Legal Definitions - Bureau of Industry and Security

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its main job is to give permission for companies to export certain goods and technologies. It also makes sure that companies follow the laws about exporting.

The BIS has three main goals:

• Protecting the national security of the United States
• Supporting U.S. foreign policy
• Promoting economic growth by helping U.S. companies export their products

The BIS used to be called the Bureau of Export Administration. It changed its name in 2002.

For example, if a company wants to export a certain type of technology to another country, they need to get permission from the BIS first. The BIS will look at the technology and decide if it is okay to export. If the technology could be used for something harmful, the BIS might not give permission.

Another example is if a company tries to export something without getting permission from the BIS. This is against the law, and the BIS can take action against the company.