Statutory guidance

Republic of Belarus sanctions: guidance

Guidance on the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Department for Transport, Home Office, Export Control Joint Unit, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation and Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation
Published
15 January 2020
Last updated
195 NovemberDecember 2024 — See all updates

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Republic of Belarus sanctions: guidance

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This guidance assists people in implementing and complying with the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. It covers the prohibitions and requirements imposed by the regulations. It also provides guidance on best practice for:

  • complying with the prohibitions and requirements
  • enforcing them
  • circumstances where they do not apply

This guidance should be read alongside more detailed sanctions guidance published by departments including the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Department for Transport, Home Office and HM Treasury, through the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI).

Updates to this page

Published 15 January 2020
Last updated 195 NovemberDecember 2024 + show all updates

  1. These changes reflect the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Regulations 2024 and taken together make a range of technical changes with the purpose of improving OFSI’s ability to gather intelligence on industry’s compliance with financial sanctions, strengthen OFSI’s enforcement powers, enable OFSI to conduct its licensing responsibilities more efficiently, and clarify financial sanctions legislation where there is existing uncertainty.

  2. References to 'Import Case Management System' updated to 'Apply for an import licence' to reflect new service name. Email address and links also updated.

  3. Added the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) as a supporting organisation, who took over civil enforcement for sanctions in October 2024. As part of these new powers, OTSI has introduced a new service to apply for sanctions licences for the provision of services, which replaces the previous process of applying via SPIRE. Applications for goods-related exports sanctions licences remain via SPIRE.

  4. Made minor administrative amendments.

  5. These latest amendments coincide with the laying of a new latest SI which includes a new package of sanctions against Belarus, banning the import of various goods such as gold, iron, steel, aluminium and associated ancillary services such as brokering and technical assistance. In addition these amendments also include director disqualification clauses.

  6. Added new licensing grounds.

  7. Updated to reflect the provisions in The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.

  8. Guidance amended to reflect the provisions in the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2022.

  9. The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 has been added to the list of regulations.

  10. Guidance amended to reflect the provisions in the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.

  11. First published.

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