What these notes do
These Explanatory Notes relate to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (c. 13) which received Royal Assent on 23 May 2018.
•These Explanatory Notes have been prepared by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in order to assist the reader in understanding the Act. They do not form part of the Act and have not been endorsed by Parliament.
•These Explanatory Notes explain what each part of the Act will mean in practice; provide background information on the development of policy; and provide additional information on how the Act will affect existing legislation in this area.
•These Explanatory Notes might best be read alongside the Act. They are not, and are not intended to be, a comprehensive description of the Act.
Overview of the Act
1.The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018:
a.enables the UK to continue to implement United Nations (UN) sanctions regimes and to use sanctions to meet national security and foreign policy objectives; and
b.enables anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures to be kept up to date, helping to protect the security and prosperity of the UK and to continue to align the UK with international standards.
2.These matters are currently mostly dealt with through EU law. This takes effect through the European Communities Act 1972 or through legislation made under it. The European Communities Act 1972 will be repealed when the UK withdraws from the European Union (EU).
3.The Act is in three parts and has three schedules:
a.Part 1 provides powers to create sanctions regimes and contains procedures relating to the review of sanctions.
b.Part 2 provides powers to create anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations, and contains provisions relating to registers of beneficial owners of overseas entities and beneficial owners of companies registered in British Overseas Territories.
c.Part 3 contains general provisions supporting Parts 1 and 2 of the Act, including definitions.
d.Schedule 1 makes further provision about regulations which impose trade sanctions and relates to section 5 in Part 1.
e.Schedule 2 makes further provision about regulations for the purposes of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing and relates to section 49 in Part 2.
f.Schedule 3 makes consequential amendments to related primary legislation.