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Luminultra exported goods to Iran from U.S. facility, breaking American rules
LuminUltra’s headquarters in downtown Fredericton are pictured in this file photo. BRUNSWICK NEWS ARCHIVE
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A Fredericton-based company has paid a $685,051 fine to the U.S. Department of Commerce for breaking export laws by selling its technology in Iran without authorization, Brunswick News has learned.
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Luminultra, founded in 1995 and focused on microbial monitoring for water, energy, and other industrial sectors, also found success during COVID-19, where it provided clinical diagnostics and supplied reagents to the Canadian government.
But the company, which also has a facility in Baltimore, MD, recently got itself in hot water with U.S. authorities after it was discovered that Luminultra, using a third party as a go-between, sold its technology in Iran. That sale originated from Luminultra’s Maryland facility, breaking an American law that prevents exports to Iran unless they’re specifically authorized.
According to the Department of Commerce’s “order,” which notified Luminultra of its violations and the fine, the company sold 28 pieces of technology – three “luminometers” and 25 “aqueous test kits” – with a value of almost C$49,000 “with knowledge that these items were destined to Iran in violation of U.S. export controls.” A luminometer measures weak emissions of visible light being produced by a sample, and aqueous test kits measure microbiological contamination in water.
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The Department of Commerce’s order, dated Sept. 29, said that Luminultra “knew or should have known” it was breaking the law, and “acted intentionally to conceal such a fact.”
“On or about October 5, 2022, Luminultra made false and misleading representations, statements, and certifications, in connection with the submission of an (export) filing, which collects basic information about items exported and the parties to an export,” the order read.
“Luminultra falsely and misleadingly represented that the ultimate consignee for the items on the (export order) was ShipIt Freight Solutions, based in Dubai, UAE, when in fact Luminultra knew that the ultimate consignee and end user of the items was FPJ (Fanavari Pishrafteh Jahan, an Iranian company).”
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In a statement, Luminultra spokesperson Jessica Stutt said when the company broke the rules, it “did not fully understand the complexity of U.S. export control laws.”
“In 2022, a shipment of microbial testing equipment from Luminultra’s U.S. operations was exported to a third party and later routed to a country under U.S. sanctions. Luminultra acknowledges that this constituted a violation of U.S. export regulations, and we accept responsibility for the actions that led to this outcome,” Stutt said.
“This incident highlighted a gap in our export compliance infrastructure, particularly as we greatly expanded our U.S.-based fulfillment operations. At the time, we did not yet have a formal compliance program in place and did not fully understand the complexity of U.S. export control laws.
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“Since becoming aware of the issue, Luminultra has implemented a comprehensive Export Compliance Program, established rigorous oversight protocols and invested significantly in automated screening technologies and compliance infrastructure.
“We have fully co-operated with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security throughout their investigation and have settled the matter. Luminultra believes in continuous improvement in what we do whether it be for our products and services or for our export control and sanctions compliance programs. We remain firmly committed to operating with integrity, complying with all applicable laws and regulations, and delivering trusted, high-quality solutions to our customers worldwide.”
Brunswick News then asked whether the fine had been paid, and if Luminultra is still allowed to export from the U.S.
“The settlement included a civil penalty in the amount of $685,051 USD. We remain able to export from the U.S subject to conditions including ongoing audits and training, which we have committed to. This was settled on September 30, 2025,” Stutt said.
More to come …
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