BIS settles with US university over unlicensed export of GM fruit flies

The US Bureau of Industry and Security (‘BIS’) has imposed a one-year suspended denial order on Indiana University (‘IU’) for 42 violations related to the unlicensed export of fruit flies — genetically modified to produce a controlled toxin — to research centres around the world.

The exports by IU’s Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center (‘BDSC’) went to numerous research institutions and universities worldwide, BIS said, explaining that the university admitted to the conduct, ‘which alleged 42 violations related to the export of a strain of Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) containing transgenes carrying ricin A sequences to research locations in 16 countries.’

It said, 24 June, that IU’s voluntary disclosure, cooperation with a BIS investigation and remedial measures after discovering the conduct ‘resulted in a significant reduction in the penalty.’ IU received a suspended denial of export privileges for one year and was ordered to implement export compliance training to relevant administrators across the university.

‘Researchers should take note: even the smallest items, like a genetically modified fruit fly, can implicate chemical and biological weapons controls,’ said Assistant Secretary of Commerce Matthew Axelrod. ‘At the end of the day, Indiana University’s voluntary self-disclosure and extensive cooperation throughout the investigation resulted in a non-monetary resolution, which demonstrates the value for academia of disclosure and cooperation when violations of our export rules are discovered.’

https://www.bis.gov/press-release/bis-settles-alleged-export-control-violations-indiana-university

https://efoia.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/export-violations/export-violations-2024/1615-e2943-indiana-university-order/file