Explanatory note

These Regulations are made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (c.13) to establish a sanctions regime in relation to the Central African Republic for the purposes of compliance with the United Kingdom's United Nations obligations and for promoting peace, security, stability and human rights in the Central African Republic and related purposes. Following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, these Regulations also replace the European Union sanctions measures in relation to the Central African Republic which are currently implemented via an EU Council Decision and Regulation.

The Regulations confer a power on the Secretary of State to designate persons who are involved in activity which threatens the peace, stability and security of the Central African Republic, or who are involved in the commission of serious human rights violations or abuses in the Central African Republic. Designated persons may be excluded from the United Kingdom and may be made subject to financial sanctions, including having their funds and/or economic resources frozen. The Regulations also impose trade restrictions on military goods and technology.

The Regulations provide for certain exceptions to this sanctions regime, in particular in relation to financial sanctions (for example to allow for frozen accounts to be credited with interest or other earnings) and also acts done for the purpose of national security or the prevention of serious crime. The Regulations also confer powers on the Secretary of State and the Treasury to issue licences in respect of activities that would otherwise be prohibited under the financial and trade sanctions imposed. Schedule 2 to these Regulations sets out the purposes pursuant to which the Treasury may issue such licences.

The Regulations make it a criminal offence to contravene, or circumvent, any of the prohibitions in these Regulations and prescribe the mode of trial and penalties that apply to such offences. The Regulations also confer powers on specified maritime enforcement officers to stop and search ships in international and foreign waters for the purpose of enforcing specified trade sanctions and to seize goods found on board ships which are being, or have been, dealt with in contravention, or deemed contravention, of those prohibitions. The Regulations prescribe powers for the provision and sharing of information to enable the effective implementation and enforcement of the sanctions regime.

Council Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of the situation in the Central African Republic is revoked by these Regulation. The Central African Republic (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2014 are also revoked, and certain provisions of the Export Control (Sudan, South Sudan and Central African Republic Sanctions) Regulations 2014 are amended, by these Regulations.

An Impact Assessment has not been produced for these Regulations, as they are intended to ensure existing sanctions remain in place following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. These Regulations are intended to deliver substantially the same policy effects as the existing European Union sanctions. An Impact Assessment was, however, produced for the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 and can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/653271/Sanctions_and_Anti-Money_Laundering_Bill_Impact_Assessment_18102017.pdf .