Import/Export Conference Helps Industry Members Stay on Top of Law, Regulatory Issues

RESTON, Va. — The 11th Annual Firearms Import/Export Conference begins today with an agenda designed to help members of the firearms, ammunition hunting and shooting sports industry stay on top of and in compliance with the full range of federal laws and regulations governing the import and export of their products. The two-day conference is a joint presentation of the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the FAIR Trade Group and is being held at the Hyatt Regency Reston Town Center.

The conference agenda includes presentations from officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on import licensing, the Commerce Department – Bureau of Industry Security (BIS), the State Department – Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) on export licensing and the U.S. Census Bureau — Automated Export System (AES) on export licensing and procedures.

Attendees will receive an update on the progress of the administration’s Export Control Reform initiative and the recently concluded United Nations – Arms Trade Treaty talks. Other agenda topics include working with international sales agents and brokers, and complying with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

“With the impeding, industry-supported Export Control Reforms and ATF’s recent report on the importability of shotguns, change is rapidly coming to the import and export of firearms and ammunition and related materials,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “This conference is designed to help members of our industry comply with the import/export laws and regulations so the can successfully grow their businesses,”

In addition to the major presenters, other sponsors include: A.N. Deringer; Total Logistics Resource, Inc.; PriceWaterhouseCoopers; and the intellectual property law firm of Ratner Prestia.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 7,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.