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🇨🇭 FINMA Regulatory Notice high

Aktualisierte Sanktionsmeldung: Burundi

| Switzerland

AI Analysis

The Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (WBF/DEFR) has updated the annex to the Ordinance on Measures against Burundi (SR 946.231.121.8), modifying the list of sanctioned persons, companies, and organizations in the SESAM database. This matters for Swiss financial institutions as it imposes immediate asset freeze and transaction restrictions, aligning with FINMA's heightened focus on sanctions risks amid geopolitical tensions.

Key dates

8 October 2025, 23:00 hours
- Changes enter into force; asset freezes and prohibitions apply immediately thereafter
6 October 2025
- DEFR modifies the sanctions list and updates SESAM database

Suggested considerations

  • Screen clients, transactions, and assets against the updated SESAM database immediately upon effectiveness (post-8 October 2025, 23:00).
  • Freeze assets of newly listed or modified sanctioned parties without prior notice and report to SECO/FINMA via MyFINMA notification system.
  • Cease any direct or indirect provision of funds/economic resources to sanctioned parties; conduct retrospective reviews of existing relationships for Burundi exposure.
  • Update internal sanctions screening tools, policies, and staff training to reflect SESAM changes; document compliance efforts for potential FINMA audits.

What changed

  • - Modification to the list of sanctioned individuals, enterprises, and organizations under the Burundi sanctions ordinance.
  • Update published in the SECO Sanctions Management (SESAM) database, which is the authoritative Swiss reference for sanctions compliance.
  • No details on specific additions, deletions, or alterations to designations are provided in the publication summary, but changes trigger mandatory screening and blocking obligations.

Compliance impact

Urgency: High - Immediate effectiveness (8 October 2025) requires swift database rescreening to avoid violations, with FINMA emphasizing sanctions evasion risks in its 2025 Risk Monitor amid geopolitical shifts; non-compliance risks enforcement actions, fines, or reputational damage.

Who is affected

  • All Swiss financial intermediaries supervised by FINMA, including banks, asset managers, wealth managers, insurers, and payment providers required to comply with sanctions ordinances.
  • Entities dealing with cross-border asset management, high-risk clients from politically exposed or sanctioned jurisdictions, and those handling Burundi-related transactions or counterparties.
  • Broader applicability to any Swiss firm or individual making funds or assets available to listed parties, per SECO/FINMA implementation.
  • detail/finma-risk-monitor-2025-finma-flags-nine-principal/.6
  • 7uO63zm.5
  • FINMA's general sanctions page details SECO ordinance implementation and MyFINMA notifications
  • sanctions-and-combating-terrorism/international-sanctions-and-independent-freezing-measures/.8

References

AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original FINMA source before acting. Full disclaimer.

What the FINMA said

Das Eidgenössische Departement für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung WBF hat eine Änderung des Anhangs der Verordnung über Massnahmen gegenüber Burundi (SR 946.231.121.8) publiziert.

Published by FINMA . Read the full notice at the source for the authoritative text.

Sectors

Banking & CreditInvestment ManagementWealth & Private Banking

Topics

AML / Financial Crime

Relevant Firm Types

BankAsset ManagerWealth Manager
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