The Afghanistan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

Finance: exceptions from prohibitions

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(1),

(b) account B is with a ring-fenced body within the meaning of section 142A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000(2), 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(3) (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(4), any relevant order under that section(5) and Schedule 2 to that Act(6).

(1)

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

(2)

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

(3)

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.

(4)

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.

(5)

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.

(6)

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.