Frequently Asked Questions

Descartes Visual Compliance OFAC Sanctions List Search solutions check for individuals and companies that are found on OFAC watch lists, as well as countries facing sanctions or under embargo. Options include:

Descartes Visual Compliance solutions are affordable and modular, giving organizations the option to add solutions they need to get compliant right now, and the ability to add complementary solutions to bolster compliance should needs ever change.

Check out our Buyer’s Guide, which brings together everything you need to know about in order to start to transform your sanctions compliance program.

Contact us today to learn more about how your organization can get started today with one or more of our screening solutions can decrease reputational risk, increase productivity, and save staff hours spent on searching for sanctioned parties manually.

The simple answer is that there is no best way to maintain export compliance. For an organization to be truly export compliant, there should be a program in place that includes the following export compliance best practices:

The first step in most organizations’ export compliance program is typically Denied Party Screening, also known as Restricted Party Screening, among other names. Screening is the process of helping to ensure that organizations do not do business with any party on a government or international watch list.

People and entities on these watch lists face trade restrictions due to reasons ranging from terrorism, criminal activity, and money laundering, among others. Doing business with these entities can lead to criminal and civil penalties, large monetary fines, imprisonment, negative press coverage, a hit to an organization’s reputation, and a revocation of export privileges.

Our Denied Party Screening FAQ page goes into greater depth about denied party screening, and related obligations.

This varies from organization to organization. It depends on the location, or locations, in which a business operates, where they export, the nature of the products, technologies, and services, and the various parties involved with the transaction.

Some of the more common lists organizations screen against are:

As mentioned already, organizations should pick the lists it screens against based on the specific needs of the business. This is an area in which Descartes Visual Compliance™ can assist.

Governments around the world control exports for many reasons, including preventing controlled technology or dual-use goods from falling into the wrong hands. Exports are also regulated to advance foreign policy objectives, and to further economic and trade goals.

In the United States, there are three primary U.S. government bodies that regulate exports:

Additionally, other countries and international organizations, such as the European Union, have their own departments enforcing export controls aligned with their policies and goals.

The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) is enforced by the United States government via the United States Munitions List (USML). Items on the USML are defense and military-related goods and technology, and require a license or an exemption in order to be lawfully exported.

The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) are administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). The EAR controls goods and technology that have commercial applications, but may also have military uses (i.e., dual use goods). Technology and goods are controlled by the EAR for a variety of reasons, including anti-terrorism, national security, foreign policy, and nuclear proliferation. These goods similarly require licenses, or exceptions, to be lawfully exported.

Organizations engaging in international trade and exports are responsible for complying with export regulations and controls. Companies are still subject to export controls and the laws governing them regardless of their awareness of them.

Having a solution in place that assists organizations with helping to determine export classifications, as well as managing licenses, where required, is a good step in the direction towards being export compliant.