# 22 CFR § 120.3: Policy on designating or determining defense articles and services on the U.S. Munitions List

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.3

## Section

- **Citation:** 22 CFR § 120.3
- **Heading:** Policy on designating or determining defense articles and services on the U.S. Munitions List
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 22—Foreign Relations > CHAPTER I—DEPARTMENT OF STATE > SUBCHAPTER M—INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ARMS REGULATIONS > PART 120—PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS > Subpart A—General Information

## Text

(a) For purposes of this subchapter, a specific article or service may be designated a defense article (see § 120.31) or defense service (see § 120.32) if it:
(1) Meets the criteria of a defense article or defense service on the U.S. Munitions List (USML) (part 121 of this subchapter); or
(2) Provides the equivalent performance capabilities of a defense article on the USML.
(b) For purposes of this subchapter, a specific article or service shall be determined in the future as a defense article or defense service if it provides a critical military or intelligence advantage such that it warrants control under this subchapter.
Note 1 to paragraphs (a) and (b):
An article or service determined in the future pursuant to this subchapter as a defense article or defense service, but not currently on the USML, will be placed in Category XXI of § 121.1 of this subchapter until the appropriate category of the USML has been amended to provide the necessary entry.
(c) A specific article or service is not a defense article or defense service for purposes of this subchapter if it:
(1) Is determined to be under the jurisdiction of another department or agency of the U.S. Government (see § 120.5) pursuant to a commodity jurisdiction determination (see § 120.4) unless superseded by changes to the USML or by a subsequent commodity jurisdiction determination; or
(2) Meets one of the criteria of § 120.41(b) when the article is used in or with a defense article and specially designed is used as a control criteria.
Note 2 to § 120.3:
The intended use of the article or service after its export (i.e., for a military or civilian purpose), by itself, is not a factor in determining whether the article or service is subject to the controls of this subchapter.

## Nearby sections

- [22 CFR § 120.1 § 120.1 General authorities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.1.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.2 § 120.2 Designation of defense articles and defense services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.2.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.3 § 120.3 Policy on designating or determining defense articles and services on the U.S. Munitions List.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.3.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.4 § 120.4 Commodity jurisdiction.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.4.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.5 § 120.5 Relation to regulations of other agencies.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.5.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.6 § 120.6 U.S. criminal statutes.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.6.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.7 § 120.7 Relations to other provisions of law.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.7.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.10 § 120.10 Introduction to the U.S. Munitions List.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.10.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.11 § 120.11 Order of review.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.11.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.12 § 120.12 Commodity jurisdiction determination requests.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.12.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.13 § 120.13 Registration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.13.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.14 § 120.14 Licenses and related authorizations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.14.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.15 § 120.15 Exemptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.15.md)
- [22 CFR § 120.16 § 120.16 Eligibility for approvals.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.16.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-22-120.3. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.