Lebanon (Sanctions) (Overseas Territories) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020 No. 1124)

Summary

This Order in Council extends the UK's Lebanon (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 to a list of British Overseas Territories, including the Cayman Islands and the Virgin Islands, with territory-specific modifications. It creates a Lebanon sanctions regime restricting trade in military goods and technology, brokering services, technical assistance and related financial services and funds.

• Trade prohibitions: Prohibits export, supply and delivery of military goods and technology to Lebanon, and brokering services relating to such goods, unless authorised.
• Financial and funds restrictions: Restricts provision of finance, financial services and funds connected to prohibited military goods activity in relation to Lebanon.
• Licensing: Allows the Governor of the relevant territory, with the consent of the UK Secretary of State, to issue, vary, revoke or suspend trade licences authorising otherwise prohibited activity.
• Information and enforcement powers: Gives authorised officers (police, customs, Governor-authorised persons) power to request information and documents from persons involved in relevant activity, and to detain suspected ships, aircraft or vehicles.
• Offences: Creates offences for contravening the military goods export prohibition, for failing to provide requested information, giving false information, or obstructing an authorised officer.
• Exceptions: Provides exceptions for acts done for national security or prevention/detection of serious crime, determined by a responsible officer or by the Governor with Secretary of State consent.

The Order also extends specific provisions of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (protection for compliance acts, Crown application, and saving for prerogative powers) to the listed territories, and includes transitional provisions carrying over licences and pending applications from the predecessor 2007 Lebanon sanctions order.

Key obligations

• Persons must not export, supply, deliver or broker military goods or technology destined for Lebanon unless authorised by a trade licence
• Persons must not provide financial services or funds in connection with prohibited military goods activity relating to Lebanon without authorisation
• Persons concerned in a relevant activity must provide information or produce documents requested by an authorised officer within the time and manner specified, or within a reasonable time if none is specified
• Persons must not knowingly or recklessly provide false information or documents in response to an authorised officer's request
• Persons must not destroy, conceal or remove documents with intent to evade an information request, or obstruct an authorised officer
• Masters of ships, aircraft operators or vehicle owners must comply with detention directions and requirements issued by an authorised officer under regulation 23A
• Licence holders must keep records as required by the Governor under the general trade licence provisions and permit inspection of those records

Applies to

persons and businesses trading with or exporting to Lebanon, brokers of military goods and technology, providers of financial services and funds connected to military goods activity, ship, aircraft and vehicle operators/owners, holders of trade licences under the Lebanon sanctions regime

Deadlines

• immediately after the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 come into force in the United Kingdom: Commencement date of this Order
• as specified by an authorised officer, or a reasonable time if none specified: Deadline for providing information or documents requested under regulation 19 (information powers)

Related documents

• The Sanctions (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1582) amends this document