Bureau of International Expositions

The Bureau of International Expositions, BIE, is an international
organization established by the Paris Convention of 1928 to regulate the
conduct and scheduling of international expositions in which foreign
nations are officially invited to participate. The BIE divides
international expositions into different categories and types and requires
each member nation to observe specified minimum time intervals in
scheduling each of these categories and types of operations. Under BIE
rules, member nations may not ordinarily participate in an international
exposition unless the exposition has been approved by the BIE. The United
States became a member of the BIE in April 1968. Federal participation in
a recognized international exposition requires specific authorization by
the Congress, based on the President's finding that participation is in the
national interest.