Who Must Register

All manufacturers, exporters, and brokers of defense articles, related technical data and defense services as defined on the United States Munitions List (Part 121 of the ITAR) (PDF, 7MB) are required to register with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). Registration is primarily a means to provide the U.S. Government with necessary information on who is involved in certain manufacturing, exporting and brokering activities. Registration does not confer any export rights or privileges, but is a precondition for the issuance of any license or other approval for export.
1.Manufacturers/Exporters ?Per ITAR §122.1, any person who engages in the United States in the business of either manufacturing or exporting or temporarily importing defense articles or furnishing defense services is required to register with DDTC. Manufacturers who do not engage in exporting must nevertheless register.
?Note: U.S. distributors and other U.S. persons exporting parts and components and other defense articles and services outside of the United States are considered to be exporters.

2.Brokers ?Per ITAR §129.3, any person identified under ITAR §129.2(a) who engages in brokering activities identified under ITAR §129.2(b) is required to register with the DDTC unless exempt under ITAR §129.3(b). Registration is generally a precondition for the issuance of approval for brokering activities required under Part 129 or the use of exemptions.
?Note: Brokers may not obtain export licenses. U.S. Brokers that need to obtain export licenses must also be registered as an exporter.
?Note: U.S. distributors and other U.S. persons that broker defense articles or defense services must register as a broker. Foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) distributors and other foreign persons that are located in the United States or are owned or controlled by U.S. persons who broker defense articles or defense services must register as a broker.

3.Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Freight Forwarders ?Per ITAR §126.6(c)(6)(i), a U.S. freight forwarder under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program must register with DDTC as an exporter. The applicable embassy must designate a registered U.S. freight forwarder for their FMS transactions by sending a letter on embassy letterhead signed by a senior embassy official to the Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance. The embassy designation letter should specify the contract duration. If the designated U.S. freight forwarder is not the U.S. registrant but rather a U.S. subsidiary or affiliate listed in the registration, then the embassy must specify both the designated U.S. freight forwarder and the U.S. registrant's legal name.

(b) Exemptions. Registration is not required
for:
(1) Officers and employees of the
United States Government acting in an
official capacity.
(2) Persons whose pertinent business
activity is confined to the production
of unclassified technical data only.