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Aktualisierte Sanktionsmeldung: Lybien

AI Analysis

Executive Summary

This FINMA publication announces an update by Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to the sanctions list under the Ordinance of 30 March 2011 on Measures against Libya (SR 946.231.149.82), aligning Swiss sanctions with changes in the UN Libya sanctions regime. It matters for Swiss financial institutions as it triggers immediate screening and compliance obligations to avoid violations of asset freeze and related restrictions on designated persons, entities, or organizations. Failure to act promptly risks enforcement by FINMA. #

What Changed

The core change is an amendment to the list of sanctioned natural persons, companies, and organizations in SR 946.231.149.82, as published by SECO. This reflects broader UN Security Council updates via Resolution 2769 (2025), which introduced new designation criteria for individuals/entities supporting armed groups or criminal networks through illicit exploitation/export of crude oil or refined petroleum from Libya, alongside exemptions for certain arms embargo activities, allowances for Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) frozen cash investments in low-risk deposits, and extensions of related mandates (https://press.un.org/en/2025/sc15967.doc.htm). Swiss updates typically mirror UN lists to ensure enforceability, focusing on asset freezes, travel bans, and prohibitions on providing funds or

What You Need To Do

  • Screen immediately
  • Freeze assets
  • Cease dealings
  • Update systems
  • Monitor related flows
  • Report suspicions

Key Dates

Immediate upon publication (19 August 2025) - Swiss firms must implement updated sanctions list screening and freeze applicable assets/transactions per FINMA/SECO requirements (https://www.finma.ch/en/news/2025/08/20250819-sr-946-231-149-82/). DEADLINE
1 May 2026 - Expiration of UN authorizations/measures on illicit petroleum exports from Libya (Resolution 2769).
15 May 2026 - End of UN Panel of Experts mandate monitoring Libya sanctions.

Compliance Impact

Urgency: High - Immediate action required due to asset freeze obligations; non-compliance risks FINMA fines, reputational damage, or criminal liability under Swiss AML/sanctions laws. This matters amid evolving geopolitical risks (e.g., petroleum smuggling destabilizing Libya), as flagged in FINMA's 2025 Risk Monitor on sanctions evasion via financial flows (https://www.swlegal.com/en/insights/new

Who is Affected

Swiss financial institutionsAll firms handling Libyan-related assets, trade, or counterpartiesDesignated partiespublications/international-compliance-blog/weekly-sanctions-update-august-4-2025.html).Global firms with Swiss exposureborder flows involving Libya sanctions (e.g., UK, EU, US regimes: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-libya; https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-information/libya-sanctions).

Summary

Das Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft (SECO) hat eine Änderung der Liste der sanktionierten natürlichen Personen, Unternehmen und Organisationen der Verordnung vom 30. März 2011 über Massnahmen gegenüber Libyen (SR 946.231.149.82) publiziert.

Relevant Firm Types

BankWealth ManagerPayment ProviderAll Firms
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