Export Controls

Export Controls Home

The Office of Export Controls at the University of South Florida was established to help faculty, researchers, and staff navigate the complex environment of export regulations. USF is committed to the highest level of compliance with U.S. export control regulations. See Export Control Compliance Policy 0-316.

This web site is designed as a reference to help faculty, staff and students understand the impact of these critical compliance responsibilities by providing essential export control information and relating how it applies to the university campus.

What are the Export Control Laws?
Export controls are U.S. Government laws and regulations that require federal agency approval before the export of controlled items, commodities, technology, software or information to restricted foreign countries, persons and entities (including universities).

There are three federal government agencies responsible for implementing the export control regulations:

  • The Department of Commerce
  • The Department of State
  • The Department of Treasury

Export control laws apply to research activities regardless of the source of funding. These laws are also not confined to the research arena, impacting departments such as Travel, Purchasing, IT, General Counsel and many others.

Failure to comply with these laws can have serious consequences, both for the institution and for the individual researcher. Potential penalties include fines and imprisonment. It is critical for USF researchers to understand their obligations under these regulations and to work with the Office of Export Controls to ensure compliance.

Disclaimer: The University of South Florida's Export Controls materials found on this website are specifically tailored to the USF research community. USF's export control content may not apply to your specific situation or may be incomplete. The University of South Florida's export control materials do not constitute legal advice. Those outside the USF research community should not act or rely on any information on USF's export control website and should seek the advice of an attorney before taking any action.