International Shipping
What to know before you ship
- Every international shipment is an export and is subject to US export control laws.
- US law restricts the shipment of some materials to certain individuals, institutions, and countries and for certain end uses.
It is illegal to ship an item to a party if you suspect that the item will be transferred to a prohibited party on a U.S. Government Restricted Party List or for a restricted end-use.
How the Export Controls Office can Help
While the Export Controls Office is not the shipping office, we can help you be certain your shipment is in compliance with export and sanction laws by assisting in the following:
- Assist in determining whether a license will be required for your shipment – Export Control Determination Request
- Identification of prohibited parties – Request Restricted Party Screening
- If needed, Export license preparation and submission
What to do before you ship
- If you are shipping NC State owned material and/or equipment, it is often a good practice to have a material transfer agreement (MTA) in place. MTAs provide terms that address intellectual Property and regulatory compliance and are a good tool to assist both parties. Contact the Office of Research Commercialization for more information on MTA processing.
- If you are shipping equipment, software, biological agents or technology internationally, either contact the Export Controls Office to assist you in the classification of the item.
- Confirm that the ultimate recipient is not a prohibited party, either by using the federal government’s consolidated search website or Request Restricted Party Screening from the Export Controls Office.
As the exporter, you must know the intended end use of the item being exported. Confirm that the end use of the item you are shipping is not prohibited. Part 744 of the EAR outlines what end uses are prohibited. If you suspect that the recipient intends to use the item in a manner that is prohibited, do not ship the item.