US Commerce Department to deter biotech misuse
THE US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) took action to address China’s efforts to develop and deploy biotechnology for military applications, reports the American Journal of Transportation.
BIS is also taking action against entities operating in China, Georgia, Malaysia and Turkey for diverting or attempting to divert US items to Iran’s military programmes.
“The scientific pursuit of biotechnology and medical innovation can save lives. Unfortunately, the PRC is choosing to use these technologies to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups. We cannot allow US commodities, technologies, and software that support medical science and biotechnical innovation to be diverted toward uses contrary to US national security,” said US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
“The US will continue to stand strong against efforts by the PRC and Iran to turn tools that can help humanity prosper into implements that threaten global security and stability,” said Ms Raimondo.
These BIS actions were taken under the authority of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 and its implementing regulations, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).