Improved statutory guidance for sanctions regimes 

To make guidance on UK sanctions regimes clearer and easier to navigate, we’ve introduced a series of improvements to structure and wording of the statutory guidance. 

You do not need to take any action. These changes make the sanctions guidance easier to read and use, and do not reflect changes to the meaning of the text or scope of the regulations.
  

Summary of changes to statutory guidance, by section: 

1. Prohibitions and requirements: Minor changes to text throughout. Wording under ‘Director disqualification’ and ‘Information and record keeping’ is updated, and an introductory section added. 
   
2. Enforcement: Deletion of content that duplicates departmental enforcement guidance. This section will link out to departmental guides.
   
3. Licences and exceptions:   

3.1 Exceptions: Added introductory definition of exceptions. Each exception now has a header, and links to additional departmental guidance where helpful. New ‘lookup’ guide for exceptions to the Belarus trade and transport sanctions.

3.2-3.4 Licensing: Added introductory definition of licences. Restructured content on licensing considerations. New ‘lookup’ guide for considerations for trade licences under the Belarus sanctions.

4. Further information: Simplified by linking to a single centralised place for departmental contacts on the sanctions hub page. 

Statutory guidance for all regimes is collated here: Current UK sanctions regimes – GOV.UK 

Older versions of statutory guidance and other GOV.UK pages can be accessed for reference via the National Archives Web Archive. 

This improvement to sanctions guidance delivers on recommendation ii of the May 2025 cross-Whitehall review of sanctions. 

The UK Sanctions List from FCDO lists which people, entities and ships are designated or specified under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, and why.

Find out more about UK Sanctions and how to contact us here: UK sanctions – GOV.UK

This is a joint announcement from: 

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office // Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation // Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation