The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Asset-Freezing) (Amendment) Regulations 2016

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Council Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 (“the Council Regulation”) of 18th July 2005 (OJ L 193 23.7.2005, p.1) imposes sanctions directed against persons acting in violation of the arms embargo with regard to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These include restrictive measures freezing the funds and economic resources of persons and entities listed in Annex I to the Council Regulation. Criminal penalties for the breach of the restrictive measures imposed by the Council Regulation are imposed in the UK by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/1511) (“the 2012 Regulations”).

Council Regulation (EU) No 2016/2230 of 12th December 2016 (OJ No L 336I, 12.12.2016, p.1) imposes additional restrictive measures against persons acting in violation of the arms embargo with regard to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These include restrictive measures freezing the funds and economic resources of persons listed in Annex Ia to the Council Regulation as inserted by Council Regulation (EU) No 2016/2230.

These Regulations amend the 2012 Regulations, to bring them into line with the amendments made to the Council Regulation and to update the enforcement provisions of the 2012 Regulations accordingly.

Regulation 2(2) amends the definitions of “Council Regulation” and “designated person” in regulation 2 of the 2012 Regulations to ensure they include reference to Annex Ia to the Council Regulation as inserted by Council Regulation (EU) No 2016/2230.

Regulation 2(3) amends regulation 3 of the 2012 Regulations to provide that the prohibition on dealing with funds or economic resources includes funds or economic resources owned, held or controlled by a third party acting on a designated person’s behalf or at their direction.

Regulation 2(4)(c) amends regulation 8 of the 2012 Regulations to add an exception to the prohibition in regulations 4 and 5 of the 2012 Regulations for payments due to Annex Ia designated persons under judicial, administrative or arbitral decisions rendered in the European Union or enforceable in the United Kingdom.

Regulation 2(4)(d) further amends regulation 8 of the 2012 Regulations to confirm that a frozen account includes an account which is owned, held or controlled by a third party acting on behalf of a designated person or at their direction.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no significant impact on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is foreseen.

A list of designated persons is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-consolidated-list-of-targets or can be obtained from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, H.M. Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ.

Further information is available from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation at the above address and on H.M. Treasury website (www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-treasury).