The Office of Foreign Assets Control Sept. 8 released its annual terrorist assets report for 2020. The report includes an overview of OFAC terrorism sanctions, their impact, enforcement measures and a summary of blocked assets.
The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security is willing to consider ways to accelerate its emerging and foundational technology control effort but won't abandon its multilateral efforts just to publish controls more quickly, a top official told a bipartisan congressional commission on China Wednesday. Acting BIS Undersecretary Jeremy Pelter acknowledged criticism that the agency is moving too slowly on the congressionally mandated export control effort but defended the work BIS has done so far and said the agency doesn’t plan to change course.
Zimbabwe licensed 57 foreign and local entities to grow medicinal cannabis and help tap the export market for the product, the country's investment group, Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency said, Bloomberg reported. ZIDA said production has already kicked off at some of the licensed farms, and the Ministry of Lands is working with ZIDA along with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe to ensure the quality of the seeds meets regulatory requirements. Zimbabwe legalized medicinal cannabis in 2018 but has failed to ship the cannabis outside the country, Bloomberg said. “We have licensed 57 investors for medicinal cannabis production from Germany, Switzerland, Canada and as well some local players,” the agency said. “Companies have been licensed for cultivation and processing of medicinal cannabis and they own 100% of their investment.”
The United Kingdom's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation removed Khalifa Muhammad Turki Al-Subaiy from its ISIL and al-Qaida sanctions listings in a Sept. 7 notice. Al-Subaiy is a "Qatar-based terrorist financier and facilitator," who's provided support to senior al-Qaida leadership. He was released from prison in Qatar.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control said it decided to remove sanctions against three people and a vessel last week (see 2109020028) because “circumstances no longer warrant” their inclusion on the Specially Designated Nationals List, the agency said. The sanctions were removed from three Balkans-related entries and one vessel designated under Cuba sanctions. OFAC also changed identifying information for the entry for the vessel Sand Swan, including by revising its name to Ebano. It also updated identifying information for the vessel Tifon.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories for Aug. 30 - Sept.3 in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Singapore's National Environment Agency will impose import and export controls on lead paints under its Environmental Protection and Management Act starting Jan. 3, 20222, the agency said. It will bar the manufacture, import and sale of paints beyond 90 ppm total lead concentration, save for zinc-based anti-corrosion paints and copper-based anti-fouling paints. Existing stocks of these paints will allowed to be sold locally until depletion, NEA said. The export and reexport of these paints will require a Hazardous Substance License. Labels will be required for zinc-based anti-corrosion paints and copper-based anti-fouling paints with a total lead count of 90 ppm for local sale and restricted to industrial uses only.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls will update its website Sept. 7, 6-6:30 a.m. EDT, potentially causing disruptions, DDTC said. The agency said users should refresh their browser if they experience technical issues during that time. The update won’t affect users working in Defense Export Control and Compliance System applications.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is seeking comments by Nov. 8 on an information collection related to its Rough Diamonds Control Regulations, the agency said in a notice. The collection involves the ultimate consignee listed on a customs form for trade in rough diamonds.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned four Iranian intelligence operatives who targeted a U.S. citizen and Iranian dissidents to silence their criticisms of the Iranian government, OFAC said Sept. 3. The agency designated senior intelligence official Alireza Shahvaroghi Farahani, who led a failed kidnapping attempt against a U.S. journalist and human rights activist. Others involved in the plot were intelligence operatives Mahmoud Khazein, Kiya Sadeghi and Omid Noori, all of whom were also sanctioned. OFAC said they researched options to abduct the journalist in New York City and transport him to Venezuela on “military-style speedboats.” The group also targeted dissidents in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United Arab Emirates, OFAC said.