International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)

Manufacturers, exporters and brokers of US Munitions List items must register with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and pay an annual fee, obtain licenses for exports and temporary imports, and prevent foreign persons from accessing controlled technical data, which counts as an export. Records must be kept for five years. Civil penalties exceed $1.2 million per violation, and criminal penalties reach $1 million and 20 years in prison.

ITAR matters to 3PLs that store or ship firearm parts, weapon optics, certain drone components or other items that may be on the Munitions List, because giving a non-US employee access to controlled technical data or exporting without a license is a violation. A warehouse serving a defense supplier may need ITAR registration, US-person-only zones and screened staff. Before accepting such a client, operators should confirm each item's jurisdiction, since many commercial parts moved to the EAR under export control reform.

• Freight ForwarderBooks and manages international shipments
• Commercial InvoiceSeller's invoice that customs uses
• Hazardous Materials ShippinghazmatRegulated shipping of dangerous goods

• Export Administration Regulations (EAR)1979, under ECRA since 2018 · US rules controlling exports of dual-use items
• SAFE Port Act of 20062006 · Port security law behind C-TPAT and the ISF rule

1. eCFR: 22 CFR Chapter I Subchapter M (ITAR) ecfr.gov
2. U.S. Department of State: Directorate of Defense Trade Controls pmddtc.state.gov