US shifts most firearm suppressors from ITAR to EAR control

23 July 2026

The US State Department and the Bureau of Industry and Security published parallel interim final rules transferring export jurisdiction over most firearm sound suppressors from the ITAR to the EAR.

The ITAR, administered by State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls under the Arms Export Control Act, governs "defence articles" on the US Munitions List. These are items that have a military function or confer a critical military or intelligence advantage. Exporters must register with DDTC, and licences are required for most destinations.

The EAR, administered by BIS under the Export Control Reform Act, covers dual-use and less sensitive military items on the Commerce Control List. Licence requirements depend on an item's Export Control Classification Number, its reasons for control, the destination and the end user, and where licence exceptions may authorise unlicensed shipment.

Moving an item relaxes the compliance burden without decontrolling it.

The State rule (91 FR 46279) revises USML Category I(e) so that only suppressors specially designed for fully automatic firearms remain defence articles. Acting under Executive Order 14268 on reforming foreign defence sales, the Department said that suppressors for non-automatic and semi-automatic firearms no longer confer a critical military or intelligence advantage.

The BIS rule (91 FR 46252) adds the released items under new ECCNs 0A501.f and 0A502.f, carrying national security, regional stability, firearms convention, UN embargo and anti-terrorism controls. Shotgun-only suppressors in 0A502.f may go licence-free to NATO members and ten named partners.

Both rules take effect on 20 November 2026; comments close 24 August 2026. See our US export control page for more information on the ITAR and EAR.