Nebraska-based Springer Magrath Co. pleaded guilty to criminal export violations and agreed to pay a $50,000 fine for its shipment of cattle prods to South Africa in 2002 without a license. Cattle prods and other discharge type arms such as stun guns are controlled by ECCN 0A985 and require a license for all destinations except Canada.

Springer Magrath is an agricultural supply house for cattle ranchers, selling such products as calf feeders and calf adoption powder, so it is safe to assume that the people there had never heard of the Commodity Control List prior to their visit from federal authorities. Frankly, many people who have heard of the Commodity Control List might be equally surprised that cattle prods appear on the list. And with good reason. Although cattle prods are, admittedly, often used as devices of torture, they are widely available from sources outside the U.S.

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