Statutory guidance
Syria sanctions: guidance
Guidance on the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
Details
The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 came fully into force on 31 December 2020.
This guidance assists people in implementing and complying with the regulations. It covers the prohibitions and requirements imposed, and 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 (DfT), Home Office and HM Treasury, through the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI).
Updates to this page
Published 11 March 2020
Last updated
2517 AprilJuly 2025
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17 July 2025
Online form link added to section 3.1.
25 April 2025
Amended to reflect the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
14 March 2025
Page navigation has been updated for better usability. No material changes to text.
7 March 2025
Reference to 'Import Case Management System' updated to 'Apply for an import licence' to reflect new service name.
23 January 2025
Amending to reflect the amendments previously made in 2024 through Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Regulations 2024.
5 December 2024
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.
10 October 2024
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.
22 July 2024
Amended to include director disqualification into the legislation guidance.
11 March 2020
First published.