Office of National Security and Technology Transfer Controls 14th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Room 2099B Washington, D.C. 20230
and
Attn: ENC Encryption Request Coordinator 9800 Savage Road, Suite 6940 Ft. Meade, MD 20755-6000
If you have questions as to whether you are subject to the self-classification reporting requirements or need assistance in preparing and filing your annual self-classification report, please contact a member of our team.

Annual and Semi-Annual Encryption Reports Due to BIS by February 1, 2024

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