The Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
UK Statutory Instrument 2020 No. 753 — creates 19 criminal offences.
- Made
- 16 July 2020
- In force from
- Not determined
- Extent
- Not stated
- Subject
- International sanctions, export control and trade restrictions
- Made under
- Schedule 1 to, the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018
Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations) — published with the instrument by the department that made it. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
These Regulations are made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (c.13) to establish a sanctions regime in relation to Sudan for the purposes of implementing many of the obligations that the United Kingdom has under UN Security Council Resolutions 1556 (2004), 1591 (2005), 1672 (2006) and 2035 (2012). They also have the purposes of promoting the peace, security and stability of Sudan, encouraging the resolution of the armed conflicts in Sudan and the stabilisation of Sudan, promoting respect for democracy, the rule of law and good governance in Sudan and other related purposes. Following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, these Regulations also replace the European Union sanctions regime in relation to the situation in Sudan, implemented via an EU Council Decision and Regulation. The Regulations confer a power on the Secretary of State to designate persons who are, or have been, involved in activity which threatens the peace, stability or security of Sudan or in the commission of serious human rights violations or abuses in Sudan. Designated persons may be excluded from the United Kingdom and may be subject to financial sanctions, including having their funds and/or economic resources frozen. These 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 747/2014 of 10 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Sudan and repealing Regulations (EC) No 131/2004 and (EC) No 1184/2005 is revoked by these Regulations. The Sudan (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1826) and The Export Control (Sudan, South Sudan and Central African Republic Sanctions) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3258) are also revoked 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 .
Offences created by this instrument
- Asset-freeze in relation to designated persons regulation 12(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Circumventing etc. prohibitions regulation 17(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Supply and delivery of military goods regulation 22(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Making military goods and military technology available regulation 23(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Transfer of military technology regulation 24(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Brokering services: non-UK activity relating to military goods and military technology regulation 27(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Enabling or facilitating the conduct of armed hostilities regulation 28(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- A person (“P”) commits an offence if P knowingly or recklessly— a provides information that is false in a material… regulation 37(1) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- A person who purports to act under the authority of a Treasury licence but who fails to comply with any condition of… regulation 37(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- A person (“P”) commits an offence if P knowingly or recklessly— a provides information that is false in a material… regulation 38(1) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- A person who purports to act under the authority of a trade licence but who fails to comply with any condition of the… regulation 38(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Finance: reporting obligations regulation 40(6) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- A person commits an offence if that person— a without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails within the time and in the… regulation 44(1) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- General trade licences: records regulation 46(6) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- General trade licences: inspection of records regulation 47(5) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Paragraph (2) applies where a person is guilty of an offence under section 68(2) of CEMA in connection with a… regulation 56(1) · Revoked · Strict liability
- Paragraph (4) applies where a person is guilty of an offence under section 170(2) of CEMA in connection with a… regulation 56(3) · Revoked · Strict liability
- A person is not to be taken to commit an offence under the Export Control Order 2008 if the person would, in the… regulation 67 · Status not determined · Mixed — some elements strict, some not
- Confidential information in certain cases where designation power used regulation 9(6) · Status not determined · Strict liability
What Parliament said about it
Contributions, debates and written statements mentioning this instrument by name. Parliamentary material is reused under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
- Sudan: Sanctions on Entities Linked to SAF and RSF
Commons · Written Statements · 12 July 2023 · The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Mr Andrew Mitchell)
On 12 July, in response to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the UK announced a package of six sanctions under the Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. We are freezing the assets of three commercial entities linked to each party involved in the conflict: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), headed by Al Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by Hemedti. The SAF and RSF have dragged Sudan into a wholly unjustified war, which they are prosecuting with utter disregard for their people, and for which they should be accountable. UK sanctions on those entities which the SAF and RSF…
- Sudan Conflict Sanctions
Commons · Written Statements · 15 April 2024 · The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Mr Andrew Mitchell)
On 15 April 2024, in response to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the UK announced a package of three sanctions designations under the Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. We are freezing the assets of three commercial entities linked to the parties responsible for the conflict, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), headed by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). On 15 April 2023, the SAF and RSF dragged Sudan into a brutal and unnecessary conflict. One year on, the human cost has been terrible. We continue to see appalling…
- Sudan
Lords · Lords Chamber · 13 September 2024 · Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)
My Lords, this has been an excellent and well-informed debate, and it is an honour to close it. I have recommended to many of my colleagues in the other place to read this debate in Hansard, because I think it will inform future actions. I have always held the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, in high regard, but my estimation of him has gone up since realising that it is much harder to answer questions than to ask them. I say to the right reverend Prelate and other noble Lords that there is no doubt that we are dealing with a fast-changing situation, as was illustrated by the noble Lord, Lord Purvis.…
- Sudan: Sanctions on RSF Commanders
Commons · Written Statements · 15 December 2025 · The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
My noble Friend the Minister of State for International Development and Africa, the right hon. Baroness Chapman of Darlington, has made the following statement: On 12 December 2025, the UK announced a package of four sanctions designations under the Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020—the Sudan regulations. These sanctions respond to the appalling atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces in and around El Fasher, north Darfur, which the RSF captured on 26 October 2025. There is overwhelming evidence of mass killings of civilians; ethnically targeted executions; sexual…
How Parliament handled it
This instrument became law without a debate or a vote. Under the negative procedure it took effect unless a motion to stop it succeeded, and none was tabled.
- Procedure
- Made negative — law unless a motion to stop it succeeded
- Could either House amend it?
- No. A statutory instrument is put to each House as a whole thing, to be approved or not. Neither House can change a word of it.
Procedural history
- Instrument created 16 July 2020
- Instrument made (signed into law) 16 July 2020
- Laid before the House of Commons 20 July 2020 · Commons
- Laid before the House of Lords 20 July 2020 · Lords
- Considered by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) 28 July 2020 · Lords
- No comment by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) 28 July 2020 · Lords
- Considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) 16 September 2020 · Commons, Lords
- Not drawn to the special attention of the Houses by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) 16 September 2020 · Commons, Lords
- Objection period ends 30 September 2020
- Instrument remains law 30 September 2020
- Procedure concluded in the House of Commons and the House of Lords 30 September 2020 · Commons, Lords
- Instrument comes into force as law Date not recorded
From Parliament's Statutory Instruments service. Parliamentary material is reused under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
Check the source
- This instrument on legislation.gov.uk The authoritative text, including amendments made since
- Other instruments from 2020