EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: SUDERSHAN BIOTECH

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000642 SIPDIS USDOC FOR 532/OEA/HINES/GAINES USDOC FOR 3131/USFCS/OIO/ANESA/KREISSL USDOC FOR 4530/MAC/ANESA/OSA ICE HQ FOR STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS STATE FOR EB/ESP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC IN SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: SUDERSHAN BIOTECH LIMITED, HYDERABAD, INDIA REF: USDOC 00254 ¶1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12(c) of the Export Administration Act. ¶2. On March 25, 2009, Export Control Officer (ECO) Paul Cushman and FSN Shailendra Srivastava conducted a Post-Shipment Verification (PSV) at Sudershan Biotech Limited (SUDERSHAN). ¶3. BIS requested a PSV at SUDERSHAN, located at L.B. Nagar, Hyderabad. SUDERSHAN was listed as the ultimate consignee for one Super Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge manufactured by Thermo Fisher Scientific LLC of Asheville, North Carolina. Export License: No License Required. ECCN: EAR99. ¶4. ECO and FSN Srivastava met with Dr. M.N. Khaja, Vice President, Mr. Rajat Kumar Mohapatra, Deputy General Manager, Mr. K. Rajkumar, Manager, and Mr. M. Venu Gopal Reddy, Manager, in the SUDERSHAN conference room. ¶5. SUDERSHAN representatives were not familiar with BIS regulations and this was the first visit by BIS officials to their facility. Reddy provided copies of the following documents relating to this transaction: SUDERSHAN Purchase Order, Thermo Commercial Invoice, Thermo Packing List, Air Waybill, and a receipt for duties paid to the Indian Customs Authority. ¶6. Mohapatra confirmed the stated end-use. He explained that the centrifuge is used to separate bacterial and viral cell mass from the liquid culture and then to rupture the cell walls and extract the relevant proteins. These proteins are used in the production of HIV and hepatitis (B/C) diagnostic kits. ¶7. After the meeting, the BIS team was given a tour of the SUDERSHAN facility. ECO physically verified the centrifuge serial number as 2006A807, model RC6PLUS. The centrifuge is installed in the medical laboratory and only authorized personnel have access to this area via a proximity card reader. A private security force is on duty at the facility around the clock. ¶8. Established in 1997, Sudershan Biotech Limited is a research and development laboratory for commercial production of enzymes, vaccines, antigens, and therapeutic proteins using recombinant DNA technology. SUDERSHAN employs approximately 100 personnel. ¶9. Recommendation: At the time of this visit, Sudershan Biotech Limited appeared to be a reliable recipient of this controlled technology. The item on check was physically verified and was being used in a manner consistent with the Export Administration Regulations. WHITE