The Afghanistan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

Statutory Instruments

2020 No. 948

Exiting The European Union

Sanctions

The Afghanistan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

Made

3rd September 2020

Laid before Parliament

8th September 2020

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2)

The Secretary of State M1 , in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 1(1)(a) and (3)(a), 3(1)(a), (b)(i), (d)(i), 5, 9(2)(b), 13, 15(2)(a) and (b), (3) and (6), 16, 17, 19, 20, 21(1), 54(1) and (2), 56(1) and 62(4) and (5) of, and paragraphs 2(a)(i), 4(a)(i), 5(a)(i), 6(a)(i), 11(a)(i), 13(a), (g), (k), (m), and (w), 14(a), 20, 21 and 27 of Schedule 1 to, the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 M2 , and having decided, upon consideration of the matters set out in section 56(1) of that Act, that it is appropriate to do so, makes the following Regulations:

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Regulations extended (British overseas territories) (with modifications) (31.12.2020) by The Afghanistan (Sanctions) (Overseas Territories) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1284), reg. 2, Sch. 1, Sch. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 The power to make regulations under Part 1 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (c.13) is conferred on an “appropriate Minister”. Section 1(9)(a) of that Act defines an “appropriate Minister” as including the Secretary of State.

M2 2018 c.13.

PART 1 U.K. General

Citation and commencement U.K.

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Afghanistan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.

(2) These Regulations come into force in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 56 of the Act.

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 1 in force at 14.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(1)

Interpretation U.K.

2.  In these Regulations—

“the Act” means the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018;

“arrangement” includes any agreement, understanding, scheme, transaction or series of transactions, whether or not legally enforceable (but see paragraph 12 of Schedule 1 for the meaning of that term in that Schedule);

“CEMA” means the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 M3 ;

“the Commissioners” means the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs;

“conduct” includes acts and omissions;

“document” includes information recorded in any form and, in relation to information recorded otherwise than in legible form, references to its production include producing a copy of the information in legible form;

“the Committee” means the Committee of the Security Council established in accordance with paragraph 30 of resolution 1988;

“the 1988 Sanctions List” means the list created pursuant to resolution 1988, and maintained by the Committee;

“resolution 1988” means resolution 1988 (2011) adopted by the Security Council on 17 June 2011;

“resolution 2255” means resolution 2255 (2015) adopted by the Security Council on 21 December 2015;

“Treasury licence” means a licence under regulation 28;

“United Kingdom person” has the same meaning as in section 21 of the Act.

Commencement Information

I2 Reg. 2 in force at 14.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(1)

Marginal Citations

M3 1979 c.2. Amendments have been made to this Act and are cited, where relevant, in respect of the applicable regulations.

Application of prohibitions and requirements outside the United Kingdom U.K.

3.—(1) A United Kingdom person may contravene a relevant prohibition by conduct wholly or partly outside the United Kingdom.

(2) Any person may contravene a relevant prohibition by conduct in the territorial sea.

(3) In this Regulation, a “relevant prohibition” means any prohibition imposed by—

(a) Part 3 (Finance),

(b) Part 4 (Trade), or

(c) a condition of a Treasury licence.

(4) A United Kingdom person may comply, or fail to comply, with a relevant requirement by conduct wholly or partly outside the United Kingdom.

(5) Any person may comply, or fail to comply, with a relevant requirement by conduct in the territorial sea.

(6) In this regulation a “relevant requirement” means any requirement imposed—

(a) by or under Part 6 (Information and records), or by reason of a request made under a power conferred by that Part, or

(b) by a condition of a Treasury licence.

(7) Nothing in this regulation is to be taken to prevent a relevant prohibition or a relevant requirement from applying to conduct (by any person) in the United Kingdom.

Commencement Information

I3 Reg. 3 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Purposes U.K.

4.—(1) The purpose of the regulations contained in this instrument that are made under section 1 of the Act is compliance with the relevant UN obligations.

(2) In this regulation, “the relevant UN obligations” means the obligations that the United Kingdom has by virtue of—

(a) paragraph 1(a) of resolution 2255 (asset-freeze etc.); and

(b) paragraph 1(c) of resolution 2255 (arms embargo etc.).

to take the measures required by those provisions in respect of persons M4 for the time being named on the 1988 Sanctions List.

Commencement Information

I4 Reg. 4 in force at 14.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(1)

Marginal Citations

M4 “Person” is defined by section 9(5) of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 to include (in addition to an individual and a body of persons corporate or unincorporate) any organisation and any association or combination of persons.

PART 2 U.K. Designations

Designation of persons named under UN Security Council Resolutions U.K.

5.  Each person for the time being named on the 1988 Sanctions List is a designated person for the purposes of regulations 8 to 12 (asset-freeze etc.) and 15 to 22 (trade etc.) (whose purpose is compliance with the UN obligations mentioned in regulation 4 (purposes)) M5 .

Commencement Information

I5 Reg. 5 in force at 14.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(1)

Marginal Citations

M5 Section 13 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 requires that where the purposes of a provision of regulations under section 1 include compliance with a UN obligation to take particular measures in relation to UN-named persons (which is the case with the regulations mentioned in regulation 5), the regulations must provide for those persons to be designated persons for the purposes of that provision.

Part 3 U.K. Finance

Meaning of “designated person” in Part 3 U.K.

6.  In this Part a “ designated person” means a person who is designated for the purposes of regulations 8 to 12 (asset-freeze etc.) by reason of regulation 5 (designation of persons named under UN Security Council Resolutions).

Commencement Information

I6 Reg. 6 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Meaning of “owned or controlled directly or indirectly” in Part 3 U.K.

7.—(1) In this Part, a person who is not an individual (“C”) is “owned or controlled directly or indirectly” by another person (“P”) if either of the following two conditions is met (or both are met).

(2) The first condition is that P—

(a) holds directly or indirectly more than 50% of the shares in C,

(b) holds directly or indirectly more than 50% of the voting rights in C, or

(c) holds the right directly or indirectly to appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors of C.

(3) Schedule 1 contains provision applying for the purpose of interpreting paragraph (2).

(4) The second condition is that it is reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances, to expect that P would (if P chose to) be able, in most cases or in significant respects, by whatever means and whether directly or indirectly, to achieve the result that affairs of C are conducted in accordance with P's wishes.

Commencement Information

I7 Reg. 7 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Asset-freeze in relation to designated persons U.K.

8.—(1) A person (“P”) must not deal with funds or economic resources owned, held or controlled by a designated person if P knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that P is dealing with such funds or economic resources.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes the prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person “deals with” funds if the person—

(a) uses, alters, moves, transfers or allows access to the funds,

(b) deals with the funds in any other way that would result in any change in volume, amount, location, ownership, possession, character or destination, or

(c) makes any other change, including portfolio management, that would enable use of the funds.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person “deals with” economic resources if the person—

(a) exchanges the economic resources for funds, goods or services, or

(b) uses the economic resources in exchange for funds, goods or services (whether by pledging them as security or otherwise).

(6) The reference in paragraph (1) to funds or economic resources that are “owned, held or controlled” by a person includes, in particular, a reference to—

(a) funds or economic resources in which the person has any legal or equitable interest, regardless of whether the interest is held jointly with any other person and regardless of whether any other person holds an interest in the funds or economic resources;

(b) any tangible property (other than real property), or bearer security, that is comprised in funds or economic resources and is in the possession of the person.

(7) For the purposes of paragraph (1), funds or economic resources are to be treated as owned, held or controlled by a designated person if they are owned, held or controlled by a person who is owned or controlled directly or indirectly (within the meaning of regulation 7) by the designated person.

(8) For the avoidance of doubt, the reference in paragraph (1) to a designated person includes P if P is a designated person.

Commencement Information

I8 Reg. 8 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Making funds available to designated persons U.K.

9.—(1) A person (“P”) must not make funds available directly or indirectly to a designated person if P knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that P is making the funds so available.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes the prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence.

(4) The reference in paragraph (1) to making funds available indirectly to a designated person includes, in particular, a reference to making them available to a person who is owned or controlled directly or indirectly (within the meaning of regulation 7) by the designated person.

Commencement Information

I9 Reg. 9 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Making funds available for benefit of designated persons U.K.

10.—(1) A person (“P”) must not make funds available to any person for the benefit of a designated person if P knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that P is making the funds so available.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes the prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence.

(4) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a) funds are made available for the benefit of a designated person only if that person thereby obtains, or is able to obtain, a significant financial benefit, and

(b) “financial benefit” includes the discharge (or partial discharge) of a financial obligation for which the designated person is wholly or partly responsible.

Commencement Information

I10 Reg. 10 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Making economic resources available to designated persons U.K.

11.—(1) A person (“P”) must not make economic resources available directly or indirectly to a designated person if P knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect—

(a) that P is making the economic resources so available, and

(b) that the designated person would be likely to exchange the economic resources for, or use them in exchange for, funds, goods or services.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes the prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence.

(4) The reference in paragraph (1) to making economic resources available indirectly to a designated person includes, in particular, a reference to making them available to a person who is owned or controlled directly or indirectly (within the meaning of regulation 7) by the designated person.

Commencement Information

I11 Reg. 11 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Making economic resources available for benefit of designated persons U.K.

12.—(1) A person (“P”) must not make economic resources available to any person for the benefit of a designated person if P knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that P is making the economic resources so available.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes the prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (1)—

(a) economic resources are made available for the benefit of a designated person only if that person thereby obtains, or is able to obtain, a significant financial benefit, and

(b) “financial benefit” includes the discharge (or partial discharge) of a financial obligation for which the designated person is wholly or partly responsible.

Commencement Information

I12 Reg. 12 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Circumventing etc. prohibitions U.K.

13.—(1) A person must not intentionally participate in activities knowing that the object or effect of them is, whether directly or indirectly—

(a) to circumvent any of the prohibitions in regulations 8 to 12 (asset-freeze etc.), or

(b) to enable or facilitate the contravention of any such prohibition.

(2) A person who contravenes a prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence.

Commencement Information

I13 Reg. 13 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

PART 4 U.K. Trade

Interpretation of expressions used in this Part U.K.

14.—(1) Paragraphs 32 and 36 of Schedule 1 to the Act (trade sanctions) apply for the purpose of interpreting expressions in this Part.

(2) In this Part, any reference to the United Kingdom includes a reference to the territorial sea.

(3) In this Part—

“brokering service” means any service to secure, or otherwise in relation to, an arrangement, including (but not limited to)—

(a)

the selection or introduction of persons as parties or potential parties to the arrangement,

(b)

the negotiation of the arrangement,

(c)

the facilitation of anything that enables the arrangement to be entered into, and

(d)

the provision of any assistance that in any way promotes or facilitates the arrangement;

“designated person” means a person who is a designated person by reason of regulation 5 (designations of persons named under UN Security Council Resolutions);

“military goods” means—

(a)

any thing for the time being specified in Schedule 2 to the Export Control Order 2008 M6 , other than any thing which is military technology, and

(b)

any tangible storage medium on which military technology is recorded or from which it can be derived;

“military technology” means any thing for the time being specified in Schedule 2 to the Export Control Order 2008 which is described as software or technology; except in regulation 22, “technical assistance”, in relation to goods or technology, means—

(a)

technical support relating to the repair, development, production, assembly, testing, use or maintenance of the goods or technology, or

(b)

any other technical service relating to the goods or technology;

“transfer” has the meaning given by paragraph 37 of Schedule 1 to the Act.

Commencement Information

I14 Reg. 14 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M6 S.I. 2008/3231. Schedule 2 was substituted by S.I. 2017/85 and subsequently amended by S.I. 2017/697; S.I. 2018/165; S.I. 2018/939; S.I. 2019/137; and S.I. 2019/989. There are other instruments which amend other parts of the Order, which are not relevant to these Regulations.

Export of military goods U.K.

15.—(1) The export of military goods to, or for the benefit of, a designated person is prohibited.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

Commencement Information

I15 Reg. 15 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Supply and delivery of military goods U.K.

16.—(1) A person must not directly or indirectly supply or deliver military goods from a third country to, or for the benefit of, a designated person.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes the prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence, but it is a defence for a person charged with that offence (“P”) to show that P did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the person to whom, or for whose benefit, the goods were supplied or delivered was a designated person.

(4) In this regulation, “third country” means a country that is not the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man.

Commencement Information

I16 Reg. 16 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Making military goods and military technology available U.K.

17.—(1) A person must not directly or indirectly make military goods or military technology available to, or for the benefit of, a designated person.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes the prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence, but it is a defence for a person charged with that offence (“P”) to show that P did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the person to whom, or for whose benefit, the goods or technology were made available was a designated person.

Commencement Information

I17 Reg. 17 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Transfer of military technology U.K.

18.—(1) A person must not transfer military technology to, or for the benefit of, a designated person.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes the prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence, but it is a defence for a person charged with that offence (“P”) to show that P did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the person to whom, or for whose benefit, the technology was transferred was a designated person.

Commencement Information

I18 Reg. 18 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Technical assistance relating to military goods and military technology U.K.

19.—(1) A person must not directly or indirectly provide technical assistance relating to military goods or military technology to, or for the benefit of, a designated person.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes the prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence, but it is a defence for a person charged with that offence (“P”) to show that P did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the person to whom, or for whose benefit, the technical assistance was provided was a designated person.

Commencement Information

I19 Reg. 19 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Financial services and funds relating to military goods and military technology U.K.

20.—(1) A person must not directly or indirectly provide financial services to, or for the benefit of, a designated person in pursuance of or in connection with an arrangement whose object or effect is—

(a) the export of military goods,

(b) the direct or indirect supply or delivery of military goods,

(c) directly or indirectly making military goods or military technology available to a person,

(d) the transfer of military technology, or

(e) the direct or indirect provision of technical assistance relating to military goods or military technology.

(2) A person must not directly or indirectly make funds available to, or for the benefit of, a designated person in pursuance of or in connection with an arrangement mentioned in paragraph (1).

(3) A person must not directly or indirectly provide financial services or funds in pursuance of or in connection with an arrangement whose object or effect is—

(a) the export of military goods to, or for the benefit of a designated person,

(b) the direct or indirect supply or delivery of military goods to, or for the benefit of, a designated person,

(c) directly or indirectly making military goods or military technology available to, or for the benefit of, a designated person,

(d) the transfer of military technology to, or for the benefit of, a designated person,

(e) the direct or indirect provision of technical assistance relating to military goods or military technology to, or for the benefit of, a designated person.

(4) Paragraphs (1) to (3) are subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(5) A person who contravenes a prohibition in any of paragraphs (1) to (3) commits an offence, but—

(a) it is a defence for a person charged with the offence of contravening paragraph (1) (“P”) to show that P did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the person to whom, or for whose benefit, the financial services were provided was a designated person;

(b) it is a defence for a person charged with the offence of contravening paragraph (2) (“P”) to show that P did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the person to whom, or for whose benefit, the funds were made available was a designated person;

(c) it is a defence for a person charged with the offence of contravening paragraph (3) to show that the person did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the financial services or funds (as the case may be) were provided in pursuance of or in connection with an arrangement mentioned in that paragraph.

Commencement Information

I20 Reg. 20 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Brokering services: non-UK activity relating to military goods and military technology U.K.

21.—(1) A person must not directly or indirectly provide brokering services in relation to an arrangement (“arrangement A”) whose object or effect is—

(a) the direct or indirect supply or delivery of military goods from a non-UK country to, or for the benefit of, a designated person,

(b) directly or indirectly making military goods available in a non-UK country for direct or indirect supply or delivery to, or for the benefit of, a designated person,

(c) directly or indirectly making military technology available in a non-UK country for transfer to, or for the benefit of, a designated person,

(d) the transfer of military technology from a place in a non-UK country to, or for the benefit of, a designated person,

(e) the direct or indirect provision in a non-UK country of technical assistance relating to military goods or military technology to, or for the benefit of, a designated person,

(f) the direct or indirect provision in a non-UK country of financial services—

(i) to, or for the benefit of, a designated person where arrangement A, or any other arrangement in connection with which arrangement A is entered into, is an arrangement mentioned in regulation 20(1) (financial services and funds relating to military goods and military technology), or

(ii) where arrangement A, or any other arrangement in connection with which arrangement A is entered into, is an arrangement mentioned in regulation 20(3),

(g) directly or indirectly making funds available in a non-UK country to, or for the benefit of, a designated person where arrangement A, or any other arrangement in connection with which arrangement A is entered into, is an arrangement mentioned in regulation 20(1), or

(h) the direct or indirect provision of funds from a non-UK country, where arrangement A, or any other arrangement in connection with which arrangement A is entered into, is an arrangement mentioned in regulation 20(3).

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes a prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence, but it is a defence for a person charged with that offence to show that the person did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the brokering services were provided in relation to an arrangement mentioned in that paragraph.

(4) In this regulation—

“non-UK country” means—

(a)

for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) and (b), a country that is not the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man;

(b)

for the purposes of any other provision of paragraph (1), a country that is not the United Kingdom.

Commencement Information

I21 Reg. 21 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Enabling or facilitating the conduct of armed hostilities U.K.

22.—(1) A person must not directly or indirectly provide to, or for the benefit of, a designated person—

(a) technical assistance,

(b) financial services or funds, or

(c) brokering services in relation to an arrangement whose object or effect is to provide, in a non-UK country, anything mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c),

where such provision enables or facilitates the conduct of armed hostilities.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 5 (Exceptions and licences).

(3) A person who contravenes the prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence, but it is a defence for a person charged with that offence (“P”) to show that—

(a) P did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the person to whom, or for whose benefit, the technical assistance, financial services or funds or brokering services were provided was a designated person;

(b) P did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the provision as mentioned in paragraph (1) would enable or facilitate the conduct of armed hostilities.

(4) In this regulation—

“non-UK country” means a country that is not the United Kingdom;

“technical assistance” means the provision of technical support or any other technical service.

(5) Nothing in this regulation is to be taken to limit the meaning of any of the prohibitions contained in regulations 15 to 22 (trade etc.).

Commencement Information

I22 Reg. 22 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Circumventing etc. prohibitions U.K.

23.—(1) A person must not intentionally participate in activities knowing that the object or effect of them is, whether directly or indirectly—

(a) to circumvent any of the prohibitions in this Part, or

(b) to enable or facilitate the contravention of any such prohibition.

(2) A person who contravenes a prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence.

Commencement Information

I23 Reg. 23 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Defences U.K.

24.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where a person relies on a defence under this Part.

(2) If evidence is adduced which is sufficient to raise an issue with respect to the defence, the court must assume that the defence is satisfied unless the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that it is not.

Commencement Information

I24 Reg. 24 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

PART 5 U.K. Exceptions and licences

Finance: exceptions from prohibitions U.K.

25.—(1) The prohibition in regulation 8 (asset-freeze in relation to designated persons) is not contravened by an independent person (“P”) transferring to another person a legal or equitable interest in funds or economic resources where, immediately before the transfer, the interest—

(a) is held by P, and

(b) is not held jointly with the designated person.

(2) In paragraph (1) “independent person” means a person who—

(a) is not the designated person, and

(b) is not owned or controlled directly or indirectly (within the meaning of regulation 7) by the designated person.

(3) The prohibitions in regulations 8 to 10 (asset-freeze in relation to, and making funds available to, or for the benefit of, designated persons) are not contravened by a relevant institution crediting a frozen account with interest or other earnings due on the account.

(4) The prohibitions in regulations 9 and 10 (making funds available to, or for the benefit of, designated persons) are not contravened by a relevant institution crediting a frozen account where it receives funds transferred to that institution for crediting to that account.

(5) The prohibitions in regulations 9 and 10 are not contravened by the transfer of funds to a relevant institution for crediting to an account held or controlled (directly or indirectly) by a designated person, where those funds are transferred in discharge (or partial discharge) of an obligation which arose before the date on which the person became a designated person.

(6) The prohibitions in regulations 8 to 10 are not contravened in relation to a designated person (“P”) by a transfer of funds from account A to account B, where—

(a) account A is with a relevant institution which carries on an excluded activity within the meaning of section 142D of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 M7 ,

(b) account B is with a ring-fenced body within the meaning of section 142A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 M8 , and

(c) accounts A and B are held or controlled (directly or indirectly) by P.

(7) In this regulation—

“designated person” has the same meaning as it has in Part 3 (Finance);

“frozen account” means an account with a relevant institution which is held or controlled (directly or indirectly) by a designated person;

“relevant institution” means a person that has permission under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 M9 (Permission to carry on regulated activities).

(8) The definition of “relevant institution” in paragraph (7) is to be read with section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 M10 , any relevant order under that section M11 and Schedule 2 to that Act M12 .

Commencement Information

I25 Reg. 25 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M7 2000 c.8. Section 142D was inserted by the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c.33), section 4(1).

M8 Section 142A was inserted by the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013, section 4(1).

M9 Part 4A was inserted by the Financial Services Act 2012 (c.21), section 11(2) and most recently amended by S.I. 2018/546; it is prospectively amended by S.I. 2019/632.

M10 Section 22 was amended by the Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018 (c.10), section 27(4); the Financial Services Act 2012 (c.21), section 7(1); and S.I. 2018/135.

M11 S.I. 2001/544, as most recently amended by S.I. 2019/679; S.I. 2020/117; and S.I. 2020/480; it is amended and prospectively amended by S.I. 2019/632; and it is prospectively amended by S.I. 2019/710.

M12 Schedule 2 was amended by the Regulation of Financial Services (Land Transactions) Act 2005 (c.24), section 1; the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 (c.31), section 15 and Schedule 2, paragraph 1; the Financial Services Act 2012, sections 7(2) to (5) and 8; the Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018, section 27(13); S.I. 2013/1881; and S.I. 2018/135; and it is prospectively amended by S.I. 2019/632.

[F1 Finance: exception for humanitarian assistance and other activities U.K.

25A.— (1) The prohibitions in regulations 8 to 12 (asset-freeze etc.) are not contravened by a person (“P”) carrying out a relevant activity which is necessary—

(a) to ensure the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, or

(b) to carry out other activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan,

provided that P believes that carrying out the relevant activity is so necessary and there is no reasonable cause for P to suspect otherwise.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), “relevant activity” means any activity which would, in the absence of this regulation, contravene the prohibitions in regulations 8 to 12.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Reg. 25A inserted (28.1.2022) by The Afghanistan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/65), regs. 1(2), 2(2)

Exception for authorised conduct in a relevant country U.K.

26.—(1) Where a person's conduct in a relevant country would, in the absence of this regulation, contravene a prohibition in any of regulations 8 to 12 (asset-freeze etc.) (“the relevant prohibition”), the relevant prohibition is not contravened if the conduct is authorised by a licence or other authorisation which is issued—

[F2 (a) under the law of the relevant country, and

(b) for the purpose of disapplying a prohibition in that jurisdiction which corresponds to the relevant prohibition.]

(2) In this regulation, “relevant country” means—

(a) any of the Channel Islands;

(b) the Isle of Man;

(c) any British overseas territory.

(3) Nothing in this regulation affects the application of a prohibition in a case where it would be incompatible with a UN obligation for the prohibition not to apply.

Textual Amendments

F2 Reg. 26(1)(a)(b) inserted (31.12.2020 immediately after IP completion day) by The Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 5) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1397), regs. 1(2), 3(2); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 22

Commencement Information

I26 Reg. 26 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Exception for acts done for purposes of national security or prevention of serious crime U.K.

27.—(1) Where an act would, in the absence of this paragraph, be prohibited by any prohibition in Part 3 (Finance) or Part 4 (Trade), that prohibition does not apply to the act if the act is one which a responsible officer has determined would be in the interests of—

(a) national security, or

(b) the prevention or detection of serious crime in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

(2) Where, in the absence of this paragraph, a thing would be required to be done under or by virtue of a provision of Part 6 (Information and records) or Part 8 (Maritime enforcement), that requirement does not apply if a responsible officer has determined that not doing the thing in question would be in the interests of—

(a) national security, or

(b) the prevention or detection of serious crime in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

(3) In this regulation “responsible officer” means a person in the service of the Crown or holding office under the Crown, acting in the course of that person's duty.

(4) Nothing in this regulation affects the application of a prohibition or requirement in a case where it would be incompatible with a UN obligation for the prohibition or requirement not to apply.

Commencement Information

I27 Reg. 27 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Treasury licences U.K.

28.—(1) The prohibitions in regulations 8 to 12 (asset-freeze etc.) do not apply to anything done under the authority of a licence issued by the Treasury under this paragraph.

(2) The Treasury may issue a licence which authorises acts in relation to a designated person only where the Treasury consider that it is appropriate to issue the licence for a purpose set out in Schedule 2.

(3) A licence under paragraph (1)—

(a) must specify the acts authorised by it;

(b) may be general or may authorise acts by a particular person or persons of a particular description;

(c) may—

(i) contain conditions;

(ii) be of indefinite duration or a defined duration.

(4) Where the Treasury issue a licence under paragraph (1), the Treasury may vary, revoke or suspend it at any time.

(5) Where the Treasury issue, vary, revoke or suspend a licence under paragraph (1) which authorises acts by a particular person, the Treasury must give written notice to that person of the issue, variation, revocation or suspension of the licence.

(6) Where the Treasury issue, vary, revoke or suspend a general licence or a licence which authorises acts by persons of a particular description under paragraph (1), the Treasury must take such steps as the Treasury consider appropriate to publicise the issue, variation, revocation or suspension of the licence.

Commencement Information

I28 Reg. 28 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Finance: licensing offences U.K.

29.—(1) A person (“P”) commits an offence if P knowingly or recklessly—

(a) provides information that is false in a material respect, or

(b) provides or produces a document that is not what it purports to be,

for the purpose of obtaining a Treasury licence (whether for P or anyone else).

(2) A person who purports to act under the authority of a Treasury licence but who fails to comply with any condition of the licence commits an offence.

Commencement Information

I29 Reg. 29 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

PART 6 U.K. Information and records

Finance: reporting obligations U.K.

30.—(1) A relevant firm must inform the Treasury as soon as practicable if—

(a) it knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a person—

(i) is a designated person, or

(ii) has committed an offence under any provision of Part 3 (Finance) or regulation 29 (finance: licensing offences), and

(b) the information or other matter on which the knowledge or cause for suspicion is based came to it in the course of carrying on its business.

(2) Where a relevant firm informs the Treasury under paragraph (1), it must state—

(a) the information or other matter on which the knowledge or suspicion is based, and

(b) any information it holds about the person by which the person can be identified.

(3) Paragraph (4) applies if—

(a) a relevant firm informs the Treasury under paragraph (1) that it knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a person is a designated person, and

(b) that person is a customer of the relevant firm.

(4) The relevant firm must also state the nature and amount or quantity of any funds or economic resources held by it for the customer at the time when it first had the knowledge or suspicion.

(5) A relevant institution must inform the Treasury without delay if that institution—

(a) credits a frozen account in accordance with regulation 25(4) (finance: exceptions from prohibitions), or

(b) transfers funds from a frozen account in accordance with regulation 25(6).

(6) A person who fails to comply with a requirement in paragraph (1), (2) or (4) commits an offence.

(7) In this regulation—

“designated person” has the same meaning as it has in Part 3 (Finance);

“frozen account” has the same meaning as it has in regulation 25;

“relevant firm” is to be read in accordance with regulation 31 (“relevant firm”);

“relevant institution” has the same meaning as it has in regulation 25.

Commencement Information

I30 Reg. 30 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

“Relevant firm” U.K.

31.—(1) The following are relevant firms for the purposes of regulation 30 (finance: reporting obligations)—

(a) a person that has permission under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Permission to carry on regulated activities);

(b) an undertaking that by way of business—

(i) operates a currency exchange office,

(ii) transmits money (or any representation of monetary value) by any means, or

(iii) cashes cheques that are made payable to customers;

(c) a firm or sole practitioner that is—

(i) a statutory auditor within the meaning of Part 42 of the Companies Act 2006 (Statutory auditors) M13 , or

(ii) a local auditor within the meaning of section 4(1) of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (general requirements for audit) M14 ;

(d) a firm or sole practitioner that provides to other persons, by way of business—

(i) accountancy services,

(ii) legal or notarial services,

(iii) advice about tax affairs, or

(iv) trust or company services within the meaning of paragraph (2);

(e) a firm or sole practitioner that carries out, or whose employees carry out, estate agency work;

(f) the holder of a casino operating licence within the meaning given by section 65(2)(a) of the Gambling Act 2005 (nature of licence) M15 ;

(g) a person engaged in the business of making, supplying, selling (including selling by auction) or exchanging—

(i) articles made from gold, silver, platinum or palladium, or

(ii) precious stones or pearls.

(2) In paragraph (1) “trust or company services” means any of the following services—

(a) forming companies or other legal persons;

(b) acting, or arranging for another person to act—

(i) as a director or secretary of a company,

(ii) as a partner of a partnership, or

(iii) in a similar capacity in relation to other legal persons;

(c) providing a registered office, business address, correspondence or administrative address or other related services for a company, partnership or any other legal person or arrangement;

(d) acting, or arranging for another person to act, as—

(i) a trustee of an express trust or similar legal arrangement, or

(ii) a nominee shareholder for a person.

(3) In paragraph (1)—

“estate agency work” is to be read in accordance with section 1 of the Estate Agents Act 1979 M16 , but as if references in that section to disposing of or acquiring an interest in land included (despite anything in section 2 of that Act) references to disposing of or acquiring an estate or interest in land outside the United Kingdom where that estate or interest is capable of being owned or held as a separate interest;

“firm” means any entity that, whether or not a legal person, is not an individual, and includes a body corporate and a partnership or other unincorporated body.

(4) Sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (1) are to be read with section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, any relevant order under that section and Schedule 2 to that Act.

(5) For the purposes of regulation 30(1), information or another matter comes to a relevant firm “in the course of carrying on its business” if the information or other matter comes to the firm—

(a) in the case of a relevant firm within paragraph (1)(a), in the course of carrying on an activity in respect of which the permission mentioned in that provision is required;

(b) in the case of a relevant firm within paragraph (1)(c)(i), in the course of carrying out statutory audit work within the meaning of section 1210 of the Companies Act 2006 (meaning of “statutory auditor” etc.) M17 ;

(c) in the case of a relevant firm within paragraph (1)(c)(ii), in the course of carrying out an audit required by the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014;

(d) in the case of a relevant firm within paragraph (1)(f), in the course of carrying on an activity in respect of which the licence mentioned in that provision is required;

(e) in the case of a relevant firm within any other provision of paragraph (1), in the course of carrying on an activity mentioned in that provision.

Commencement Information

I31 Reg. 31 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M13 2006 c.46.

M14 2014 c.2.

M15 2005 c.19.

M16 1979 c.38. Section 1 was amended by the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985 (c.73), Schedule 1, paragraph 40; the Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 (c.11), Schedule 2, paragraph 42; the Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1997 (c.11), Schedule 2, paragraph 28; the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c.25), Schedule 6, paragraph 21; the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c.24), section 70; S.I. 1991/1220; S.I. 1991/2684; S.S.I. 2000/121 and S.I. 2001/1283.

M17 Section 1210 was amended by S.I. 2008/565; S.I. 2008/1950; S.I. 2011/99; S.I. 2012/1809; S.I. 2013/3115; S.I. 2017/516; and S.I. 2017/1164; and it is prospectively amended by S.I. 2019/177.

Finance: powers to request information U.K.

32.—(1) The Treasury may request a designated person to provide information about—

(a) funds or economic resources owned, held or controlled by or on behalf of the designated person, or

(b) any disposal of such funds or economic resources.

(2) The Treasury may request a designated person to provide such information as the Treasury may reasonably require about expenditure—

(a) by the designated person, or

(b) for the benefit of the designated person.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2), expenditure for the benefit of a designated person includes expenditure on the discharge (or partial discharge) of a financial obligation for which the designated person is wholly or partly responsible.

(4) The power in paragraph (1) or (2) is exercisable only where the Treasury believe that it is necessary for the purpose of monitoring compliance with or detecting evasion of any provision of Part 3 (Finance).

(5) The Treasury may request a person acting under a Treasury licence to provide information about—

(a) funds or economic resources dealt with under the licence, or

(b) funds or economic resources made available under the licence.

(6) The Treasury may request a person to provide information within paragraph (7) if the Treasury believe that the person may be able to provide the information.

(7) Information within this paragraph is such information as the Treasury may reasonably require for the purpose of—

(a) establishing for the purposes of any provision of Part 3 (Finance)—

(i) the nature and amount or quantity of any funds or economic resources owned, held or controlled by or on behalf of a designated person,

(ii) the nature and amount or quantity of any funds or economic resources made available directly or indirectly to, or for the benefit of, a designated person, or

(iii) the nature of any financial transactions entered into by a designated person;

(b) monitoring compliance with or detecting evasion of—

(i) any provision of Part 3,

(ii) regulation 30 (finance: reporting obligations), or

(iii) any condition of a Treasury licence;

(c) detecting or obtaining evidence of the commission of an offence under Part 3 or regulation 29 (finance: licensing offences) or 30.

(8) The Treasury may specify the way in which, and the period within which, information is to be provided.

(9) If no such period is specified, the information which has been requested must be provided within a reasonable time.

(10) A request may include a continuing obligation to keep the Treasury informed as circumstances change, or on such regular basis as the Treasury may specify.

(11) Information requested under this regulation may relate to any period of time during which a person is, or was, a designated person.

(12) Information requested by virtue of paragraph (1)(b), (2) or (7)(a)(iii) may relate to any period before a person became a designated person (as well as, or instead of, any subsequent period).

(13) Expressions used in this regulation have the same meaning as they have in Part 3.

Commencement Information

I32 Reg. 32 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Finance: production of documents U.K.

33.—(1) A request under regulation 32 (finance: powers to request information) may include a request to produce specified documents or documents of a specified description.

(2) Where the Treasury request that documents be produced, the Treasury may—

(a) take copies of or extracts from any document so produced,

(b) request any person producing a document to give an explanation of it, and

(c) where that person is a body corporate, partnership or unincorporated body other than a partnership, request any person who is—

(i) in the case of a partnership, a present or past partner or employee of the partnership, or

(ii) in any other case, a present or past officer or employee of the body concerned,

to give such an explanation.

(3) Where the Treasury request a designated person or a person acting under a Treasury licence to produce documents, that person must—

(a) take reasonable steps to obtain the documents (if they are not already in the person's possession or control), and

(b) keep the documents under the person's possession or control (except for the purpose of providing them to the Treasury or as the Treasury may otherwise permit).

(4) In this regulation “designated person” has the same meaning as it has in Part 3 (Finance).

Commencement Information

I33 Reg. 33 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Finance: information offences U.K.

34.—(1) A person commits an offence if that person—

(a) without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails within the time and in the manner specified (or, if no time has been specified, within a reasonable time) to comply with any request under regulation 32 (finance: powers to request information);

(b) knowingly or recklessly gives any information, or produces any document, which is false in a material particular in response to such a request;

(c) with intent to evade any provision of regulation 32 or 33 (finance: production of documents), destroys, mutilates, defaces, conceals or removes any document;

(d) otherwise intentionally obstructs the Treasury in the exercise of their powers under regulation 32 or 33.

(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this regulation, the court may make an order requiring that person, within such period as may be specified in the order, to comply with the request.

Commencement Information

I34 Reg. 34 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Trade: application of information powers in CEMA U.K.

35.—(1) Section 77A of CEMA M18 applies in relation to a person carrying on a relevant activity as it applies in relation to a person concerned in the importation or exportation of goods but as if—

(a) in subsection (1), the reference to a person concerned in the importation or exportation of goods for which for that purpose an entry is required by regulation 5 of the Customs Controls on Importation of Goods Regulations 1991 M19 or an entry or specification is required by or under CEMA were to a person carrying on a relevant activity;

(b) any other reference to importation or exportation were to a relevant activity;

(c) any other reference to goods were to the goods, technology, services or funds to which the relevant activity relates.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a “relevant activity” means an activity which would constitute a contravention of —

(a) any prohibition in Part 4 (Trade) except the prohibition in regulation 15(1) (export of military goods), or

(b) the prohibition in regulation 23 (circumventing etc. prohibitions).

Commencement Information

I35 Reg. 35 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M18 Section 77A was inserted by the Finance Act 1987 (c.16), section 10 and amended by S.I. 1992/3095.

M19 S.I. 1991/2724 is amended by S.I. 1992/3095; S.I. 1993/3014; and S.I. 2011/1043 and is prospectively revoked by S.I. 2018/1247.

Disclosure of information U.K.

36.—(1) The Secretary of State, the Treasury or the Commissioners may, in accordance with this regulation, disclose—

(a) any information obtained under or by virtue of Part 5 (Exceptions and licences), this Part or Part 8 (Maritime enforcement), or

(b) any information held in connection with—

(i) anything done under or by virtue of Part 2 (Designations), Part 3 (Finance) or Part 4 (Trade), or

(ii) any exception or licence under Part 5 or anything done in accordance with such an exception or under the authority of such a licence.

(2) Information referred to in paragraph (1) may be disclosed for, or in connection with, any of the following purposes—

(a) the purposes stated in regulation 4 (purposes);

(b) the exercise of functions under these Regulations;

(c) facilitating, monitoring or ensuring compliance with these Regulations;

(d) taking any action with a view to instituting, or otherwise for the purposes of, any proceedings in the United Kingdom—

(i) for an offence under any provision of these Regulations,

(ii) for an offence under CEMA in connection with the prohibition mentioned in regulation 15(1) (export of military goods), or

(iii) in relation to a monetary penalty under section 146 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 (breach of financial sanctions legislation) M20 ;

(e) taking any action with a view to instituting, or otherwise for the purposes of, any proceedings in any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or any British overseas territory for an offence—

(i) under a provision in any such jurisdiction that is similar to a provision of these Regulations, or

(ii) in connection with a prohibition in any such jurisdiction that is similar to the prohibition referred to in sub-paragraph (d)(ii);

(f) compliance with an international obligation M21 ;

(g) facilitating the exercise by an authority outside the United Kingdom or by an international organisation of functions which correspond to functions under these Regulations.

(3) Information referred to in paragraph (1) may be disclosed to the following persons—

(a) a police officer;

(b) any person holding or acting in any office under or in the service of—

(i) the Crown in right of the Government of the United Kingdom,

(ii) the Crown in right of the Scottish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive or the Welsh Government,

(iii) the States of Jersey, Guernsey or Alderney or the Chief Pleas of Sark,

(iv) the Government of the Isle of Man, or

(v) the Government of any British overseas territory;

(c) any law officer of the Crown for Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man;

(d) the Scottish Legal Aid Board;

(e) the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Bank of England, the Jersey Financial Services Commission, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission or the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority;

(f) any other regulatory body (whether or not in the United Kingdom);

(g) any organ of the United Nations;

(h) the Council of the European Union, the European Commission or the European External Action Service;

(i) the Government of any country;

(j) any other person where the Secretary of State, the Treasury or the Commissioners (as the case may be) consider that it is appropriate to disclose the information.

(4) Information referred to in paragraph (1) may be disclosed to any person with the consent of a person who, in their own right, is entitled to the information.

(5) In paragraph (4) “in their own right” means not merely in the capacity as a servant or agent of another person.

(6) In paragraph (1)(b)—

(a) the reference to information includes information obtained at a time when any provision of these Regulations is not in force, and

(b) the reference to a licence under Part 5 includes—

(i) a licence or authorisation which is treated as if it were a licence which had been issued under that Part, and

(ii) a licence which is deemed to have been issued under that Part.

Commencement Information

I36 Reg. 36 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M20 2017 c.3.

M21 Section 1(8) of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 defines an “international obligation” as an obligation of the United Kingdom created or arising by or under any international agreement.

Part 6: supplementary U.K.

37.—(1) A disclosure of information under regulation 36 (disclosure of information) does not breach any restriction on such disclosure imposed by statute or otherwise.

(2) But nothing in that regulation authorises a disclosure that—

(a) contravenes the data protection legislation, or

(b) is prohibited by any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 M22 .

(3) Nothing in this Part is to be read as requiring a person who has acted or is acting as counsel or solicitor for any person to disclose any privileged information in their possession in that capacity.

(4) Regulation 36 does not limit the circumstances in which information may be disclosed apart from that regulation.

(5) Nothing in this Part limits any conditions which may be contained in a Treasury licence.

(6) In this regulation—

“the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3 of that Act) M23 ;

“privileged information” means information with respect to which a claim to legal professional privilege (in Scotland, to confidentiality of communications) could be maintained in legal proceedings.

Commencement Information

I37 Reg. 37 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M22 2016 c.25. Amendments have been made by the Policing and Crime Act 2017, Schedule 9, paragraph 74; the Data Protection Act 2018 (c.12), Schedule 19, paragraphs 198-203; the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 (c. 3) Schedule 4, paragraph 33; the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, section 59(4), Schedule 3, paragraph 7; the Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Act 2019 (c. 5) section 16; S.I. 2018/378; S.I. 2018/652; S.I. 2018/905; S.I. 2018/1123; S.I. 2019/419; S.I. 2019/742; S.I. 2019/939; and S.I. 2020/661. Saving provisions are made by S.I. 2017/859.

M23 2018 c.12. There are amendments to this Act that are not relevant to these Regulations.

PART 7 U.K. Enforcement

Penalties for offences U.K.

38.—(1) A person who commits an offence under any provision of Part 3 (Finance) or regulation 29 (finance: licensing offences), is liable—

(a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine (or both);

(b) on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);

(c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);

(d) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or a fine (or both).

(2) A person who commits an offence under any provision of Part 4 (Trade) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine (or both);

(b) on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);

(c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);

(d) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or a fine (or both).

(3) A person who commits an offence under regulation 30(6) or 34 (information offences in connection with Part 3) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine (or both);

(b) on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (or both);

(c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (or both).

(4) In relation to an offence committed before section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 M24 comes into force, the reference in each of paragraphs (1)(a) and (2)(a) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.

Commencement Information

I38 Reg. 38 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M24 2003 c.44. Amendments have been made to section 154(1), but none are relevant to these Regulations.

Liability of officers of bodies corporate etc. U.K.

39.—(1) Where an offence under these Regulations, committed by a body corporate,—

(a) is committed with the consent or connivance of any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, or

(b) is attributable to any neglect on the part of any such person,

that person as well as the body corporate is guilty of the offence and is liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2) In paragraph (1) “director”, in relation to a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of the body corporate.

(3) Paragraph (1) also applies in relation to a body that is not a body corporate, with the substitution for the reference to a director of the body of a reference—

(a) in the case of a partnership, to a partner;

(b) in the case of an unincorporated body other than a partnership—

(i) where the body's affairs are managed by its members, to a member of the body;

(ii) in any other case, to a member of the governing body.

(4) Section 171(4) of CEMA (which is a provision similar to this regulation) does not apply to any offence under these Regulations to which that provision would, in the absence of this paragraph, apply.

Commencement Information

I39 Reg. 39 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Jurisdiction to try offences U.K.

40.—(1) Where an offence under Part 3 (Finance), regulation 29 (finance: licensing offences) or regulation 30(6) or 34 (information offences in connection with Part 3) is committed in the United Kingdom—

(a) proceedings for the offence may be taken at any place in the United Kingdom, and

(b) the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed at any such place.

(2) Where an offence under these Regulations is committed outside the United Kingdom—

(a) proceedings for the offence may be taken at any place in the United Kingdom, and

(b) the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed at any such place.

(3) In the application of paragraph (2) to Scotland, any such proceedings against a person may be taken—

(a) in any sheriff court district in which the person is apprehended or is in custody, or

(b) in such sheriff court district as the Lord Advocate may determine.

(4) In paragraph (3) “sheriff court district” is to be read in accordance with the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (see section 307(1) of that Act) M25 .

Commencement Information

I40 Reg. 40 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M25 1995 c.46.

Procedure for offences by unincorporated bodies U.K.

41.—(1) Paragraphs (2) and (3) apply if it is alleged that an offence under these Regulations has been committed by an unincorporated body (as opposed to by a member of the body).

(2) Proceedings in England and Wales or Northern Ireland for such an offence must be brought against the body in its own name.

(3) For the purposes of proceedings for such an offence brought against an unincorporated body—

(a) rules of court relating to the service of documents have effect as if the body were a body corporate;

(b) the following provisions apply as they apply in relation to a body corporate—

(i) section 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 1925 M26 and Schedule 3 to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 M27 ;

(ii) section 18 of the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 M28 and Article 166 of, and Schedule 4 to, the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 M29 .

(4) A fine imposed on an unincorporated body on its conviction of an offence under these Regulations is to be paid out of the funds of the body.

Commencement Information

I41 Reg. 41 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M26 1925 c.86. Section 33 was amended by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c.14), section 1(1) and Schedule 1, Part 17. Other amendments have been made to section 33 that are not relevant to these Regulations.

M27 1980 c.43. Amendments have been made to Schedule 3 that are not relevant to these Regulations.

M28 1945 c. 15 (N.I.).

M29 S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I.26).

Time limit for proceedings for summary offences U.K.

42.—(1) Proceedings for an offence under these Regulations which is triable only summarily may be brought within the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify the proceedings comes to the prosecutor's knowledge.

(2) But such proceedings may not be brought by virtue of paragraph (1) more than 3 years after the commission of the offence.

(3) A certificate signed by the prosecutor as to the date on which the evidence in question came to the prosecutor's knowledge is conclusive evidence of the date on which it did so; and a certificate to that effect and purporting to be so signed is to be treated as being so signed unless the contrary is proved.

(4) In relation to proceedings in Scotland—

(a) section 136(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (date of commencement of summary proceedings) applies for the purposes of this regulation as it applies for the purposes of that section, and

(b) references in this regulation to the prosecutor are to be treated as references to the Lord Advocate.

Commencement Information

I42 Reg. 42 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Trade enforcement: application of CEMA U.K.

43.—(1) Where the Commissioners investigate or propose to investigate any matter with a view to determining—

(a) whether there are grounds for believing that a relevant offence has been committed, or

(b) whether a person should be prosecuted for such an offence,

the matter is to be treated as an assigned matter.

(2) In paragraph (1) “assigned matter” has the meaning given by section 1(1) of CEMA M30 .

(3) In this regulation a “relevant offence” means an offence under Part 4 (Trade).

(4) Section 138 of CEMA M31 (arrest of persons) applies to a person who has committed, or whom there are reasonable grounds to suspect of having committed, a relevant offence as it applies to a person who has committed, or whom there are reasonable grounds to suspect of having committed, an offence for which the person is liable to be arrested under the customs and excise Acts M32 , but as if—

(a) any reference to an offence under, or for which a person is liable to be arrested under, the customs and excise Acts were to a relevant offence;

(b) in subsection (2), the reference to any person so liable were to a person who has committed, or whom there are reasonable grounds to suspect of having committed, a relevant offence.

(5) The provisions of CEMA mentioned in paragraph (6) apply in relation to proceedings for a relevant offence as they apply in relation to proceedings for an offence under the customs and excise Acts, but as if—

(a) any reference to the customs and excise Acts were to any of the provisions referred to in paragraph (3);

(b) in section 145(6), the reference to an offence for which a person is liable to be arrested under the customs and excise Acts were to a relevant offence;

(c) in section 151, the reference to any penalty imposed under the customs and excise Acts were to any penalty imposed under these Regulations in relation to a relevant offence;

(d) in section 154(2)—

(i) the reference to proceedings relating to customs or excise were to proceedings under any of the provisions mentioned in paragraph (3), and

(ii) the reference to the place from which any goods have been brought included a reference to the place to which goods have been exported, supplied or delivered or the place to or from which technology has been transferred.

(6) The provisions of CEMA are sections 145, 146, 147, 148(1), 150, 151, 152, 154 and 155 M33 (legal proceedings).

Commencement Information

I43 Reg. 43 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M30 The definition of “assigned matter” in section 1(1) of CEMA was amended by the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c.11), Schedule 4, paragraph 22(a); the Scotland Act 2012 (c.11), section 24(7); and the Wales Act 2014 (c.29), section 7(1).

M31 Section 138 of CEMA was amended by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c.60), section 114(1), Schedule 6, paragraph 37 and Schedule 7, Part 1; the Finance Act 1988 (c.39), section 11; the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c.15), Schedule 7, paragraph 54; S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I.12); and S.I. 2007/288.

M32 “The customs and excise Acts” is defined in section 1 of CEMA.

M33 Section 145 of CEMA was amended by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 114(1); the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), Schedule 4, paragraph 23(a); and S.I. 2014/834. Section 147 was amended by the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43), section 154 and Schedule 7, paragraph 176; the Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48), section 77, Schedule 14, paragraph 42; the Finance Act 1989 (c. 26), section 16(2); and the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), section 41, Schedule 3, paragraph 50. Section 152 was amended by the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, section 50, Schedule 4, paragraph 26, and section 52, Schedule 5. Section 155 was amended by the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, section 50, Schedule 4, paragraph 27, and section 52, Schedule 5.

Trade offences in CEMA: modification of penalty U.K.

44.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where a person is guilty of an offence under section 68(2) of CEMA in connection with the prohibition mentioned in regulation 15(1) (export of military goods).

(2) Where this paragraph applies, the reference to 7 years in section 68(3)(b) of CEMA M34 is to be read as a reference to 10 years.

(3) Paragraph (4) applies where a person is guilty of an offence under section 170(2) of CEMA in connection with the prohibition mentioned in regulation 15(1) (export of military goods).

(4) Where this paragraph applies, the reference to 7 years in section 170(3)(b) of CEMA M35 is to be read as a reference to 10 years.

Commencement Information

I44 Reg. 44 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M34 The words “7 years” were inserted in section 68(3)(b) of CEMA by the Finance Act 1988, section 12.

M35 The words “7 years” were inserted in section 170(3)(b) of CEMA by the Finance Act 1988, section 12.

Application of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 U.K.

45.  Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (investigatory powers) M36 applies to any offence under Part 3 (Finance) or regulation 29 (finance: licensing offences).

Commencement Information

I45 Reg. 45 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M36 2005 c.15. Chapter 1 of Part 2 has been amended by the Terrorism Act 2006 (c.11), section 33(3) and (4); the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c.33), sections 26(2) and 30(2) and Schedules 3 and 5; the Bribery Act 2010 (c.23), section 17(2) and Schedule 1; the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp.13), section 203 and Schedule 7, paragraph 77; the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c.22), section 15 and Schedule 8, paragraphs 157 and 159; the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c.22), section 51(1); the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, section 59(4) and Schedule 3, paragraph 4; and S.I. 2014/834.

Monetary penalties U.K.

46.  The following provisions are to be regarded as not being financial sanctions legislation for the purposes of Part 8 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 M37 —

(a) regulation 17(1) (making military goods and military technology available);

(b) regulation 18(1) (transfer of military technology);

(c) regulation 20(1) and (2) (financial services and funds relating to military goods and military technology);

(d) regulation 21(f)(i) and (g) (brokering services relating to financial services and funds relating to military goods and military technology;

(e) regulation 22(1) (enabling or facilitating conduct of armed hostilities).

Commencement Information

I46 Reg. 46 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M37 See section 143(4)(f) and (4A), as inserted by the Sanctions and Anti Money Laundering Act 2018, Schedule 3, paragraph 8(1) and (3).

PART 8 U.K. Maritime enforcement

Exercise of maritime enforcement powers U.K.

47.—(1) A maritime enforcement officer may, for a purpose mentioned in paragraph (2) or (3), exercise any of the maritime enforcement powers in relation to—

(a) a British ship in foreign waters or international waters,

(b) a ship without nationality in international waters, or

(c) a foreign ship in international waters,

and a ship within sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) is referred to in this Part as “a relevant ship”.

(2) The maritime enforcement powers may be exercised for the purpose of enforcing any of the following—

(a) the prohibition in regulation 15(1) (export of military goods);

(b) the prohibition in regulation 16(1) (supply and delivery of military goods);

(c) the prohibition in regulation 17(1) (making military goods and military technology available);

(d) the prohibition in regulation 18(1) (transfer of military technology).

(3) The maritime enforcement powers may also be exercised in relation to a relevant ship for the purpose of—

(a) investigating the suspected carriage of relevant goods on the ship, or

(b) preventing the continued carriage on the ship of goods suspected to be relevant goods.

(4) In this Part, “the maritime enforcement powers” are the powers conferred by regulations 49 and 50.

(5) This regulation is subject to regulation 51 (restrictions on exercise of maritime enforcement powers).

Commencement Information

I47 Reg. 47 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Maritime enforcement officers U.K.

48.—(1) The following persons are “ maritime enforcement officers” for the purposes of this Part—

(a) a commissioned officer of any of Her Majesty's ships;

(b) a member of the Ministry of Defence Police (within the meaning of section 1 of the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987 M38 );

(c) a constable—

(i) who is a member of a police force in England and Wales,

(ii) within the meaning of section 99 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 M39 , or

(iii) who is a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve;

(d) a special constable—

(i) appointed under section 27 of the Police Act 1996 M40 ,

(ii) appointed under section 9 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, or

(iii) in Northern Ireland, appointed by virtue of provision incorporating section 79 of the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847 M41 ;

(e) a constable who is a member of the British Transport Police Force;

(f) a port constable, within the meaning of section 7 of the Marine Navigation Act 2013 M42 , or a person appointed to act as a constable under provision made by virtue of section 16 of the Harbours Act 1964 M43 ;

(g) a designated customs official within the meaning of Part 1 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (see section 14(6) of that Act) M44 ;

(h) a designated NCA officer who is authorised by the Director General of the National Crime Agency (whether generally or specifically) to exercise the powers of a maritime enforcement officer under this Part.

(2) In this regulation, “a designated NCA officer” means a National Crime Agency officer who is either or both of the following—

(a) an officer designated under section 10 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 as having the powers and privileges of a constable;

(b) an officer designated under that section as having the powers of a general customs official.

Commencement Information

I48 Reg. 48 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M38 1987 c.4. Section 1 was amended by the Police Act 1996 (c.16), Schedule 7, paragraph 41; the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (c.32), Schedule 4, paragraph 16; the Police Reform Act 2002 (c.30), section 79(3); and S.I. 2013/602.

M39 2012 asp.8.

M40 1996 c.16. Section 27 was amended by the Police and Justice Act 2006 (c.48), Schedule 2, paragraph 23; the Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c.26), Schedule 7, paragraphs 1 and 6; and the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c.13), Schedule 16, paragraph 26.

M41 1847 c.27. Section 79 was amended by S.I. 2006/2167.

M42 2013 c.23.

M43 1964 c.40. Section 16 was amended by section 29(2) of the Wales Act 2017 (c.4); S.I. 1970/1681; and S.I. 1999/672. Other amendments have been made to section 16 that are not relevant to these Regulations.

M44 2009 c.11. Designated customs officials are designated, as either a general customs official or a customs revenue official, under sections 3 and 11 of this Act respectively.

Power to stop, board, search etc. U.K.

49.—(1) This regulation applies if a maritime enforcement officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that a relevant ship is carrying prohibited goods or relevant goods.

(2) The officer may—

(a) stop the ship;

(b) board the ship;

(c) for the purpose of exercising a power conferred by paragraph (3) or regulation 50 (seizure power), require the ship to be taken to, and remain in, a port or anchorage in the United Kingdom or any other country willing to receive it.

(3) Where the officer boards a ship by virtue of this regulation, the officer may—

(a) stop any person found on the ship and search that person for—

(i) prohibited goods or relevant goods, or

(ii) any thing that might be used to cause physical injury or damage to property or to endanger the safety of any ship;

(b) search the ship, or any thing found on the ship (including cargo) for prohibited goods or relevant goods.

(4) The officer may—

(a) require a person found on a ship boarded by virtue of this regulation to provide information or produce documents;

(b) inspect and copy such information or documents.

(5) The officer may exercise a power conferred by paragraph (3)(a)(i) or (b) only to the extent reasonably required for the purpose of discovering prohibited goods or relevant goods.

(6) The officer may exercise the power conferred by paragraph (3)(a)(ii) in relation to a person only where the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person might use a thing to cause physical injury or damage to property or to endanger the safety of any ship.

(7) The officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of any power conferred by this regulation.

Commencement Information

I49 Reg. 49 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Seizure power U.K.

50.—(1) This regulation applies if a maritime enforcement officer is lawfully on a relevant ship (whether in exercise of the powers conferred by regulation 49 (power to stop, board, search etc.) or otherwise).

(2) The officer may seize any of the following which are found on the ship, in anything found on the ship, or on any person found on the ship—

(a) goods which the officer has reasonable grounds to suspect are prohibited goods or relevant goods, or

(b) things within regulation 49(3)(a)(ii).

(3) The officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of any power conferred by this regulation.

Commencement Information

I50 Reg. 50 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Restrictions on exercise of maritime enforcement powers U.K.

51.—(1) The authority of the Secretary of State is required before any maritime enforcement power is exercised in reliance on regulation 47 (exercise of maritime enforcement powers) in relation to—

(a) a British ship in foreign waters, or

(b) a foreign ship in international waters.

(2) In relation to a British ship in foreign waters other than the sea and other waters within the seaward limits of the territorial sea adjacent to any relevant British possession, the Secretary of State may give authority under paragraph (1) only if the State in whose waters the power would be exercised consents to the exercise of the power.

(3) In relation to a foreign ship in international waters, the Secretary of State may give authority under paragraph (1) only if—

(a) the home state has requested the assistance of the United Kingdom for a purpose mentioned in regulation 47(2) or (3),

(b) the home state has authorised the United Kingdom to act for such a purpose, or

(c) the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 M45 or a UN Security Council Resolution otherwise permits the exercise of the power in relation to the ship.

Commencement Information

I51 Reg. 51 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M45 Command 8941.

Interpretation of Part 8 U.K.

52.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), any expression used in this Part and in section 19 or 20 of the Act has the same meaning in this Part as it has in section 19 or (as the case may be) section 20 of the Act.

(2) For the purpose of interpreting any reference to “prohibited goods” or “relevant goods” in this Part, any reference in section 19 or 20 of the Act to a “relevant prohibition or requirement” is to be read as a reference to any prohibition specified in regulation 47(2)(a) to (d) (exercise of maritime enforcement powers).

Commencement Information

I52 Reg. 52 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

PART 9 U.K. Supplementary and final provision

Notices U.K.

53.—(1) This regulation applies in relation to a notice required by regulation 28 (Treasury licences) to be given to a person.

(2) The notice may be given to an individual—

(a) by delivering it to the individual,

(b) by sending it to the individual by post addressed to the individual at his or her usual or last-known place of residence or business, or

(c) by leaving it for the individual at that place.

(3) The notice may be given to a person other than an individual—

(a) by sending it by post to the proper officer of the body at its principal office, or

(b) by addressing it to the proper officer of the body and leaving it at that office.

(4) The notice may be given to the person by other means, including by electronic means, with the person's consent.

(5) In this regulation, the reference in paragraph (3) to a “principal office”—

(a) in relation to a registered company, is to be read as a reference to the company's registered office;

(b) in relation to a body incorporated or constituted under the law of a country other than the United Kingdom, includes a reference to the body's principal office in the United Kingdom (if any).

(6) In this regulation—

• “proper officer”—

  (a)

  in relation to a body other than a partnership, means the secretary or other executive officer charged with the conduct of the body's general affairs, and

  (b)

  in relation to a partnership, means a partner or a person who has the control or management of the partnership business;

• “registered company” means a company registered under the enactments relating to companies for the time being in force in the United Kingdom.

Commencement Information

I53 Reg. 53 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Trade: overlapping offences U.K.

54.  A person is not to be taken to commit an offence under the Export Control Order 2008 if the person would, in the absence of this regulation, commit an offence under both—

(a) article 34 of that Order, and

(b) any provision of Part 4 (Trade).

Commencement Information

I54 Reg. 54 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Revocations U.K.

55.—(1) Council Regulation (EU) No 753/2011 of 1 August 2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain individuals, groups, undertakings and entities in view of the situation in Afghanistan is revoked.

(2) The Export Control (Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions) Regulations 2011 M46 are revoked.

(3) The Afghanistan (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011 M47 are revoked.

Commencement Information

I55 Reg. 55 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M46 S.I. 2011/2649, as amended by S.I. 2011/2925, S.I. 2019/137 and S.I. 2019/466.

M47 S.I. 2011/1893, as amended by S.I. 2013/472, S.I. 2013/534, S.I. 2017/560, S.I. 2017/754, S.I. 2018/682 and S.I. 2019/380.

Amendment of the United Nations and European Union Financial Sanctions (Linking) Regulations 2017 U.K.

56.  In the Schedule to the United Nations and European Union Financial Sanctions (Linking) Regulations 2017 M48 omit the following row from the table—

“United Nations Security Council Resolution 2255 (2015)

Council Regulation (EU) No. 753/2011 of 1st August 2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain individuals, groups, undertakings and entities in view of the situation in Afghanistan”

Commencement Information

I56 Reg. 56 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M48 S.I. 2017/478, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

Transitional provision: Treasury licences U.K.

57.—(1) Paragraphs (2) to (4) apply to a licence which—

(a) was granted, or deemed to be granted, by the Treasury under regulation 9 (licences) of the 2011 Regulations,

(b) was in effect immediately before the relevant date, and

(c) authorises conduct which would (on and after the relevant date, and in the absence of paragraphs (2) to (4)) be prohibited under Part 3 (Finance),

and such a licence is referred to in this regulation as “an existing financial sanctions licence”.

(2) An existing financial sanctions licence which authorises an act which would otherwise be prohibited has effect on and after the relevant date as if it had been issued by the Treasury under regulation 28(1) (Treasury licences).

(3) Any reference in an existing financial sanctions licence to the 2011 Regulations or the EU Afghanistan Regulation is to be treated on and after the relevant date as a reference to these Regulations.

(4) Any reference in an existing financial sanctions licence to a prohibition in—

(a) the 2011 Regulations, or

(b) the EU Afghanistan Regulation,

is to be treated on and after the relevant date as a reference to the corresponding prohibition in Part 3.

(5) Paragraph (6) applies where—

(a) an application for a licence, or for the variation of a licence, under the 2011 Regulations was made before the relevant date,

(b) the application is for the authorisation of conduct which would (on and after the relevant date) be prohibited under Part 3, and

(c) a decision to grant or refuse the application has not been made before that date.

(6) The application is to be treated on and after the relevant date as an application for a licence, or for the variation of a licence (as the case may be), under regulation 28(1) (Treasury licences).

(7) In this regulation—

“the 2011 Regulations” means the Afghanistan (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011;

“the EU Afghanistan Regulation” means Council Regulation (EU) No 753/2011 of 1 August 2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain individuals, groups, undertakings and entities in view of the situation in Afghanistan M49 ;

“the relevant date” means—

(a)

where regulations under section 56 of the Act provide that Part 3 comes into force at a specified time on a day, that time on that day;

(b)

otherwise, the date on which Part 3 comes into force.

Commencement Information

I57 Reg. 57 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M49 OJ No. L 199, 2.8.2011, p. 1.

Transitional provision: prior obligations U.K.

58.—(1) Where, immediately before the relevant date, a person was named on the 1988 Sanctions List, any reference in a provision mentioned in paragraph (2) to the date on which a person became a designated person is to be read as a reference to the date on which the person was so named.

(2) The provisions referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a) regulation 25(5) (finance: exceptions from prohibitions), and

(b) paragraph 6(a) of Schedule 2 (Treasury licences: purposes).

(3) In this regulation—

“designated person” has the same meaning as it has in Part 3 (Finance);

“the relevant date” means—

(a)

where regulations under section 56 of the Act provide that Part 3 comes into force at a specified time on a day, that time on that day;

(b)

otherwise, the date on which Part 3 comes into force.

Commencement Information

I58 Reg. 58 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Ahmad

Minister of State

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

SCHEDULES

Regulation 7(3)

SCHEDULE 1 U.K. Rules for interpretation of regulation 7(2)

Application of Schedule U.K.

1.—(1) The rules set out in the following paragraphs of this Schedule apply for the purpose of interpreting regulation 7(2) (meaning of “owned or controlled directly or indirectly” in Part 3).

(2) They also apply for the purpose of interpreting this Schedule.

Commencement Information

I59 Sch. 1 para. 1 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Joint interests U.K.

2.  If two or more persons each hold a share or right jointly, each of them is treated as holding that share or right.

Commencement Information

I60 Sch. 1 para. 2 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Joint arrangements U.K.

3.—(1) If shares or rights held by a person and shares or rights held by another person are the subject of a joint arrangement between those persons, each of them is treated as holding the combined shares or rights of both of them.

(2) A “joint arrangement” is an arrangement between the holders of shares or rights that they will exercise all or substantially all the rights conferred by their respective shares or rights jointly in a way that is pre-determined by the arrangement.

(3) “Arrangement” has the meaning given by paragraph 12.

Commencement Information

I61 Sch. 1 para. 3 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Calculating shareholdings U.K.

4.—(1) In relation to a person who has a share capital, a reference to holding “more than 50% of the shares” in that person is to holding shares comprised in the issued share capital of that person of a nominal value exceeding (in aggregate) 50% of that share capital.

(2) In relation to a person who does not have a share capital—

(a) a reference to holding shares in that person is to holding a right or rights to share in the capital or, as the case may be, profits of that person;

(b) a reference to holding “more than 50% of the shares” in that person is to holding a right or rights to share in more than 50% of the capital or, as the case may be, profits of that person.

Commencement Information

I62 Sch. 1 para. 4 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Voting rights U.K.

5.—(1) A reference to the voting rights in a person is to the rights conferred on shareholders in respect of their shares (or, in the case of a person not having a share capital, on members) to vote at general meetings of the person on all or substantially all matters.

(2) In relation to a person that does not have general meetings at which matters are decided by the exercise of voting rights—

(a) a reference to holding voting rights in the person is to be read as a reference to holding rights in relation to the person that are equivalent to those of a person entitled to exercise voting rights in a company;

(b) a reference to holding “more than 50% of the voting rights” in the person is to be read as a reference to holding the right under the constitution of the person to block changes to the overall policy of the person or to the terms of its constitution.

Commencement Information

I63 Sch. 1 para. 5 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

6.  In applying regulation 7(2) and this Schedule, the voting rights in a person are to be reduced by any rights held by the person itself. U.K.

Commencement Information

I64 Sch. 1 para. 6 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Rights to appoint or remove members of the board U.K.

7.  A reference to the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors of a person is to the right to appoint or remove directors holding a majority of the voting rights at meetings of the board on all or substantially all matters.

Commencement Information

I65 Sch. 1 para. 7 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

8.  A reference to a board of directors, in the case of a person who does not have such a board, is to be read as a reference to the equivalent management body of that person. U.K.

Commencement Information

I66 Sch. 1 para. 8 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Shares or rights held “indirectly” U.K.

9.—(1) A person holds a share “indirectly” if the person has a majority stake in another person and that other person—

(a) holds the share in question, or

(b) is part of a chain of persons—

(i) each of whom (other than the last) has a majority stake in the person immediately below it in the chain, and

(ii) the last of whom holds the share.

(2) A person holds a right “indirectly” if the person has a majority stake in another person and that other person—

(a) holds that right, or

(b) is part of a chain of persons—

(i) each of whom (other than the last) has a majority stake in the person immediately below it in the chain, and

(ii) the last of whom holds that right.

(3) For these purposes, a person (“A”) has a “majority stake” in another person (“B”) if—

(a) A holds a majority of the voting rights in B,

(b) A is a member of B and has the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors of B,

(c) A is a member of B and controls alone, pursuant to an agreement with other shareholders or members, a majority of the voting rights in B, or

(d) A has the right to exercise, or actually exercises, dominant influence or control over B.

(4) In the application of this paragraph to the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors, a person (“A”) is to be treated as having the right to appoint a director if—

(a) any person's appointment as director follows necessarily from that person's appointment as director of A, or

(b) the directorship is held by A itself.

Commencement Information

I67 Sch. 1 para. 9 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Shares held by nominees U.K.

10.  A share held by a person as nominee for another is to be treated as held by the other (and not by the nominee).

Commencement Information

I68 Sch. 1 para. 10 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Rights treated as held by person who controls their exercise U.K.

11.—(1) Where a person controls a right, the right is to be treated as held by that person (and not by the person who in fact holds the right, unless that person also controls it).

(2) A person “controls” a right if, by virtue of any arrangement between that person and others, the right is exercisable only—

(a) by that person,

(b) in accordance with that person's directions or instructions, or

(c) with that person's consent or concurrence.

Commencement Information

I69 Sch. 1 para. 11 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

12.  “ Arrangement” includes— U.K.

(a) any scheme, agreement or understanding, whether or not it is legally enforceable, and

(b) any convention, custom or practice of any kind.

Commencement Information

I70 Sch. 1 para. 12 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Rights exercisable only in certain circumstances etc. U.K.

13.—(1) Rights that are exercisable only in certain circumstances are to be taken into account only—

(a) when the circumstances have arisen, and for so long as they continue to obtain, or

(b) when the circumstances are within the control of the person having the rights.

(2) But rights that are exercisable by an administrator or by creditors while a person is subject to relevant insolvency proceedings are not to be taken into account while the person is subject to those proceedings.

(3) “Relevant insolvency proceedings” means—

(a) administration within the meaning of the Insolvency Act 1986 M50 ,

(b) administration within the meaning of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 M51 , or

(c) proceedings under the insolvency law of another country during which a person's assets and affairs are subject to the control or supervision of a third party or creditor.

(4) Rights that are normally exercisable but are temporarily incapable of exercise are to continue to be taken into account.

Commencement Information

I71 Sch. 1 para. 13 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Marginal Citations

M50 1986 c.45.

M51 S.I. 1989/2405 (N.I.19).

Rights attached to shares held by way of security U.K.

14.  Rights attached to shares held by way of security provided by a person are to be treated for the purposes of this Schedule as held by that person—

(a) where apart from the right to exercise them for the purpose of preserving the value of the security, or of realising it, the rights are exercisable only in accordance with that person's instructions, and

(b) where the shares are held in connection with the granting of loans as part of normal business activities and apart from the right to exercise them for the purpose of preserving the value of the security, or of realising it, the rights are exercisable only in that person's interests.

Commencement Information

I72 Sch. 1 para. 14 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Regulation 28

SCHEDULE 2 U.K. Treasury licences: purposes

Interpretation U.K.

1.  In this Schedule—

“designated person” has the same meaning as it has in Part 3 (Finance);

“frozen funds or economic resources” means funds or economic resources frozen by virtue of regulation 8 (asset-freeze in relation to designated persons), and any reference to a person's frozen funds or economic resources is to funds or economic resources frozen as a consequence of the designation of that person for the purposes of that regulation.

Commencement Information

I73 Sch. 2 para. 1 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Basic needs U.K.

2.—(1) To enable the basic needs of a designated person, or (in the case of an individual) any dependent family member of such a person, to be met.

(2) In the case of an individual, in sub-paragraph (1) “basic needs” includes—

(a) medical needs;

(b) needs for—

(i) food;

(ii) payment of insurance premiums;

(iii) payment of tax;

(iv) rent or mortgage payments;

(v) utility payments.

(3) In the case of a person other than an individual, in sub-paragraph (1) “basic needs” includes needs for—

(a) payment of insurance premiums;

(b) payment of reasonable fees for the provision of property management services;

(c) payment of remuneration, allowances or pensions of employees;

(d) payment of tax;

(e) rent or mortgage payments;

(f) utility payments.

(4) In sub-paragraph (1)—

“dependent” means financially dependent;

“family member” includes—

(a)

the wife or husband of the designated person;

(b)

the civil partner of the designated person;

(c)

any parent or other ascendant of the designated person;

(d)

any child or other descendant of the designated person;

(e)

any person who is a brother or sister of the designated person, or a child or other descendant of such a person.

Commencement Information

I74 Sch. 2 para. 2 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Legal services U.K.

3.  To enable the payment of—

(a) reasonable professional fees for the provision of legal services, or

(b) reasonable expenses associated with the provision of legal services.

Commencement Information

I75 Sch. 2 para. 3 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Maintenance of frozen funds and economic resources U.K.

4.  To enable the payment of—

(a) reasonable fees, or

(b) reasonable service charges,

arising from the routine holding or maintenance of frozen funds or economic resources.

Commencement Information

I76 Sch. 2 para. 4 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Extraordinary expenses U.K.

5.  To enable an extraordinary expense of a designated person to be met.

Commencement Information

I77 Sch. 2 para. 5 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

Prior obligations U.K.

6.  To enable, by the use of a designated person's frozen funds or economic resources, the satisfaction of an obligation of that person (whether arising under a contract, other agreement or otherwise), provided that—

(a) the obligation arose before the date on which the person became a designated person, and

(b) no payments are made to another designated person, whether directly or indirectly.

Commencement Information

I78 Sch. 2 para. 6 in force at 31.12.2020 by S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

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 give effect to the United Kingdom's international obligations resulting from various United Nations Security Council Resolutions imposing a sanctions regime in view of the situation in Afghanistan, including UN Security Council Resolution 2255 (2017) adopted by the Security Council on 21 December 2015 (and previously UN Security Council Resolution 1988 (2011)). Following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, these Regulations will replace the corresponding EU sanctions regime, which is currently implemented by an EU Council Decision and Regulation.

The Regulations provide that those persons designated by the UN as associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan are designated for the purposes of these Regulations. Persons designated by the UN are subject to financial sanctions, which include having their funds and/or economic resources frozen. Those persons are also subject to trade restrictions on military goods and military technology and associated services. They are also “excluded persons” under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971, meaning generally that they must be refused leave to enter the United Kingdom and leave to remain in the United Kingdom, and any leave that has been granted is invalid. 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 Treasury to issue licences in respect of activities that would otherwise be prohibited under the financial sanctions. Schedule 2 to these 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. 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 (EU) No 753/2011 of 1 August 2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain individuals, groups, undertakings and entities in view of the situation in Afghanistan is revoked by these Regulations. The Export Control (Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions) Regulations 2011 and the Afghanistan (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011 are also revoked. An amendment is also made by these Regulations to the Schedule to the United Nations and European Union Financial Sanctions (Linking) Regulations 2017.

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.