PART 5Exceptions and licences
Finance: exceptions from prohibitions25
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
4
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 20007,
b
account B is with a ring-fenced body within the meaning of section 142A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 20008, 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 20009 (Permission to carry on regulated activities).
Exception for authorised conduct in a relevant country26
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—
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.
Exception for acts done for purposes of national security or prevention of serious crime27
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.
Treasury licences28
1
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.
Finance: licensing offences29
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.