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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY |
| Wednesday, December 31th, 2008 |
Eugene Cottilli |
| www.bis.doc.gov | 202-482-2721 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security
(BIS) announced today that Buehler Limited of Lake Bluff, Illinois has agreed to pay a $200,000 civil penalty to settle allegations that it made 81 unlicensed exports of a lubricant containing Triethanolamine (TEA) in violation of the Export Administration Regulations. Buehler Limited is a global manufacturer of scientific equipment and supplies for use in materials research and analysis.
“Targeted and effective controls on materials that could be used in biological and chemical weapons are critical to preserving U.S. national security,” said Mario Mancuso, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. “Companies should be mindful of the chemical make-up of their exports.”
BIS alleged that between November 2001 and July 2006, Buehler Limited made 80 exports of a product called “Coolmet,” a mixture containing TEA that is used as a lubricant with cutting tools, to various destinations including China, Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Brazil and Israel without the required BIS licenses. Additionally, on one occasion in August 2005, the company’s German affiliate re-exported Coolmet from Germany to Iran without the required U.S. Government authorization. TEA is a Schedule 3 chemical precursor and is controlled for Chemical/Biological, Anti-Terrorism, and Chemical Weapons reasons.
Buehler Limited voluntarily disclosed the violations and cooperated fully in the investigation.
Under Secretary Mancuso praised the BIS Chicago Field Office for its outstanding work on this case.
BIS controls exports and re-exports of dual-use commodities, technology, and software for reasons of national security, missile technology, nuclear non-proliferation, chemical and biological weapons non-proliferation, crime control, regional stability and foreign policy. Criminal penalties and administrative sanctions may be imposed for violations of the Export Administration Regulations. For more information, please visit www.bis.doc.gov.###