The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that Criticare Systems, Inc., of Waukesha, Wisconsin, has agreed to pay a $45,000 civil penalty to settle charges that it exported certain medical equipment through the United Kingdom to Iran in violation of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) charged that, between March 22, 1999 and August 15, 2002, Criticare made ten unauthorized exports of medical monitors, sensors, and related parts to Iran. BIS charged that these shipments were transshipped through a United Kingdom distributor without prior authorization from the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), as required under the EAR. BIS also charged that Criticare failed to submit the proper export documents for the transactions.

The United States maintains a comprehensive embargo on trade with Iran because of Iran's support for international terrorism. Under the terms of the embargo, most exports to Iran are prohibited unless they are authorized in advance by OFAC. The export of items to Iran without OFAC approval is a violation of the EAR and can be subject to criminal penalties and/or administrative sanctions.

Criticare cooperated with BIS throughout the investigation, which was initiated based on information provided by Criticare under the Voluntary Self Disclosure program.

Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Wendy L. Wysong commended Special Agent Bryan Pabin of the Chicago Field Office for his work on this investigation.