E6-21005. Comment Request Regarding the Effectiveness of Licensing Procedures for Exportation of Agricultural Commodities, Medicine, and Medical Devices to Sudan and Iran

AGENCY:

Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION:

Request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury is soliciting comments on the effectiveness of OFAC's licensing procedures for the exportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Sudan and Iran. Pursuant to 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 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 January 10, 2007 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: [phone]. Additional information about these licensing procedures is also available under the heading “Other OFAC Sanctions Programs” at http://www.treas.gov/​ofac.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The current procedures used by OFAC for authorizing the export of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Sudan and Iran are set forth in 31 CFR 538.523-526 and 31 CFR 560.530-533. Under the provisions of section 906(c) of the Act, OFAC must submit a biennial 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 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 solicits comments from interested parties regarding the effectiveness of OFAC's licensing procedures for the export of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Sudan and Iran. Interested parties submitting comments are asked to be as specific as possible. All comments received on or before January 10, 2007 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 the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20220, Attn: Merete Evans.

Effective September 21, 2004, Executive Order 13357 terminated the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12543 of January 7, 1986, with respect to the policies and actions of the Government of Libya and revoked Executive Orders 12543, 12544 of January 8, 1986, and 12801 of April 15, 1992 (all of which had imposed sanctions against Libya in response to the national emergency). Consequently, the prohibitions of the Libyan Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR Part 550 (the “LSR”), have been lifted, and all property and interests in property blocked under the LSR have been unblocked. 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 and, therefore, OFAC is not soliciting comments on its licensing procedures under that program. This termination of the Libya Sanctions does not, however, eliminate the need to comply with other provisions of law, including the Export Administration Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730 et seq., which are administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Approved: November 28, 2006.

Adam J. Szubin,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.