The UK passes new legislation amending Russia sanctions measures

On the 15 July 2022, the UK Parliament passed The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 11) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk) which makes related consequential amendments to trade sanction measures in Part 5 (Trade) of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (“2019 Regulations”).

Import prohibitions:

On the 15 July 2022, the UK Parliament passed The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 11) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk) which makes related consequential amendments to trade sanction measures in Part 5 (Trade) of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (“2019 Regulations”). This amendment replaces the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No.10) Regulations 2022. The amendment extends existing import sanctions and provides for a number of trade restrictions relating to:

1. Technology with the potential use for internal repression, as well as related technical assistance, financial services, funds and brokering services
2. Technology with the potential for assisting the production and development of chemical and biological weapons, as well as related technical assistance, financial services, funds and brokering services
3. Chemical and biological goods and technology
4. Maritime goods and technology – this will mirror the EU’s trade sanctions introduced on 9 March 2022
5. Sterling and EU denominated banknotes
6. Jet fuel and additives, as well as related technical assistance, financial services, funds and brokering services
7. Products relating to oil refining goods and technology
8. The import of revenue generating goods that originate or are consigned to Russia
9. The provision of technical assistance, financial services, funds and brokering services relating to iron and steel imports

On the 21 July 2022, the UK passed The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No.14) Regulations 2022, which further extends prohibitions on the import of oil and oil products, coal and coal products, and gold from Russia. It also prohibits the acquisition, supply and delivery, provision of technical assistance, financial services and funds, and brokering services relating to these goods.

The relevant legislation can be found here:

The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 11) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 14) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)

The relevant explanatory notes can be found here:

The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 11) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 14) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)

The updated notice can be found here:

NTI 2953: Russia import sanctions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Other legislation:

The UK government also passed two other legal instruments on the 18 July 2022: The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No.12) Regulations 2022 (“Amendment No.12”) and The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No.13) (“Amendment No.13”).

Amendment No.12 amends Part 3 of the 2019 Regulations which contains financial sanctions measures. The amendment prohibits additional types of new investment in Russia by restricting ownership interest in land in Russia and in entities connected with or having a place of business in Russia. It also prohibits the establishment of commercial arrangements such as branches in Russia and joint ventures with persons connected with Russia as well as prohibiting investment services directly related with any of those activities.

Amendment No.13 amends several parts of the 2019 Regulations. The amendments include: broadening the designation criteria for which a person can be designated to the sanctions list; introducing a humanitarian exception from trade sanctions in the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk; expanding upon the definition of “owned” in relation to ships and aircraft; and resolving any issues arising from other amendments to the 2019 Regulations.

The relevant legislation can be found here:

The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 12) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 13) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)