The Iraq (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations are made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (c.13) to establish a sanctions regime in relation to Iraq for the purposes of compliance with the United Kingdom's United Nations obligations. Those obligations include sanctions measures in UN Security Council resolution 1483 adopted by the Security Council on 22 May 2003 as those measures have been revised and updated by subsequent resolutions.

Following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, these Regulations also replace the European Union sanctions regime in relation to Iraq which is currently implemented via an EU Council Common Position and Regulation.

The Regulations provide that persons who are listed by the UN are designated persons for the purposes of these Regulations. There are two categories of designated persons: those who are designated under paragraph 23(a) of UN Security Council resolution 1483 (2003) as being part of the former Government of Iraqi and its state bodies, corporations or agencies, and those who are designated under paragraph 23(b) of the same resolution as being senior officials of the former Iraqi regime and their immediate family members. The second category of designated persons (designated under paragraph 23(b)) are subject to financial sanctions, which include having their funds and economic resources frozen. The first category of persons (designated under paragraph 23(a)) are subject to a partial asset-freeze which prohibits certain dealings with funds owned, held or controlled by those persons provided the funds were located outside of Iraq on 22 May 2003.

The Regulations also impose trade restrictions on military goods and technology as well as restrictions on the trade in Iraqi cultural property which was illegally removed from Iraq on or after 6 August 1990.

The Regulations provide for certain exceptions to this sanctions regime, in particular in relation to financial sanctions (for example to allow for frozen accounts to be credited with interest or other earnings) and also acts done for the purpose of national security or the prevention of serious crime. The Regulations also confer powers on the Secretary of State and the Treasury to issue licences in respect of activities that would otherwise be prohibited under the financial and trade sanctions. Schedule 2 to the Regulations sets out the purposes pursuant to which the Treasury may issue such licences.

The Regulations make it a criminal offence to contravene, or circumvent, any of the prohibitions in these Regulations and prescribe the mode of trial and penalties that apply to such offences. They also provide for the application of similar types of provision in the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 to certain offences relating to trade.

The Regulations also confer powers on specified maritime enforcement officers to stop and search ships in international and foreign waters for the purpose of enforcing specified trade sanctions and to seize goods found on board ships which are being, or have been, dealt with in contravention, or deemed contravention, of those prohibitions. The Regulations prescribe powers for the provision and sharing of information to enable the effective implementation and enforcement of the sanctions regime.

Council Regulation (EC) 1210/2003 of 7 July 2003 concerning certain specific restrictions on economic and financial relations with Iraq and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2465/96 Regulation (EU) is revoked by these Regulations. The Iraq (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2012, the Iraq (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2003 and the Iraq (United Nations Sanctions) (Amendment) Order 2011 are also revoked.

An Impact Assessment has not been produced for these Regulations, as they are intended to ensure existing sanctions remain in place following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. These Regulations are intended to deliver substantially the same policy effects as the existing European Union sanctions. An Impact Assessment was, however, produced for the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 and can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/653271/Sanctions_and_Anti-Money_Laundering_Bill_Impact_Assessment_18102017.pdf.