Know Before You Go / Sanctions and Penalties

Failure to comply with U.S. export control laws can result in criminal sanctions, including imprisonment, administrative sanctions, and civil penalties. Violators of customs laws can incur fines, penalties and seizure and forfeiture of material and equipment.

(Information For Employees Going On Foreign Travel)

Leaving the U.S.: When traveling to a foreign country (including Canada and Mexico), you must contact the Laboratory Customs Office, (505) 665-2194., if you plan on taking any Laboratory material, equipment, or software with you. You must obtain export approval from the Customs Office before you leave the country for all items, including laptop computers, software on those laptops and smartcards/cryptocards. If you are having Laboratory equipment or property shipped to your destination, do not include personal items or articles in the shipment.

There are no restrictions on taking technical data that is in the public domain or is intended for public distribution (see "Exporting Information" in "LANL Export/Import Guide"). If you are taking technical data not intended for public distribution (proprietary, protected CRADA, etc.) contact the Classification Office to determine if a license is required. If you will be making a formal presentation you must have an LA-UR assigned by the Classification Office. Please contact Classification at 7-5011 if you have questions regarding the export of technical data.

Returning to the U.S.: It is important that you declare all articles acquired abroad and in your possession at the time of your return to include: articles you have purchased, gifts presented to you while abroad, repairs or alterations made to any articles taken abroad and returned, and items you have been requested to bring home for another person. If you are detained when returning Laboratory material/equipment to the U.S. contact the Customs Office, (505) 665-2194., for assistance. You may have to leave the items with U.S. Customs (get the inspector’s name and telephone number) while formal entry paperwork is prepared.

If at any time while on foreign travel you decide to have any Laboratory property shipped back to the U.S., do not include personal articles, gifts, or souvenirs that were purchased abroad. They must be shipped back separately. Please see the LANL Export/Import Guide located at the following site: /property/eximguide/guide.htm for more information.

For more information, See the US Customs & Border Protection's Know Before You Go website.

Contact the Customs Office for answers to questions regarding exporting commodities and software.
Contact Classification Group, 7-5011 for answers to questions on exporting technical data.