Explanatory note

This Order amends the Liberia (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2004 (“the 2004 Order”) by removing the prohibition in Article 6 on the importation of rough diamonds from Liberia and making the necessary consequential changes to the provisions on penalties and proceedings in Article 17.

Following the decision dated 27 April 2007 of the UN Security Council under Resolution 1753(2007) not to renew the prohibition against imports of rough diamonds originating in Liberia, which had been imposed by paragraph 6 of UNSCR 1521(2003) and implemented in the European Union by Article 3 of Council Common Position 2004/137/CFSP of 10 February 2004 and Article 6(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 234/2004, the European Community under Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 719/2007 of 25 June 2007 removed its prohibition on imports of rough diamonds from Liberia. This Order reflects the European Community’s decision by removing the prohibition in the Overseas Territories listed in Schedule 1 of the 2004 Order.

Schedule 2 of the 2004 Order is replaced to reflect the present court structure and procedure in the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the Island of Cyprus.

Schedule 4 is added to the 2004 Order to modify the application of article 17 insofar as it applies to the Falkland Islands (including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands).

The 2004 Order has been amended twice previously by S.I. 2004 No. 1112 The Liberia (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2004 and S.I. 2007 No. 284 The Liberia (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2007.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.