Republic of Belarus sanctions: guidance
Guidance on the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
Documents
Details
The Republic of Belarus (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, Home Office and HM Treasury, through the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI).
Updates to this page
Last updated
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Page navigation has been updated for better usability. No material changes to text.
Update history
2026-03-25 08:34
Added summary of the regime’s purposes, scope and prohibitions. Updated transport sanctions section for better clarity and usability, with no material changes to text.
2026-03-12 09:54
Page has been updated for better clarity and usability. No material changes to text.
2025-03-07 13:57
Page navigation has been updated for better usability. No material changes to text.
2024-12-05 10:00
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.
2024-11-19 11:56
References to ‘Import Case Management System’ updated to ‘Apply for an import licence’ to reflect new service name. Email address and links also updated.
2024-10-10 10:00
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.
2024-06-14 16:41
Made minor administrative amendments.
2024-05-16 16:57
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.
2023-06-26 13:58
Added new licensing grounds.
2023-06-09 12:18
Updated to reflect the provisions in The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
2022-07-05 18:06
Guidance amended to reflect the provisions in the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
2021-10-19 10:17
The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 has been added to the list of regulations.