1. On 10 December 2024 the Minister for External Relations (the Minister) revoked the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Jersey) Law 2019 General Licence (Legal Services) reference RUSSIA/JSY/2023/2.
2. This notice also serves as a reminder in respect of the automatic implementation of UK General Licences made under the Russia and Belarus sanctions regimes.
3. On 18 September 2023 the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Amendment of Law and Order No. 2) (Jersey) Order 2023 made amendments to the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Implementation of External Sanctions) (Jersey) Order 2021 to provide for the automatic effect in Jersey of all UK General Licences made under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the Russia Regulations) or the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the Belarus Regulations), subject to any necessary modifications.
4. Persons may therefore rely on a UK General licence issued under the Russia Regulations or the Belarus Regulations to undertake specified activities which would otherwise be prohibited by Jersey sanctions legislation, without the need to apply to the Minister for a specific licence.
5. However, you should be particularly cautious when seeking to rely on a Russia or Belarus UK General Licence as many of the provisions used in UK General Licences are drafted for a specific UK-context (e.g. referring to UK legislation). We therefore recommend that you consider taking legal advice before seeking to rely on them.
6. Any persons seeking to rely on a UK General Licence are advised to check the list of current valid UK General Licences issued by OFSI, noting the provisions and reporting requirements contained therein.
7. All reporting requirements of a UK General Licence apply in Jersey and reports must be submitted to the Minister (rather than, for example, HM Treasury) at sanctions@gov.je.
8. As is the case with specific licences, a person commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of 5 years and to a fine, if the person purports to act under the authority of a General Licence but fails to comply with any condition to which the General Licence is subject.
Further Information
9. Up-to-date information on current UK General Licences is available at UK General Licences issued by OFSI.
10. Find more information on sanctions on the Gov.je or Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) websites.
11. Jersey guidance on the Russia and Belarus sanctions regimes is available on sanctions by country and category at JFSC.
12. A copy of the UK Regulations can be obtained from legislation.gov.uk.
13. The UK Sanctions List on GOV.UK
14. The UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation Consolidated List on GOV.UK
Enquiries
15. Non-media enquiries, sanctions compliance reporting, and licence applications should be emailed to the Financial Sanctions Implementation Unit at sanctions@gov.je.
gov.je