Aktualisierte Sanktionsmeldung: Haiti
Executive Summary
The Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (WBF, under which SECO operates) has published an update to the Annex of the Ordinance of 16 December 2022 on measures concerning Haiti, reflecting UN Security Council amendments to the sanctions list. This matters for Swiss financial institutions as it triggers immediate asset freeze checks and reporting obligations to ensure compliance with Switzerland's implementation of UN sanctions via FINMA and SECO oversight, avoiding enforcement risks amid Haiti's ongoing instability. The update aligns with global renewals of Haiti sanctions, emphasizing asset freezes on newly designated individuals and entities involved in destabilizing activities. #
What Changed
- - Amendment to the Annex of the Verordnung vom 16. Dezember 2022 über Massnahmen betreffend Haiti, incorporating UN Security Council updates to the sanctions list, likely adding individuals, companies, or organizations subject to asset freezes, trave
- Reflects broader UN measures, including renewal of travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes; expansion of arms embargo scope to military goods, technology, technical assistance, financial services, and brokering related to destabilizing activit
- Switzerland implements via SECO's sanction ordinances, with FINMA enforcing for supervised entities; parallels international updates like UN Resolution 2752 (2024) and 2794 (2025), which reintroduce prohibitions on transfers, financial services, and
Suggested Considerations
- Screening and Freezing: Immediately review client databases, accounts, and holdings against the updated SECO Haiti sanctions list; freeze funds/economic resources of designated persons/entities without notice or delay; do not deal with or make available such assets indirectly.
- Reporting: Notify SECO (via ams@seco.admin.ch or portal) and FINMA of matches, providing details on frozen assets; report any additional compliance-facilitating information.
- Ongoing Monitoring: Update transaction screening systems for expanded arms embargo prohibitions (e.g., no financial services for military goods/technology to Haiti-connected persons); cease brokering or technical assistance if applicable.
- Licensing Checks: Refrain from activities unless licensed by competent authorities (e.g., SECO for exemptions).
- Documentation: Maintain records of checks and actions for audits; train staff on updated definitions (e.g., "military goods," "connected with Haiti").
Key Dates
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High - Immediate asset freeze and reporting requirements carry criminal penalties for non-compliance (e.g., aligned with UK fines up to updated monetary levels); failure risks FINMA enforcement, reputational damage, and misalignment with UN obligations amid Haiti's volatile security. Matters due to expanded scope capturing indirect financial facilitation, increasing false positive screeni
Who is Affected
References
AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original FINMA source before acting. Full disclaimer.
Summary
Das Eidgenössische Departement für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung WBF hat eine Änderung des Anhangs der Verordnung vom 16. Dezember 2022 über Massnahmen betreffend Haiti publiziert.