Bureau of Export Administration
U. S. Department of Commerce
For Immediate Release
February 28, 2000
Pennsylvania Company Settles Charges of Unlawful Exports of Chemicals
WASHINGTON -- Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement F. Amanda DeBusk today announced a $150,000 civil penalty imposed on Houghton International Inc., Valley Forge, PA, a manufacturer of specialty chemical products, to settle allegations that the company illegally exported chemicals to South Korea.
Today's settlement resolves allegations that on 20 separate occasions Houghton International Inc., exported chemicals to South Korea without the required U.S. Department of Commerce licenses. The shipments occurred during the period of August 1994 through August 1996.
The Department controls the export of certain U.S.-origin chemicals as part of a multilateral agreement with 30 chemical producing countries known as the Australia Group. The controlled chemicals have legitimate commercial uses but also have the potential to serve as precursors in chemical weapons.
The Bureau of Export Administration's Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office, investigated this case.
The Department of Commerce through its 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.
