The Iran (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2012

This Statutory Instrument has been printed in substitution of the SI of the same number and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that Statutory Instrument.

Statutory Instruments

2012 No. 925

Criminal Law

The Iran (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2012

Made

at 11.00 a.m. on 26th March 2012

Laid before Parliament

at 2.00 p.m. on 26th March 2012

Coming into force

at 3.00 p.m. on 26th March 2012

The Treasury are designated(1) for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972(2) in relation to restrictive measures against persons or bodies listed by an international organisation.

These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of that Act and it appears to the Treasury that it is expedient for any reference to an Annex to Council Regulation (EU) No. 267/2012 of 23 March 2012(3) concerning restrictive measures against Iran and repealing Regulation (EU) No. 961/2010 to be construed as a reference to that Annex as amended from time to time.

The Treasury, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of, and paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to, the European Communities Act 1972, make the following Regulations.

PART 1 General

Citation, commencement and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Iran (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2012 and shall come into force at 3.00 p.m. on 26th March 2012.

(2) An offence under these Regulations may be committed by conduct wholly or partly outside the United Kingdom by—

(a) a UK national, or

(b) a body incorporated or constituted under the law of any part of the United Kingdom.

(3) In paragraph (2)—

“conduct” includes acts and omissions;

“UK national” means—

(a)

a British citizen,

(b)

a British overseas territories citizen who acquired their citizenship from a connection with Gibraltar, or

(c)

a British subject under Part 4 of the British Nationality Act 1981 (British subjects)(4) with the right of abode in the United Kingdom.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the 2000 Act” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000(5);

“the Council Regulation” means Council Regulation (EU) No. 267/2012 of 23 March 2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran and repealing Regulation (EU) No. 961/2010, and a reference to an Annex to that Regulation is to be construed as a reference to that Annex as amended from time to time;

“designated person” means a person, entity or body listed in Annex VIII or IX to the Council Regulation;

“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;

“relevant institution” means—

(a)

a person who has permission under Part 4 of the 2000 Act (permission to carry on regulated activities);

(b)

an EEA firm of the kind mentioned in paragraph 5(b) of Schedule 3 to the 2000 Act (EEA passport rights)(6) which has permission under paragraph 15 of that Schedule(7) (as a result of qualifying for authorisation under paragraph 12 of that Schedule(8)) to accept deposits; or

(c)

an undertaking which by way of business operates a currency exchange office, transmits money (or any representations of monetary value) by any means or cashes cheques which are made payable to customers.

(2) The definition of “relevant institution” in paragraph (1) must be read with—

(a) section 22 of the 2000 Act (the classes of activity and categories of investment),

(b) any relevant order under that section(9), and

(c) Schedule 2 to that Act (regulated activities).

(3) Any expression used both in these Regulations and in the Council Regulation has the meaning that it bears in the Council Regulation.

PART 2 Funds and Economic Resources

Freezing of funds and economic resources

3.—(1) A person (“P”) must not deal with funds or economic resources belonging to, or 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) In paragraph (1) “deal with” means—

(a) in relation to funds—

(i) use, alter, move, allow access to or transfer;

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

(iii) make any other change that would enable use, including portfolio management; and

(b) in relation to economic resources, exchange, or use in exchange, for funds, goods or services.

(3) Paragraph (1) is subject to regulation 9.

Making funds available to a designated person

4.—(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 regulations 8 and 9.

Making funds available for the benefit of a designated person

5.—(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) 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 of a financial obligation for which the designated person is wholly or partly responsible.

(3) Paragraph (1) is subject to regulations 8 and 9.

Making economic resources available to a designated person

6.—(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, or use them in exchange, for funds, goods or services.

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to regulation 9.

Making economic resources available for the benefit of a designated person

7.—(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) For the purposes of this regulation—

(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 of a financial obligation for which the designated person is wholly or partly responsible.

(3) Paragraph (1) is subject to regulation 9.

Credits to a frozen account

8.—(1) The prohibitions in regulations 4 and 5 are not contravened by a person who credits a frozen account with—

(a) interest or other earnings due on the account, or

(b) payments due under contracts, agreements or obligations that were concluded or arose before the account became a frozen account.

(2) The prohibitions in regulations 4 and 5 on making funds available do not prevent a relevant institution from crediting a frozen account where it receives funds transferred to the account.

(3) A relevant institution must inform the Treasury without delay if it credits a frozen account in accordance with paragraph (1)(b) or (2).

(4) In this regulation “frozen account” means an account with a relevant institution which is held or controlled (directly or indirectly) by a designated person.

Licences

9.—(1) The prohibitions in regulations 3 to 7 do not apply to anything done under the authority of a licence granted by the Treasury.

(2) A licence must specify the acts authorised by it and may be—

(a) general or granted to a category of persons or to a particular person;

(b) subject to conditions;

(c) of indefinite duration or subject to an expiry date.

(3) The Treasury may vary or revoke a licence at any time.

(4) On the grant, variation or revocation of a licence, the Treasury must—

(a) in the case of a licence granted to a particular person, give written notice of the grant, variation or revocation to that person,

(b) in the case of a general licence or a licence granted to a category of persons, take such steps as the Treasury consider appropriate to publicise the grant, variation or revocation of the licence.

(5) A person commits an offence who, for the purpose of obtaining a licence, 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.

(6) A person who purports to act under the authority of a licence but who fails to comply with any conditions included in the licence commits an offence.

PART 3 Restrictions on Transfers of Funds and on Financial Services

Transfers of funds

10.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a transfer of funds to or from an Iranian person, entity or body—

(a) which is due on a transaction regarding foodstuffs, healthcare, medical equipment or for humanitarian purposes, and is of more than 10,000 euro, must have been notified in advance in writing to the relevant competent authority by the relevant person,

(b) which is due on a transaction other than one referred to in sub-paragraph (a)—

(i) if it is of more than 10,000 euro but less than 40,000 euro, must be notified in advance in writing to the relevant competent authority by the relevant person, and

(ii) if it is of 40,000 euro or more, must have received prior authorisation from the relevant competent authority at the request of the relevant person.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply where an authorisation for the transfer has been granted by the Treasury under regulation 9, or by a competent authority of another Member State in accordance with Article 24, 25, 26, 27 or 28 of the Council Regulation.

(3) The relevant competent authority shall be deemed to have granted authorisation for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(ii) if, after the period of 28 days beginning with the day upon which the authority received a request for authorisation, the authority has not objected in writing to the transfer.

(4) Where paragraph (1) applies, a person (“P”) must not make a transfer of funds to, or receive a transfer of funds from, an Iranian person, entity or body other than in accordance with paragraph (1), if P knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the transfer of funds is to or from such a person.

(5) For the purpose of this regulation—

“the relevant competent authority” is the competent authority of the Member State in which the relevant person is resident or established(10); and

“the relevant person” is the payment service provider, payer or payee required in accordance with Article 30 of the Council Regulation to make a notification or seek an authorisation.

(6) In this regulation—

(a) a reference to an amount in euro includes a reference to the equivalent amount in another currency, and

(b) a reference to a transfer of funds of a particular amount includes a transfer executed in several operations which appear to be linked, as well as a transfer executed in a single operation.

Authorisations and notifications

11.—(1) An authorisation granted by the Treasury under regulation 10 may be—

(a) general or granted to a category of persons or to a particular person;

(b) subject to conditions;

(c) of indefinite duration or subject to an expiry date.

(2) The Treasury may vary or revoke an authorisation at any time.

(3) On the grant, variation or revocation of an authorisation, the Treasury must—

(a) in the case of an authorisation granted to a particular person, give written notice of the grant, variation or revocation to that person,

(b) in the case of a general authorisation or an authorisation granted to a category of persons, take such steps as the Treasury consider appropriate to publicise the grant, variation or revocation of the authorisation.

(4) A person commits an offence who, for the purpose of obtaining an authorisation or making a notification, 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.

(5) A person who purports to act under an authorisation granted by the Treasury but who fails to comply with any conditions included in the authorisation commits an offence.

Financial messaging services

12.—(1) A person (“P”) must not supply specialised financial messaging services, which are used to exchange financial data, to a designated person if P knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that P is making the services so available.

(2) The prohibition in paragraph (1) does not apply where an authorisation has been granted by a competent authority in accordance with Article 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 or 30 of the Council Regulation, or where funds are credited to a frozen account in accordance with Article 29 of the Council Regulation.

Branches and subsidiaries of Iranian credit and financial institutions

13.—(1) A branch or subsidiary established within the UK of a credit or financial institution domiciled in Iran must notify the Treasury in writing of all transfers of funds carried out or received by the branch or subsidiary.

(2) A notification under paragraph (1) must—

(a) specify the names of the parties to the transaction, the amount of funds transferred, and the date of the transaction;

(b) include the following information where it is available to the branch or subsidiary—

(i) the nature of the transaction;

(ii) the nature of any goods which are the subject of the transaction;

(iii) whether those goods are subject to Annex I, II, III, IV, VI, or VII of the Council Regulation;

(iv) where the export of goods is subject to authorisation, the number of the licence granted; and

(c) be made within five working days after the day on which the transfer of funds is carried out or received by the branch or subsidiary.

(3) A person commits an offence who, for the purpose of making a notification under paragraph (1), 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.

Credit and financial institutions: accounts and correspondent banking relationships

14.—(1) A credit or financial institution must not—

(a) open a new bank account,

(b) establish a new correspondent banking relationship, or

(c) establish a new joint venture,

with a person falling within paragraph (2), if the credit or financial institution knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the account, relationship or venture is with a person falling within paragraph (2).

(2) The following persons fall within this paragraph—

(a) a credit or financial institution domiciled in Iran, including the Central Bank of Iran;

(b) a branch or subsidiary, wherever located, of a credit or financial institution domiciled in Iran;

(c) a credit or financial institution that is not domiciled in Iran but is controlled by a person or entity domiciled in Iran.

(3) A credit or financial institution must not—

(a) open a new representative office in Iran, or

(b) establish a new branch or subsidiary in Iran.

Agreements

15.  A person (“P”) must not conclude an agreement for, or on behalf of, a person falling within regulation 14(2) which relates to the opening of a representative office or the establishment of a branch or subsidiary in the European Union, if P knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the agreement is for, or on behalf of, such a person.

Acquisition or extension of ownership interest

16.  A person falling within regulation 14(2) must not acquire or extend a participation, or acquire any other ownership interest, in a credit or financial institution.

Sale or purchase of bonds

17.—(1) A person (“P”) must not sell or purchase public or public-guaranteed bonds issued after 26th July 2010, directly or indirectly, to or from a person, entity or body falling within paragraph (4) if P knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the sale or purchase is to or from such a person, entity or body.

(2) A person (“P”) must not provide brokering services with respect to public or public-guaranteed bonds issued after 26th July 2010 to a person, entity or body falling within paragraph (4) if P knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the services are being provided to such a person, entity or body.

(3) A person (“P”) must not assist a person, entity or body falling within paragraph (4) to issue public or public-guaranteed bonds, by providing—

(a) brokering services;

(b) advertising; or

(c) any other service with respect to such bonds,

if P knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that P is assisting such a person, entity or body.

(4) The following persons, entities and bodies fall within this paragraph—

(a) Iran and its Government, and its public bodies, corporations and agencies;

(b) a credit or financial institution domiciled in Iran, including the Central Bank of Iran;

(c) a branch or subsidiary, wherever located, of a credit or financial institution domiciled in Iran;

(d) a credit or financial institution that is not domiciled in Iran but is controlled by a person or entity domiciled in Iran;

(e) a person, entity or body acting on behalf of or at the direction of a legal person, entity or body falling within sub-paragraphs (a) to (d);

(f) a legal person, entity or body owned or controlled by a person, entity or body falling within sub-paragraphs (a) to (e).

Insurance and reinsurance

18.—(1) A person (“P”) must not provide insurance or re-insurance to—

(a) Iran or its Government, or its public bodies, corporations or agencies;

(b) any other Iranian legal person, entity or body; or

(c) a person, entity or body acting on behalf of or at the direction of a person, entity or body referred to in sub-paragraph (a) or (b),

if P knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the insurance or reinsurance is being provided to such a person, entity or body.

(2) A person (“P”) must not provide brokering services in relation to the provision of any insurance or reinsurance prohibited under paragraph (1), if P knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the services are so provided.

(3) The prohibitions in paragraph (1)(a) and (b) do not apply to—

(a) the provision of compulsory or third party insurance or reinsurance to Iranian persons, entities or bodies based in the European Union, or

(b) the provision of insurance for Iranian diplomatic or consular missions in the Union.

(4) The prohibition in paragraph (1)(c) does not apply to the provision of—

(a) insurance, including health and travel insurance, to individuals (other than designated persons) acting in their private capacity, or

(b) re-insurance relating to insurance falling within sub-paragraph (a).

(5) The prohibition in paragraph (1)(c) does not prevent the provision of insurance or re-insurance to the owner of a vessel, aircraft or vehicle which is chartered by a person, entity or body referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b).

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), a person, entity or body does not act at the direction of a person, entity or body referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) where the direction is for the purposes of docking, loading, unloading or safe transit of a vessel or aircraft temporarily in Iranian waters or airspace.

(7) The prohibition in paragraph (1) applies to the extension or renewal of an insurance or re-insurance agreement concluded before 27th October 2010, but, subject to regulations 4 to 7, does not apply to compliance with an insurance or reinsurance agreement concluded before that date.

PART 4 Offences

Contravention and circumvention of prohibitions

19.—(1) A person who contravenes any of the prohibitions in regulations 3 to 7, 10, 12 and 14 to 18, or fails to comply with a requirement of regulation 13, commits an offence.

(2) A person commits an offence who intentionally participates in activities knowing that the object or effect of them is (whether directly or indirectly)—

(a) to circumvent any of the prohibitions in regulations 3 to 7, 10, 12 and 14 to 18, or a requirement of regulation 13, or

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

Officers of a body corporate etc.

20.—(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.

Penalties

21.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 9, 11, 13 or 19 is liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both;

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph 1(5) or paragraph 4(1) of the Schedule is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both.

Proceedings

22.—(1) Proceedings against any person for an offence under these Regulations may be taken before the appropriate court in the United Kingdom having jurisdiction in the place where that person is for the time being.

(2) In England and Wales an information relating to an offence that is triable by a magistrates’ court may be so tried if it is laid—

(a) at any time within three years after the commission of the offence, and

(b) within twelve months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify the proceedings comes to the knowledge of the prosecutor.

(3) In Scotland—

(a) summary proceedings for an offence may be commenced—

(i) before the end of twelve months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the Lord Advocate’s opinion to justify the proceedings came to the Lord Advocate’s knowledge, and

(ii) not later than three years after the commission of the offence; and

(b) section 136(3) of the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995(11) (time limit for certain offences) applies for the purpose of this paragraph as it applies for the purpose of that section.

(4) In Northern Ireland summary proceedings for an offence may be instituted—

(a) at any time within three years after the commission of the offence, and

(b) within twelve months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify the proceedings comes to the knowledge of the prosecutor.

(5) For the purposes of this regulation a certificate of the prosecutor (or, in Scotland, the Lord Advocate) as to the date on which such evidence as is referred to above came to their notice is conclusive evidence.

Consent to prosecution

23.—(1) Proceedings for an offence under these Regulations (other than for a summary offence) may not be instituted—

(a) in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Attorney General,

(b) in Northern Ireland—

(i) where the offence is committed wholly or partly outside Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Advocate General for Northern Ireland;

(ii) for all other offences, except by or with the consent of the Director for Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) prevents—

(a) the arrest of a person in respect of an offence under these Regulations, or

(b) the remand in custody or on bail of any person charged with such an offence.

PART 5 Miscellaneous

Information provisions

24.  The Schedule (which contains provisions concerning information gathering and disclosure) has effect.

Notices

25.—(1) This regulation has effect in relation to any notice to be given to a person by the Treasury under regulation 9 or 11.

(2) Any such notice may be given—

(a) by posting it to the person’s last known address, or

(b) where the person is a body corporate, partnership or unincorporated body other than a partnership, by posting it to the registered or principal office of the body or partnership concerned.

(3) Where the Treasury do not have an address for the person, they must make arrangements for the notice to be given to the person at the first available opportunity.

The Crown

26.—(1) These Regulations bind the Crown.

(2) No contravention by the Crown of a provision of these Regulations makes the Crown criminally liable.

(3) The High Court or, in Scotland, the Court of Session may, on the application of a person appearing to the court to have an interest, declare unlawful any act or omission of the Crown that constitutes a contravention of a provision of these Regulations.

(4) Nothing in this regulation affects Her Majesty in her private capacity.

(5) Paragraph (4) is to be read as if section 38(3) of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947(12) (meaning of Her Majesty in her private capacity) were contained in these Regulations.

Amendment

27.  In section 63(1) of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (application to set aside financial restrictions decision)(13), after paragraph (ae) insert—

“(af) the Iran (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/925),”.

Revocation and repeal

28.—(1) The following instruments are revoked—

(a) the Iran (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2010(14), and

(b) the Iran (European Union Financial Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2012(15).

(2) In section 63(1) of the Counter-Terrorism 2008 (application to set aside financial restrictions decision), paragraph (ab) (decision in connection with the 2010 Regulations) is repealed.

Saving

29.—(1) Any licence which was granted by the Treasury under—

(a) regulation 10 of the Iran (European Community Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2007(16), or

(b) regulation 9 of the Iran (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2010,

and was in effect immediately before the coming into force of these Regulations shall have effect as if it were a licence granted by the Treasury under regulation 9 of these Regulations.

(2) The repeal by these Regulations of paragraph (ab) of section 63(1) of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 does not affect the continued operation of that paragraph in relation to any decision of the Treasury made before the coming into force of these Regulations.

Jeremy Wright

Angela Watkinson

Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

26th March 2012

Regulation 24

SCHEDULE Information Provisions

Reporting obligations of relevant institutions

1.—(1) A relevant institution 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 regulation 9, 11, 13 or 19, and

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

(2) Where a relevant institution informs the Treasury under sub-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) Sub-paragraph (4) applies if—

(a) a relevant institution informs the Treasury under sub-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 institution.

(4) The relevant institution must also state the nature and amount or quantity of any funds or economic resources held by it for the customer.

(5) A relevant institution that fails to comply with any requirement of sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (4) commits an offence.

Powers to request information

2.—(1) The Treasury may request a designated person to provide information concerning—

(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 or on behalf of the designated person, or

(b) for the benefit of the designated person.

(3) The power in sub-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 these Regulations.

(4) The Treasury may request a person acting under a licence granted under regulation 9 to provide information concerning—

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

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

(5) The Treasury may request any person in or resident in the United Kingdom to provide such information as the Treasury may reasonably require for the purpose of—

(a) establishing for the purposes of these Regulations—

(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 these Regulations; or

(c) obtaining evidence of the commission of an offence under these Regulations.

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

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

(8) 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.

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

(10) Information requested under sub-paragraph (1)(b), (2) or (5)(a)(iii) may relate to any period of time before a person became a designated person (as well as, or instead of, any subsequent period of time).

Production of documents

3.—(1) A request under paragraph 2 may include a request to produce specified documents or documents of a specified description.

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

(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 licence granted under regulation 9 to produce documents, that person must—

(a) take reasonable steps to obtain the documents (if not already in the person’s possession or control);

(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).

Failure to comply with request for information

4.—(1) A person commits an offence who—

(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 made under this Schedule;

(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 the provisions of this Schedule, destroys, mutilates, defaces, conceals or removes any document; or

(d) otherwise intentionally obstructs the Treasury in the exercise of their powers under this Schedule.

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

General power to disclose information

5.—(1) The Treasury may disclose any information obtained by them pursuant to these Regulations—

(a) to a police officer;

(b) to 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 Administration, the Northern Ireland Administration or the Welsh Assembly 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) to any law officer of the Crown for Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man;

(d) to the Legal Services Commission, the Scottish Legal Aid Board or the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission;

(e) to the Financial Services Authority, the Jersey Financial Services Commission, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Isle of Man Insurance and Pensions Authority or the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission;

(f) for the purpose of giving assistance or co-operation, pursuant to the Council Regulation, to—

(i) any organ of the United Nations, or

(ii) the Council of the European Union, the European Commission or the Government of a Member State;

(g) with a view to instituting, or otherwise for the purposes of, any proceedings—

(i) in the United Kingdom, for an offence under these Regulations, or

(ii) in any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or any British overseas territory, for an offence under a similar provision in any such jurisdiction; or

(h) with the consent of a person who, in their own right, is entitled to the information or to possession of the document, copy or extract, to any third party.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1)(h) “in their own right” means not merely in the capacity as a servant or agent of another person.

Application of provisions

6.—(1) Nothing done under this Schedule is to be treated as a breach of any restriction imposed by statute or otherwise.

(2) But nothing in this Schedule authorises a disclosure that—

(a) contravenes the Data Protection Act 1998(17), or

(b) is prohibited by Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000(18).

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

(4) This Schedule does not limit the circumstances in which information may be disclosed apart from this Schedule.

(5) This Schedule does not limit the powers of the Treasury to impose conditions in connection with the discharge of their functions under regulation 9.

(6) In this paragraph “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.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision relating to the enforcement of Council Regulation (EU) No. 267/2012 of 23 March 2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran and repealing Regulation (EU) No. 961/2010 (OJ L 88, 24.3.2012, p.1) (“the Council Regulation”).

The measures include the freezing of funds and economic resources of designated persons and ensuring that funds and economic resources are not made available to them or for their benefit. They also include broader financial sanctions measures.

Regulation 2 defines designated persons as any person named in Annex VIII or IX to the Council Regulation (as amended from time to time). Annex VIII includes those persons listed by the United Nations Security Council, and Annex IX includes those persons listed by the Council of the European Union.

Regulations 3 to 7 provide prohibitions against dealing with the funds or economic resources of a designated person, or making funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of a designated person.

Regulation 8 provides an exception to the prohibitions in regulations 4 and 5 where a frozen account is credited for a permitted reason.

Regulation 9 provides a licensing procedure to enable funds and economic resources to be exempted from the prohibitions.

Regulation 10 prohibits the transfer of funds to or from certain persons in or connected to Iran, if the transfers have not been notified or authorised in accordance with the Council Regulation. Regulation 11 makes provision in relation to authorisations.

Regulation 12 prohibits the provision of specialist financial messaging services to designated persons.

Regulation 13 requires a branch or subsidiary of an Iranian bank to comply with the requirements of the Council Regulation to notify the Treasury of details of transfers of funds.

Regulation 14 prohibits a credit or financial institution establishing certain relationships with an Iranian bank, or opening a representative office or establishing a branch in Iran.

Regulation 15 prohibits the making of an agreement for or on behalf of an Iranian bank to establish a representative office, branch or subsidiary in the European Union.

Regulation 16 prohibits an Iranian bank acquiring or extending an ownership interest in a credit or financial institution.

Regulation 17 prohibits the sale or purchase of bonds to or from an Iranian person, the provision of brokering services in respect of bonds to an Iranian person, and the provision of any assistance to an Iranian person to issue bonds.

Regulation 18 prohibits the provision of insurance or re-insurance to Iranian persons, and of brokering services in respect of such insurance or re-insurance.

Regulation 19 makes it an offence to breach any of the prohibitions in regulations 3 to 7, 10, 12 and 14 to 18, or to fail to comply with the requirements of regulation 13, or to seek to circumvent those provisions. Regulations 20 to 23 contain provision about penalties, proceedings and who, in relation to bodies corporate and other bodies, may be prosecuted for an offence under the Regulations.

Regulation 27 amends the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 so that an application to the High Court to set aside any decision of the Treasury under these Regulations is subject to the procedure set out in that Act and in Part 79 of the Civil Procedure Rules.

Regulation 28 revokes the Regulations which currently make provision for penalties for contravention of the asset freezing measures contained in the Council Regulation. Regulation 29 provides that licences which were granted under those revoked Regulations continue to have effect for the purposes of these Regulations.

The Schedule makes provision for information gathering and information disclosure.

A list of designated persons is available on the Internet at: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/fin_sanctions_index.htm.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the costs of business or the voluntary sector is foreseen. Further information is available from the Asset Freezing Unit, HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ and on HM Treasury’s website (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk).

(1)

S.I. 2010/1834.

(2)

1972 c.68. Section 2(2) was amended by section 27(1)(a) of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c.51) and the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c.7), Schedule, Part 1. Paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 was inserted by section 28 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 and amended by S.I. 2007/1388 and the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008, Schedule, Part 1.

(3)

OJ L 88, 24.3.2012, p.1.

(4)

1981 c.61. Part 4 was amended by the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 (c.8), section 1(1)(b) and the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c.41), sections 15 and 161, Schedule 2, paragraph 1(i) and Schedule 9.

(5)

2000 c.8.

(6)

As amended by S.I. 2006/3221.

(7)

As amended by the Enterprise Act 2002 (c.40), section 278(1), Schedule 25, paragraph 40(1) and (19)(a), the Consumer Credit Act 2006 (c.14), section 33(9) and by S.I. 2003/2066 and S.I. 2007/3253.

(8)

As amended by S.I. 2007/126 and S.I. 2007/3253.

(9)

S.I. 2001/544 as amended, most recently by S.I. 2011/2687.

(10)

In the United Kingdom, the competent authority is the Treasury.

(11)

1995 c.46.

(12)

1947 c.44.

(13)

2008 c.28. Section 63(1) was amended by S.I. 2010/1197, S.I. 2010/2937, S.I. 2011/605, S.I. 2011/1893 and S.I. 2011/2742.

(14)

S.I. 2010/2937, amended by S.I. 2012/190.

(15)

S.I. 2012/190.

(16)

S.I. 2007/1374, amended by S.I. 2010/2613.

(17)

1998 c.29.

(18)

2000 c.23.