Where Industry and Security Intersect
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U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Michael J. Garcia announced today that two foreign subsidiaries of the Sunbeam Corporation, a Florida-based consumer products company, have agreed to pay $9,000 to settle allegations for violating antiboycott laws. The Sunbeam Corporation voluntarily disclosed the violations on behalf of its foreign subsidiaries, Coleman Benelux, B.V. and Sunbeam Europe, Limited. The antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration (EAR) prohibit U.S. persons - including foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies - from complying with certain aspects of unsanctioned foreign boycotts.
The Bureau of Export Administration's Office of Antiboycott Compliance ("OAC") alleged that Coleman Benelux B.V., a Netherlands corporation, committed three violations of the antiboycott provisions of the EAR in connection with the shipment of goods to Lebanon in 1999. According to OAC, Coleman Benelux, B.V. agreed not to use ships "blacklisted" by the Israeli Boycott Office in Lebanon. In addition, Coleman Benelux B.V. gave prohibited information when it recorded this agreement on shipping documents. The company also failed to report its receipt of the boycott request in a timely fashion as required by the EAR. OAC also alleged that Sunbeam Europe Limited, a U.K. corporation, failed to make a timely report of its receipt of three boycott requests received in 1997 and 1998 from Lebanon and Qatar.
While neither admitting nor denying the allegations, Coleman Benelux B.V. agreed to pay a $6,000 civil penalty, and Sunbeam Europe Limited agreed to pay a $3,000 civil penalty.
Assistant Secretary Garcia commended the efforts of OAC Compliance Officer Gary Mohler who investigated this case.
In April of 2002 the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) changed its name to the Bureau of Industry and Security(BIS). For historical purposes we have not changed the references to BXA in the legacy documents found in the Archived Press and Public Information.