You may not be aware of what ITAR compliance is, and that’s OK. It’s more important that we know what it means and do our best to make sure the whole process is above board. But in the interest of educating our clients – because that’s what we do! – we thought we would go into detail about what ITAR compliance is and the important role it plays in silicone keypad manufacturing.
It all has to do with the military. And because many of our clients happens to be leaders in the military, we must take a variety of precautions when crafting our silicone keypads.
Some Quick Facts About ITAR
- It stands for International Traffic in Arms Regulations
- ITAR came into existence three decades ago when created by the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).
- ITAR regulates export and import controls that are enforced by the U.S. Department of State (DOS).
- They enforce these regulations for the protection of national security and foreign policy objectives in the United States.
- ITAR controls the many manufacturing and distribution of items that appear on the United States Munitions List (USML).
Why We Care About ITAR
There are many parties that must remain in ITAR compliance, from contractors and wholesalers to distributors and suppliers. Even computer hardware or software vendors must be held to ITAR compliance.
So why us you ask? Well, we may not make products that are outlined specifically on the USML, but that doesn’t mean we don’t ensure our silicone keypads comply with ITAR regulations anyway. We always say: better safe than sorry!
If one of our products was ever used on the USML system once it left our factory, we know we have followed the letter of the law on our end. As such, SiTech or our clients cannot be in violation of the law.
It doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to realize that if anything appearing on the USML list were to make their way into the wrong hands, tragic circumstances could result.
All business owners need to check that the sub-contractors they may hire are fully ITAR compliant. Even small business owners aren’t exempt from this law. The U.S. government has been cracking down on these “innocent” oversights and will enforce the rules if necessary.
Bottom line is: if your business is ITAR compliant yet you bought foreign components that are not compliant, your company is still at risk.
Thar’s why our U.S.-based company guarantees all components, such as keypads, that we make in Virginia are in line with the law. Choosing silicone keypad manufacturer that is ITAR compliant is imperative. Learn more about how we safeguard your business when you call 757-887-8488.
