The Imperial Trade and Commerce Authority, also known as the Bureau of Commerce or just simply Imperial Commerce, was an Imperial agency which regulated trade and commerce in the Empire. They distributed permits to scavengers to better control who could strip products from abandoned vessels. However, the agency was known to be frustratingly bureaucratic, requiring layers of paperwork to become certified. Receiving the proper permits to become a licensed scavenger could take months and sometimes even years. It also issued permits allowing for the sale of certain items, such as livestock and droids.