Where Industry and Security Intersect
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WASHINGTON -- The Commerce Department today imposed a $5,000 civil penalty on Advanced Vacuum Systems, Inc. (AVS), of Ayer MA, for allegedly exporting commodities to the People's Republic of China (PRC) without obtaining the required export license, Commerce Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Administration Frank Deliberti announced today.
The Department alleged that AVS exported a low pressure sintering furnace and spare parts valued at over $600,000 to the PRC without the required export license. At the time of export, the furnace was controlled worldwide for reasons of nuclear nonproliferation. Because the company disclosed the alleged violation to the Department and took effective action to resolve the problem, $2,000 of the $5,000 penalty was suspended for three years. The suspended portion of the penalty will be waived after three years as long as there are no further violations. The Bureau of Export Administration's Boston Field Office conducted the investigation.
The Department's Bureau of Export Administration administers and enforces export controls for reasons of national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation and short supply. Criminal penalties, as well as administrative sanctions, can be imposed for violations of the regulations.
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.