Classify your Technology

Classify your Technology export control

How to use this tool: Enter a technology name and description. The tool screens against two separate U.S. export-control regimes and returns ranked candidate classifications for analyst review.

Results are color-coded by regime: ITAR · USML entries are defense articles subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (State Dept./DDTC); EAR · ECCN entries are dual-use items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (Commerce Dept./BIS). These regimes have separate administering agencies, separate license requirements, and separate compliance obligations — a match on either demands its own follow-on review.

Open Reference Lists to ingest the USML and CCL source files and track 180-day refresh dates. See the Methodology, ECCN Anatomy & Reasons Glossary for scoring details and a full control-reason reference.

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Triage aid only — not a determination: For ITAR items, a formal Commodity Jurisdiction (CJ) determination is made by DDTC (State Dept.). For EAR items, a formal classification is made by self-classification against the CCL or via a Classification Request (CCATS) submitted to BIS (Commerce Dept.). This tool supports neither process — it surfaces leads for an analyst to investigate.

Apply the order of review. ITAR jurisdiction must be resolved first. If an item is on the USML, the EAR does not apply and EAR classification is irrelevant. Only if ITAR jurisdiction is ruled out should the CCL analysis proceed. Treat every result as a starting point, not a finding.

Reference Lists

Reference files

180-day refresh

Each core list is backed by two reference files: a published PDF (fixed revision date) and the live eCFR text (continuously updated). Upload the PDF or paste/upload the eCFR text to ingest each one. Revision and last-ingested dates are shown per file; files older than 180 days are flagged for refresh.

Reference data loaded

Import / export reference data

Ingested files and parsed entries are saved in this browser between sessions where storage is available; clearing browser data resets to the bundled seed. Export the knowledge base to back it up or share it. The seed is a representative subset for triage — not the complete USML or CCL.

What does this tool screen against?

USML (ITAR), 22 CFR 121 — 21 categories:

CCL (EAR) — 10 categories × 5 product groups:

0 Nuclear & Misc · 1 Materials, Chemicals, Microorganisms, Toxins · 2 Materials Processing · 3 Electronics · 4 Computers · 5 Telecom & Info Security · 6 Sensors & Lasers · 7 Navigation & Avionics · 8 Marine · 9 Aerospace & Propulsion
Groups: A Equipment · B Test/Production · C Materials · D Software · E Technology

All candidate classifications must be verified against the official USML and CCL before any export decision.

Methodology & order of review

How candidate classifications are derived

The tool scores your description against keyword signatures for all 21 USML categories (ITAR) and a representative set of ECCNs (EAR). These are two legally distinct regimes administered by different agencies; the scoring treats them separately, and results are labeled accordingly. The verdict follows the standard U.S. jurisdictional order of review:

ITAR first — does the USML describe this item? The ITAR (22 CFR Parts 120–130), administered by the State Dept. / DDTC, controls defense articles: items specifically designed, developed, or modified for military application. If an article is enumerated on the USML (22 CFR 121.1, Categories I–XXI) or is "specially designed" for a USML article, it is ITAR-controlled. The EAR does not apply. ITAR imposes mandatory DDTC registration, license or agreement requirements for exports and re-transfers, and no fundamental-research exclusion for defense articles.

EAR second — is it on the CCL? The EAR (15 CFR Parts 730–774), administered by the Commerce Dept. / BIS, controls dual-use items: commercial goods, software, and technology with potential military or proliferation applications. If not ITAR-controlled, check whether the item is classified under a specific ECCN on the Commerce Control List. The license requirement is determined by the ECCN's reasons for control checked against the Commerce Country Chart for the destination country. License exceptions (STA, ENC, LVS, etc.) may be available depending on the reasons.

EAR99 as residual, not clearance. Items subject to the EAR but not listed on the CCL are designated EAR99. They are generally exportable without a license, but are still subject to the EAR — embargoes (Part 746), prohibited end-user/end-use restrictions (Part 744), and the Entity List still apply. EAR99 is a residual finding, not a determination that the item is uncontrolled.

Human review is mandatory regardless of output. This tool cannot apply the "specially designed" definition, assess dual-use intent, resolve 600-series demarcations, evaluate fundamental-research carve-outs (EAR only), or apply de minimis rules. Every result is a lead. Formal review requires a qualified export-control professional.

ECCN structure — how to read a classification number

An Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) is a five-character alphanumeric code. Each position has a specific meaning:

3A001

3 A 001

Category (0–9). The technology domain. 0=Nuclear/Misc, 1=Materials, 2=Processing, 3=Electronics, 4=Computers, 5=Telecom/InfoSec, 6=Sensors, 7=Navigation, 8=Marine, 9=Aerospace.

Product group (A–E). A=Equipment/assemblies/components, B=Test & production equipment, C=Materials, D=Software, E=Technology (know-how).

001

Sequence (000–999). Identifies the specific entry within the category/group. The first digit often reflects the primary reason for control (0=national security, 2=nuclear, 5=missiles, etc.).

Reasons-for-control glossary (EAR)

Each EAR/CCL entry carries one or more Reason for Control codes. These codes drive the licensing analysis: they determine which column of the Commerce Country Chart applies and which license exceptions are available. Click any row to expand details.

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This tool does not provide legal advice and does not constitute a formal determination under either regime. For ITAR items, a binding ruling is a Commodity Jurisdiction (CJ) determination issued by DDTC. For EAR items, a binding ruling is a Classification Request (CCATS) issued by BIS, or a supported self-classification against the current CCL. This tool is intended to support a university research-compliance analyst in triaging items prior to formal review by a qualified export-control professional.

01 DESCRIBE

Describe the technology

Your description is screened simultaneously against the USML (ITAR — defense articles) and the CCL (EAR — dual-use items). Technical specificity improves signal quality on both lists.

Technology name / short title

Description

The more technical detail (function, performance thresholds, materials, end use), the better the signal.

Form factor (select all that apply — optional)

Hardware / equipment

Material / chemical

Software

Technical data / technology

End use / context (optional)

Describe the technology

Candidate classifications