Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (c. 13)

PART 1 U.K. Sanctions regulations

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 1: power to amend conferred (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 66(1)(a), 69(3)

CHAPTER 1 U.K. Power to make sanctions regulations

Designation of persons U.K.

9 “Designated persons” U.K.

(1) Subsection (2) applies for the purposes of sections [F1 3 and 4] [F1 3 to 4], Schedule 1 and sections 6 to 8.

(2) In each of those provisions, “designated persons” means—

(a) persons designated under any power contained in the regulations that authorises an appropriate Minister to designate persons for the purposes of the regulations or of any provisions of the regulations, or

(b) persons who are designated persons under any provision included in the regulations by virtue of section 13 (persons named by or under UN Security Council Resolutions).

(3) In subsection (2) “the regulations” means the regulations mentioned in section 3, [F2 3A,] 4, 5(1), 6, 7 or 8 (as the case may be).

(4) As regards designation of persons by virtue of subsection (2)(a), see sections 10 to 12.

(5) In this Act “person” includes (in addition to an individual and a body of persons corporate or unincorporate) any organisation and any association or combination of persons.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 9(1) substituted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 35(4)(a), 219(1)(2)(b)

F2 Word in s. 9(3) inserted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 35(4)(b), 219(1)(2)(b)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 9 in force at 22.11.2018 by S.I. 2018/1213, reg. 2(a)

10 Designation powers: general U.K.

(1) In this Act a “designation power”, in relation to regulations under section 1, means a power (contained in the regulations by virtue of section 9(2)(a)) for an appropriate Minister to designate persons for the purposes of the regulations or of any provisions of the regulations.

(2) Regulations under section 1 which contain a designation power may make provision about the way in which the power must or may be exercised, including provision authorising the appropriate Minister to whom the power is granted—

(a) to designate a person by name;

(b) to provide that persons of a description specified by that Minister are designated persons;

(c) to designate different persons for the purposes of different provisions of the regulations.

(3) Regulations under section 1 which contain a designation power must provide that where an appropriate Minister—

(a) has made a designation under the power, or

(b) has varied or revoked a designation made under the power (see section 22),

that Minister must without delay take such steps as are reasonably practicable to inform the designated person of the designation, variation or revocation.

(4) The regulations may include provision, additional to that required by subsection (3), as to steps to be taken as regards notification or publicity where a designation has been made under the designation power or a designation made under the power has been varied or revoked.

(5) The regulations need not require a person to be notified of an intention to designate the person.

(6) Sections 11 and 12 contain provision about criteria for designation under a designation power.

Commencement Information

I2 S. 10 in force at 22.11.2018 by S.I. 2018/1213, reg. 2(a)

11 Designation of a person by name under a designation power U.K.

(1) This section applies to regulations under section 1 which authorise an appropriate Minister (“the Minister”) to designate persons by name.

[F3 (1A) The regulations must contain provision for the Minister to be able to choose whether to designate a person under—

(a) the standard procedure, or

(b) the urgent procedure.]

[F4 (2) The regulations must provide that under the standard procedure the Minister is prohibited from designating a person by name except where condition A is met.

(2A) Condition A is that the Minister has reasonable grounds to suspect that that person is an involved person (see subsection (3)).

(2B) The regulations must provide that under the urgent procedure—

(a) the Minister may designate a person by name where condition A is not met, but conditions B and C are met, and

(b) the designation ceases to have effect at the end of the period of 56 days beginning with the day following the designation unless, within that period, the Minister certifies that—

(i) condition A is met, or

(ii) conditions B and C continue to be met.

(2C) The regulations must provide that, under the urgent procedure, in a case where the Minister makes a certification under subsection (2B)(b)(ii), the designation ceases to have effect at the end of the period of 56 days beginning with the day immediately following the period mentioned in subsection (2B)(b), unless within that period the Minister certifies that condition A is met.

(2D) Condition B is that relevant provision (whenever made) applies to, or in relation to, the person under the law of—

(a) the United States of America;

(b) the European Union;

(c) Australia;

(d) Canada;

(e) any other country specified for the purposes of this paragraph in regulations made by an appropriate Minister.

(2E) Condition C is that the Minister considers that it is in the public interest to make designations under the urgent procedure.

(2F) For the purposes of condition B, relevant provision is provision that the Minister considers—

(a) corresponds, or is similar, to the type of sanction or sanctions in the regulations under section 1, or

(b) is made for purposes corresponding, or similar, to any purpose of any type of sanction or sanctions in the regulations under section 1.]

(3) The regulations must provide that “an involved person” means a person who—

(a) is or has been involved in an activity specified in the regulations,

(b) is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by a person who is or has been so involved,

(c) is acting on behalf of or at the direction of a person who is or has been so involved, or

(d) is a member of, or associated with, a person who is or has been so involved.

(4) An activity may not be specified in the regulations by virtue of subsection (3) unless the Minister considers that specifying the activity is appropriate having regard to the purpose of the regulations as stated under section 1(3).

(5) The regulations may, in the case of any activity specified in the regulations, make provision as to the meaning for the purposes of the regulations of a person's being involved in that activity.

(6) The regulations may make provision, for the purposes of the regulations, as to the meaning of a person's—

(a) being “owned or controlled directly or indirectly by” another person, and

(b) being “associated with” another person.

(7) The regulations must, in relation to any case where the Minister designates a person by name [F5 under the standard procedure], require the information given under the provision made under section 10(3) to include a statement of reasons.

[F6 (7A) The regulations must, in relation to any case where the Minister designates a person by name under the urgent procedure, require the information given under the provision made under section 10(3) to include a statement—

(a) that the designation is made under the urgent procedure,

(b) identifying the relevant provision by reference to which the Minister considers that condition B is met in relation to the person, and

(c) setting out why the Minister considers that condition C is met.

(7B) The regulations must also provide that, in relation to any case where the Minister designates a person by name under the urgent procedure, the Minister must, after the end of the period mentioned in subsection (2B)(b), or if the Minister has made a certification under subsection (2B)(b)(ii) the period mentioned in subsection (2C), but otherwise without delay—

(a) in a case where the designation ceases to have effect, take such steps as are reasonably practicable to inform the person that the designation has ceased to have effect, or

(b) in any other case, take such steps as are reasonably practicable to give the designated person a statement of reasons.]

(8) In [F7 subsections (7) and (7A)] a “statement of reasons” means a brief statement of the matters that the Minister knows, or has reasonable grounds to suspect, in relation to that person [F8 —

(a) in the case of a designation under the standard procedure, which have led the Minister to make the designation, and

(b) in the case of a designation under the urgent procedure, as a result of which the designation does not cease to have effect at the end of the period mentioned in subsection (2B)(b) or (2C) (as the case may be).]

(9) The regulations may authorise matters to be excluded from that statement where the Minister considers that they should be excluded—

(a) in the interests of national security or international relations,

(b) for reasons connected with the prevention or detection of serious crime in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, or

(c) in the interests of justice,

(but the regulations may not authorise the Minister to provide no statement of reasons).

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 11(1A) inserted (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 58(2), 69(3)

F4 S. 11(2)-(2F) substituted for s. 11(2) (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 58(3), 69(3)

F5 Words in s. 11(7) inserted (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 58(4), 69(3)

F6 S. 11(7A)(7B) inserted (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 58(5), 69(3)

F7 Words in s. 11(8) substituted (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 58(6)(a), 69(3)

F8 S. 11(8)(a)(b) substituted for words (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 58(6)(b), 69(3)

Commencement Information

I3 S. 11 in force at 22.11.2018 by S.I. 2018/1213, reg. 2(a)

12 Designation of persons by description under a designation power U.K.

(1) This section applies to regulations under section 1 which grant a power for an appropriate Minister (“the Minister”) to provide that persons of a specified description are designated persons.

[F9 (1A) The regulations must contain provision for the Minister to be able to choose whether to provide that persons of a specified description are designated persons under either—

(a) the standard procedure, or

(b) the urgent procedure.]

[F10 (2) The regulations must contain provision which prohibits the exercise of that power under the standard procedure except where conditions A and C are met.]

(3) Condition A is that the description of persons specified is such that a reasonable person would know whether that person fell within it.

F11 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Condition C is that the Minister—

(a) has reasonable grounds to suspect—

(i) in a case where the specified description is members of a particular organisation, that that organisation is an involved person, or

(ii) in the case of any other specified description, that any person falling within that description would necessarily be an involved person. F12 ...

F12 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F13 (5A) The regulations must provide that under the urgent procedure—

(a) the Minister may provide that persons of a specified description are designated persons where condition C is not met, but conditions A, D and E are met, and

(b) the persons cease to be designated persons at the end of the period of 56 days beginning with the day following the day on which the persons became designated persons unless, within that period, the Minister certifies that—

(i) conditions A and C are met, or

(ii) conditions A, D and E continue to be met.

(5B) The regulations must also provide that, under the urgent procedure, in a case where the Minister makes a certification under subsection (5A)(b)(ii), the designation ceases to have effect at the end of the period of 56 days beginning with the day immediately following the period mentioned in subsection (5A)(b), unless within that period the Minister certifies that conditions A and C are met.

(5C) Condition D is that the description of persons specified is of persons (or some persons) to which, or in relation to which, relevant provision (whenever made) applies under the law of—

(a) the United States of America;

(b) the European Union;

(c) Australia;

(d) Canada;

(e) any other country specified for the purposes of this paragraph in regulations made by an appropriate Minister.

(5D) Condition E is that the Minister considers that it is in the public interest to provide that persons of a specified description are designated persons under the urgent procedure.

(5E) For the purposes of condition D, relevant provision is provision that the Minister considers—

(a) corresponds, or is similar, to the type of sanction or sanctions in the regulations under section 1, or

(b) is made for purposes corresponding, or similar, to any purpose of any type of sanction or sanctions in the regulations under section 1.]

(6) Subsections (3) to (6) of section 11 apply to regulations which contain provision mentioned in subsection (2) above.

(7) The regulations must, in relation to any case where the Minister provides that persons of a specified description are designated persons [F14 under the standard procedure], require the information given under the provision made under section 10(3) to include a statement of reasons.

[F15 (7A) The regulations must, in relation to any case where the Minister provides that persons of a specified description are designated persons under the urgent procedure, require the information given under the provision made under section 10(3) to include a statement—

(a) that the provision is made under the urgent procedure,

(b) identifying the relevant provision by reference to which the Minister considers that condition D is met in relation to persons of the specified description, and

(c) setting out why the Minister considers that condition E is met.

(7B) The regulations must provide that, in relation to any case where the Minister provides that persons of a specified description are designated persons under the urgent procedure, the Minister must, after the end of the period mentioned in subsection (5A)(b), or if the Minister has made a certification under subsection (5A)(b)(ii) the period mentioned in subsection (5B), but otherwise without delay—

(a) in a case where the persons cease to be designated persons, take such steps as are reasonably practicable to inform the persons that they have ceased to be designated persons, or

(b) in any other case, take such steps as are reasonably practicable to give each designated person a statement of reasons.]

(8) In [F16 subsections (7) and (7A)] a “statement of reasons” means a brief statement of the matters that the Minister knows, or has reasonable grounds to suspect, in relation to persons of the specified description [F17 —

(a) in the case of a designation under the standard procedure, which have led the Minister to make the provision designating persons of that description, and

(b) in the case of a designation under the urgent procedure, as a result of which the persons do not cease to be designated persons at the end of the period mentioned in subsection (5A)(b) or (5B) (as the case may be).]

(9) The regulations may authorise matters to be excluded from that statement where the Minister considers that they should be excluded—

(a) in the interests of national security or international relations,

(b) for reasons connected with the prevention or detection of serious crime in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, or

(c) in the interests of justice,

(but the regulations may not authorise the Minister to provide no statement of reasons).

(10) In this section “organisation” includes any body, association or combination of persons.

Textual Amendments

F9 S. 12(1A) inserted (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 59(2), 69(3)

F10 S. 12(2) substituted (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 59(3), 69(3)

F11 S. 12(4) omitted (15.3.2022) by virtue of Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 59(4), 69(3)

F12 S. 12(5)(b) and word omitted (15.3.2022) by virtue of Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 59(5), 69(3)

F13 S. 12(5A)-(5E) inserted (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 59(6), 69(3)

F14 Words in s. 12(7) inserted (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 59(7), 69(3)

F15 S. 12(7A)(7B) inserted (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 59(8), 69(3)

F16 Words in s. 12(8) substituted (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 59(9)(a), 69(3)

F17 S. 12(8)(a)(b) substituted for words (15.3.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 59(9)(b), 69(3)

Commencement Information

I4 S. 12 in force at 22.11.2018 by S.I. 2018/1213, reg. 2(a)

13 Persons named by or under UN Security Council Resolutions U.K.

(1) This section applies where—

(a) the purpose, or a purpose, of a provision of regulations under section 1 is compliance with an obligation to take particular measures in relation to UN-named persons that the United Kingdom has by virtue of a UN Security Council Resolution (“the Resolution”), and

(b) for that provision of the regulations to achieve its purpose as regards that obligation, the relevant UN-named persons need to be designated persons for the purposes of that provision.

(2) The regulations must provide for those persons to be designated persons for the purposes of that provision.

(3) Provision under subsection (2) may be expressed in any way and may in particular refer to the Resolution, or any other instrument, as varied or supplemented from time to time.

(4) In this section—

• a “UN-named person” means a person for the time being named (by the Security Council or a subsidiary organ of the Security Council) for the purposes of the Resolution so far as it provides for the taking of the measures in question, and

• “the relevant UN-named persons” means each such person.

Commencement Information

I5 S. 13 in force at 22.11.2018 by S.I. 2018/1213, reg. 2(a)