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WASHINGTON -- The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Export Administration today imposed a $50,000 civil penalty on Schott Fiber Optics, Inc. (Schott), of Southbridge, MA, for alleged illegal exports of fiber optic image inverters from the United States to the Netherlands, Commerce Assistant Secretary of Export Enforcement F. Amanda DeBusk announced.
Fiber optic inverters are used in the manufacture of night vision equipment and are controlled for national security, foreign policy and missile technology reasons. The Department alleged that Schott made 20 exports of inverters to the Netherlands without obtaining the required validated licenses. The shipments took place between November 1993 and April 1994.
Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement Boston field office investigated the case. Schott voluntarily disclosed the alleged violations to the Department. A portion of the penalty, $10,000, is suspended for one year, provided Schott does not commit any export control violations during that period.
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Export Administration 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 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.