Title 31—Money and Finance: Treasury--Volume 1
PART 594—GLOBAL TERRORISM SANCTIONS REGULATIONS
§ 594.101   Relation of this part to other laws and regulations.
This part is separate from, and independent of, the other parts of this chapter, with the exception of part 501 of this chapter, the recordkeeping and reporting requirements and license application and other procedures of which apply to this part. Actions taken pursuant to part 501 of this chapter with respect to the prohibitions contained in this part are considered actions taken pursuant to this part. Differing foreign policy and national security circumstances may result in differing interpretations of similar language among the parts of this chapter. No license or authorization contained in or issued pursuant to those other parts authorizes any transaction prohibited by this part. No license or authorization contained in or issued pursuant to any other provision of law or regulation authorizes any transaction prohibited by this part. No license or authorization contained in or issued pursuant to this part relieves the involved parties from complying with any other applicable laws or regulations.
§ 594.201   Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.
(a) Except as authorized by statutes, regulations, orders, directives, rulings, instructions, licenses or otherwise, and notwithstanding any contracts entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date, property and interests in property of the following persons that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that hereafter come within the possession or control of U.S. persons, including their overseas branches, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn or otherwise dealt in:
(1) Persons listed in the Annex to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 of September 23, 2001, as amended;
(2) Foreign persons determined by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security:
(i) To have committed or have attempted to commit, to pose a significant risk of committing, or to have participated in training to commit acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States; or
(ii) To be a leader of an entity:
(A) Described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section; or
(B) Whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to a determination by the Secretary of State pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended;
(3) Persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Attorney General:
(i) To be owned, controlled, or directed by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section;
(ii) To own or control, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section;
(iii) To have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, an act of terrorism as defined in § 594.311, or any person whose property and interest in property are blocked pursuant to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section;
(iv) To have participated in training related to terrorism provided by any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section;
(v) To be a leader or official of an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to:
(A) A determination by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section; or
(B) Paragraph (a)(4) of this section; or
(vi) To have attempted or conspired to engage in any of the activities described in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through (a)(3)(v) of this section;
(4) Persons whose property and interests in property were blocked pursuant to E.O. 12947, as amended, on or after January 23, 1995, and remained blocked immediately prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 24, 2001;
(5) Foreign persons that are identified on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control as officials, agents, or affiliates of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC);
(6) Foreign persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to knowingly provide significant financial, material, or technological support for or to:
(i) Bayt al-Mal, Jihad al-Bina, the Islamic Resistance Support Association, the Foreign Relations Department of Hizballah, the External Security Organization of Hizballah, or any successor or affiliate thereof as designated by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State;
(ii) Al-Manar TV, al Nour Radio, or the Lebanese Media Group, or any successor or affiliate thereof as designated by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State;
(iii) A foreign person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to be engaged in fundraising or recruitment activities for Hizballah; or
(iv) A foreign person owned or controlled by a person described in paragraph (a)(6)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section;
(7) Agencies or instrumentalities of a foreign state determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to have, on or after October 25, 2018, knowingly:
(i) Conducted significant joint combat operations with, or significantly supported combat operations of, Hizballah; or
(ii) Provided significant financial support for or to, or significant arms or related materiel to, Hizballah;
(8) Foreign persons included on a list provided to Congress under paragraph (b) of Section 3 of the Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-348) (Shields Act) because they have been determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, on or after December 21, 2018:
(i) To be a member of Hizballah or to be knowingly acting on behalf of Hizballah; and
(ii) To knowingly order, control, or otherwise direct the use of civilians protected as such by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack;
(9) Foreign persons included on a list provided to Congress under paragraph (b) of Section 3 of the Shields Act because they have been determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, on or after December 21, 2018:
(i) To be a member of HAMAS or to be knowingly acting on behalf of Hamas; and
(ii) To knowingly order, control, or otherwise direct the use of civilians protected as such by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack;
(10) Foreign persons, agencies, or instrumentalities of a foreign state, included on a list provided to Congress under paragraph (b) of Section 3 of the Shields Act because they have been determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, on or after December 21, 2018, to knowingly and materially support, order, control, direct, or otherwise engage in:
(i) Any act described in paragraph (a)(8)(ii) of this section by a person described in paragraph (a)(8) of this section; or
(ii) Any act described in paragraph (a)(9)(ii) of this section by a person described in paragraph (a)(9) of this section; or
(11) Foreign persons included on a list provided to Congress under paragraph (c) of Section 3 of the Shields Act because they have been determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, on or after December 21, 2018, to knowingly order, control, or otherwise direct the use of civilians protected as such by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, and with respect to which the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, has exercised the authority to block all property and interests in property.
(b) Unless otherwise authorized by this part or by a specific license expressly referring to this section, any dealing in any security (or evidence thereof) held within the possession or control of a U.S. person and either registered or inscribed in the name of or known to be held for the benefit of any person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) is prohibited. This prohibition includes but is not limited to the transfer (including the transfer on the books of any issuer or agent thereof), disposition, transportation, importation, exportation, or withdrawal of any such security or the endorsement or guaranty of signatures on any such security. This prohibition applies irrespective of the fact that at any time (whether prior to, on, or subsequent to the effective date) the registered or inscribed owner of any such security may have or might appear to have assigned, transferred, or otherwise disposed of the security.
(c) The prohibitions in paragraph (a) of this section do not apply to the importation of any goods that would otherwise be prohibited solely due to the interest of a person whose property and interests in property are blocked solely pursuant to paragraph (a)(6) or (7) of this section. For the purposes of this paragraph (c), the term “goods” means any articles, natural or manmade substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data.
The names of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section are published in the Federal Register and incorporated into the Office of Foreign Assets Control's SDN List with the identifier “[SDGT].” Persons who have been identified by the Office of Foreign Assets Control as officials, agents, or affiliates of the IRGC are identified by a special reference to the “IRGC” at the end of their entries on the SDN List, in addition to the reference to this part. For example, an affiliate of the IRGC whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this part will have the program tags “[SDGT] [IRGC]” at the end of its entry on the SDN List. The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's website: https://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found in appendix A to this chapter. See § 594.412 concerning entities that may not be listed on the SDN List but whose property and interests in property are nevertheless blocked pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), in Section 203 (50 U.S.C. 1702), authorizes the blocking of property and interests in property of a person during the pendency of an investigation. Except as described in note 4 to this section, the names of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pending investigation pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section are published in the Federal Register and incorporated into the SDN List with the identifier “[BPI-PA]” or “[BPI-SDGT].”
In certain cases, OFAC may issue an order to: identify as blocked specific property or interests in property of a person designated or otherwise blocked pursuant to this section; block specific property or interests in property of a person pending investigation; or block or impose other prohibitions with respect to specific property or interests in property less than full blocking sanctions. Notice of such orders will be provided: by publication in the Federal Register ; in writing to persons OFAC may assess to have an interest in the property; or by issuing an order or directive in writing to financial institutions or other transaction intermediaries, and requiring the recipient of the order or directive to promptly disclose it to affected persons with whom the recipient maintains direct commercial relationships. Inquiries regarding any such order should be directed to OFAC's Compliance Division at 202-622-2490 or https://ofac.treasury.gov/contact-ofac.
Subpart E of part 501 of this chapter describes the procedures to be followed for the release of property and interests in property blocked pursuant to this section, including funds blocked due to mistaken identity or typographical or similar errors, and for administrative reconsideration of one's status as a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
The prohibitions set forth in this part are separate from and in addition to other parts of 31 CFR chapter V, including but not limited to the Terrorism Sanctions Regulations (part 595), the Terrorism List Government Sanctions Regulations (part 596), and the Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations (part 597). The prohibitions set forth in this part also are separate and apart from the criminal prohibition, set forth at 18 U.S.C. 2339B, against providing material support or resources to foreign terrorist organizations designated pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended.
§ 594.202   Effect of transfers violating the provisions of this part.
(a) Any transfer after the effective date that is in violation of any provision of this part or of any regulation, order, directive, ruling, instruction, or license issued pursuant to this part, and that involves any property or interest in property blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a), is null and void and shall not be the basis for the assertion or recognition of any interest in or right, remedy, power, or privilege with respect to such property or property interests.
(b) No transfer before the effective date shall be the basis for the assertion or recognition of any right, remedy, power, or privilege with respect to, or any interest in, any property or interest in property blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a), unless the person with whom such property is held or maintained, prior to that date, had written notice of the transfer or by any written evidence had recognized such transfer.
(c) Unless otherwise provided, an appropriate license or other authorization issued by or pursuant to the direction or authorization of the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control before, during, or after a transfer shall validate such transfer or make it enforceable to the same extent that it would be valid or enforceable but for the provisions of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, this part, and any regulation, order, directive, ruling, instruction, or license issued pursuant to this part.
(d) Transfers of property that otherwise would be null and void or unenforceable by virtue of the provisions of this section shall not be deemed to be null and void or unenforceable as to any person with whom such property was held or maintained (and as to such person only) in cases in which such person is able to establish to the satisfaction of the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control each of the following:
(1) Such transfer did not represent a willful violation of the provisions of this part by the person with whom such property was held or maintained;
(2) The person with whom such property was held or maintained did not have reasonable cause to know or suspect, in view of all the facts and circumstances known or available to such person, that such transfer required a license or authorization issued pursuant to this part and was not so licensed or authorized, or, if a license or authorization did purport to cover the transfer, that such license or authorization had been obtained by misrepresentation of a third party or withholding of material facts or was otherwise fraudulently obtained; and
(3) The person with whom such property was held or maintained filed with the Office of Foreign Assets Control a report setting forth in full the circumstances relating to such transfer promptly upon discovery that:
(i) Such transfer was in violation of the provisions of this part or any regulation, ruling, instruction, license, or other direction or authorization issued pursuant to this part;
(ii) Such transfer was not licensed or authorized by the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control; or
(iii) If a license did purport to cover the transfer, such license had been obtained by misrepresentation of a third party or withholding of material facts or was otherwise fraudulently obtained.
The filing of a report in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d)(3) of this section shall not be deemed evidence that the terms of paragraphs (d)(1) and (d)(2) of this section have been satisfied.
(e) Except to the extent otherwise provided by law or unless licensed pursuant to this part, any attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial process is null and void with respect to any property in which on or since the effective date there existed an interest of a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a).
§ 594.203   Holding of funds in interest-bearing accounts; investment and reinvestment.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) or (d) of this section, or as otherwise directed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, any U.S. person holding funds, such as currency, bank deposits, or liquidated financial obligations, subject to § 594.201(a) shall hold or place such funds in a blocked interest-bearing account located in the United States.
(b)(1) For purposes of this section, the term blocked interest-bearing account means a blocked account:
(i) In a federally-insured U.S. bank, thrift institution, or credit union, provided the funds are earning interest at rates that are commercially reasonable; or
(ii) With a broker or dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, provided the funds are invested in a money market fund or in U.S. Treasury bills.
(2) For purposes of this section, a rate is commercially reasonable if it is the rate currently offered to other depositors on deposits or instruments of comparable size and maturity.
(3) Funds held or placed in a blocked account pursuant to this paragraph (b) may not be invested in instruments the maturity of which exceeds 180 days. If interest is credited to a separate blocked account or subaccount, the name of the account party on each account must be the same.
(c) Blocked funds held in instruments the maturity of which exceeds 180 days at the time the funds become subject to § 594.201(a) may continue to be held until maturity in the original instrument, provided any interest, earnings, or other proceeds derived therefrom are paid into a blocked interest-bearing account in accordance with paragraph (b) or (d) of this section.
(d) Blocked funds held in accounts or instruments outside the United States at the time the funds become subject to § 594.201(a) may continue to be held in the same type of accounts or instruments, provided the funds earn interest at rates that are commercially reasonable.
(e) This section does not create an affirmative obligation for the holder of blocked tangible property, such as chattels or real estate, or of other blocked property, such as debt or equity securities, to sell or liquidate such property at the time the property becomes subject to § 594.201(a). However, the Office of Foreign Assets Control may issue licenses permitting or directing such sales or liquidation in appropriate cases.
(f) Funds subject to this section may not be held, invested, or reinvested in a manner that provides immediate financial or economic benefit or access to any person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a), nor may their holder cooperate in or facilitate the pledging or other attempted use as collateral of blocked funds or other assets.
§ 594.204   Prohibited transaction or dealing in property; contributions of funds, goods, or services.
Except as otherwise authorized, no U.S. person may engage in any transaction or dealing in property or interests in property of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a), including but not limited to the following transactions:
(a) The making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a); and
(b) The receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a).
§ 594.205   Evasions; attempts; conspiracies.
(a) Except as otherwise authorized, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date, any transaction by any U.S. person or within the United States on or after the effective date that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this part is prohibited.
(b) Except as otherwise authorized, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date, any conspiracy formed for the purpose of engaging in a transaction prohibited by this part is prohibited.
§ 594.206   Expenses of maintaining blocked property; liquidation of blocked property.
(a) Except as otherwise authorized, and notwithstanding the existence of any rights or obligations conferred or imposed by any international agreement or contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the effective date, all expenses incident to the maintenance of physical property blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) shall be the responsibility of the owners or operators of such property, which expenses shall not be met from blocked funds.
(b) Property blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) may, in the discretion of the Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control, be sold or liquidated and the net proceeds placed in a blocked interest-bearing account in the name of the owner of the property.
§ 594.207   Exempt transactions.
The prohibitions contained in § 594.201(a)(6) and (7) do not apply to the following activities:
(a) Any authorized intelligence, law enforcement, or national security activities of the United States; or
(b) Any transaction necessary to comply with United States obligations under the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United States, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, or the Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967, or any other United States international agreement.
§ 594.301   Blocked account; blocked property.
The terms blocked account and blocked property shall mean any account or property subject to the prohibition in § 594.201 held in the name of a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a), or in which such person has an interest, and with respect to which payments, transfers, exportations, withdrawals, or other dealings may not be made or effected except pursuant to an authorization or license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control expressly authorizing such action.
See § 594.412 concerning the blocked status of property and interests in property of an entity that is directly or indirectly owned, whether individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201.
§ 594.302   Effective date.
The term effective date refers to the effective date of the applicable prohibitions and directives contained in this part as follows:
(a)(1) With respect to a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a)(1) and who appeared on the Annex to E.O. 13224 as issued on September 23, 2001, 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, September 24, 2001;
(2) With respect to a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a)(1) and who was added to the Annex to E.O. 13224 after September 23, 2001, the date the person was added to the Annex to E.O. 13224, as amended;
(b) With respect to a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a)(2) through (a)(11), the earlier of the date of actual or constructive notice that such person's property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to one or more of these sections.
(c) For the purposes of this section, constructive notice is the date that a notice of the blocking of the relevant person's property and interests in property is published in the Federal Register .
§ 594.303   Entity.
The term entity means a partnership, association, corporation, or other organization, group, or subgroup.
§ 594.304   Foreign person.
The term foreign person means any citizen or national of a foreign state (including any such individual who is also a citizen or national of the United States), or any entity not organized solely under the laws of the United States or existing solely in the United States, but does not include a foreign state.
§ 594.305   Information or informational materials.
(a) For purposes of this part, the term information or informational materials includes, but is not limited to, publications, films, posters, phonograph records, photographs, microfilms, microfiche, tapes, compact disks, CD ROMs, artworks, and news wire feeds.
To be considered information or informational materials, artworks must be classified under chapter heading 9701, 9702, or 9703 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
(b) The term information or informational materials, with respect to United States exports, does not include items:
(1) That were, as of April 30, 1994, or that thereafter became, controlled for export pursuant to section 5 of the Export Administration Act of 1979, 50 U.S.C. App. 2401-2420 (1979) (the “EAA”), or section 6 of the EAA to the extent that such controls promote the nonproliferation or antiterrorism policies of the United States; or
(2) With respect to which acts are prohibited by 18 U.S.C. chapter 37.
§ 594.306   Interest.
Except as otherwise provided in this part, the term interest when used with respect to property (e.g., “an interest in property”) means an interest of any nature whatsoever, direct or indirect.
§ 594.307   Licenses; general and specific.
(a) Except as otherwise specified, the term license means any license or authorization contained in or issued pursuant to this part.
(b) The term general license means any license or authorization the terms of which are set forth in subpart E of this part.
(c) The term specific license means any license or authorization not set forth in subpart E of this part but issued pursuant to this part.
See § 501.801 of this chapter on licensing procedures.
§ 594.308   Person.
The term person means an individual or entity.
§ 594.309   Property; property interest.
The terms property and property interest include, but are not limited to, money, checks, drafts, bullion, bank deposits, savings accounts, debts, indebtedness, obligations, notes, guarantees, debentures, stocks, bonds, coupons, any other financial instruments, bankers acceptances, mortgages, pledges, liens or other rights in the nature of security, warehouse receipts, bills of lading, trust receipts, bills of sale, any other evidences of title, ownership or indebtedness, letters of credit and any documents relating to any rights or obligations thereunder, powers of attorney, goods, wares, merchandise, chattels, stocks on hand, ships, goods on ships, real estate mortgages, deeds of trust, vendors' sales agreements, land contracts, leaseholds, ground rents, real estate and any other interest therein, options, negotiable instruments, trade acceptances, royalties, book accounts, accounts payable, judgments, patents, trademarks or copyrights, insurance policies, safe deposit boxes and their contents, annuities, pooling agreements, services of any nature whatsoever, contracts of any nature whatsoever, and any other property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or interest or interests therein, present, future or contingent.
§ 594.310   Specially designated global terrorist; SDGT.
The term specially designated global terrorist or SDGT means any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a).
§ 594.311   Terrorism.
The term terrorism means an activity that:
(a) Involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life, property, or infrastructure; and
(b) Appears to be intended:
(1) To intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(2) To influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(3) To affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, kidnapping, or hostage-taking.
§ 594.312   Transfer.
The term transfer means any actual or purported act or transaction, whether or not evidenced by writing, and whether or not done or performed within the United States, the purpose, intent, or effect of which is to create, surrender, release, convey, transfer, or alter, directly or indirectly, any right, remedy, power, privilege, or interest with respect to any property and, without limitation upon the foregoing, shall include the making, execution, or delivery of any assignment, power, conveyance, check, declaration, deed, deed of trust, power of attorney, power of appointment, bill of sale, mortgage, receipt, agreement, contract, certificate, gift, sale, affidavit, or statement; the making of any payment; the setting off of any obligation or credit; the appointment of any agent, trustee, or fiduciary; the creation or transfer of any lien; the issuance, docketing, filing, or levy of or under any judgment, decree, attachment, injunction, execution, or other judicial or administrative process or order, or the service of any garnishment; the acquisition of any interest of any nature whatsoever by reason of a judgment or decree of any foreign country; the fulfillment of any condition; the exercise of any power of appointment, power of attorney, or other power; or the acquisition, disposition, transportation, importation, exportation, or withdrawal of any security.
§ 594.313   United States.
The term United States means the United States, its territories and possessions, and all areas under the jurisdiction or authority thereof.
§ 594.314   U.S. financial institution.
The term U.S. financial institution means any U.S. person (including its foreign branches) that is engaged in the business of accepting deposits, making, granting, transferring, holding, or brokering loans or credits, or purchasing or selling foreign exchange, securities, commodity futures or options, or procuring purchasers and sellers thereof, as principal or agent; including but not limited to, depository institutions, banks, savings banks, trust companies, securities brokers and dealers, commodity futures and options brokers and dealers, forward contract and foreign exchange merchants, securities and commodities exchanges, clearing corporations, investment companies, employee benefit plans, and U.S. holding companies, U.S. affiliates, or U.S. subsidiaries of any of the foregoing. This term includes those branches, offices and agencies of foreign financial institutions that are located in the United States, but not such institutions' foreign branches, offices, or agencies.
§ 594.315   United States person; U.S. person.
The term United States person or U.S. person means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.
§ 594.316   [Reserved]
§ 594.317   Financial, material, or technological support.
The term financial, material, or technological support, as used in this part, means any property, tangible or intangible, including but not limited to currency, financial instruments, securities, or any other transmission of value; weapons or related materiel; chemical or biological agents; explosives; false documentation or identification; communications equipment; computers; electronic or other devices or equipment; technologies; lodging; safe houses; facilities; vehicles or other means of transportation; or goods. “Technologies” as used in this definition means specific information necessary for the development, production, or use of a product, including related technical data such as blueprints, plans, diagrams, models, formulae, tables, engineering designs and specifications, manuals, or other recorded instructions.
§ 594.318   Agency or instrumentality of a foreign state.
The term agency or instrumentality of a foreign state has the meaning given that term in section 1603(b) of title 28, United States Code.
§ 594.319   HAMAS.
The term HAMAS means:
(a) The entity known as HAMAS and designated by the Secretary of State as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189); or
(b) Any person:
(1) The property and interests in property of which are blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. ); and
(2) Who is identified on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) maintained by OFAC as an agent, instrumentality, or affiliate of HAMAS.
The SDN List is accessible through the following page on OFAC's website: www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found in appendix A to this chapter. Persons on the SDN List based on conduct described in § 594.201(a)(9), (10), (11) are identified by a special reference at the end of their entries on the SDN List—“[SHIELD-ACT]”—in addition to the reference to the regulatory part of this chapter pursuant to which their property and interests in property are blocked. For example, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, § 594.201(a)(9), (10), or (11), and identified on the SDN List will have the program tag “[SDGT]” and “[SHIELD-ACT].”
§ 594.320   Hizballah.
The term Hizballah means:
(a) The entity known as Hizballah and designated by the Secretary of State as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189); or
(b) Any person:
(1) The property and interests in property of which are blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. ); and
(2) Who is identified on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) maintained by OFAC as an agent, instrumentality, or affiliate of Hizballah.
The SDN List is accessible through the following page on OFAC's website: www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found in appendix A to this chapter. Persons on the SDN List based on conduct described in § 594.201(a)(8), (10), and (11) are identified by a special reference at the end of their entries on the SDN List—“[SHIELD-ACT]”—in addition to the reference to the regulatory part of this chapter pursuant to which their property and interests in property are blocked. For example, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, § 594.201(a)(8), (10), or (11), and identified on the SDN List will have the program tag “[SDGT]” and “[SHIELD-ACT]”. Persons on the SDN List based on conduct described in § 594.201(a)(6) and (7) are identified by a special reference at the end of their entries on the SDN List—“[HIFPAA]”—in addition to the reference to the regulatory part of this chapter pursuant to which their property and interests in property are blocked. For example, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, § 594.201(a)(6) or (7), and identified on the SDN List will have the program tag “[SDGT]” and “[HIFPAA]”.
§ 594.321   Knowingly.
The term knowingly, with respect to conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the circumstance, or the result.
§ 594.322   Arms or related materiel.
The term arms or related materiel means:
(a) Nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological weapons or materials or components of such weapons;
(b) Ballistic or cruise missile weapons or materials or components of such weapons; or
(c) Destabilizing numbers and types of advanced conventional weapons.
§ 594.401   Reference to amended sections.
Except as otherwise specified, reference to any provision in or appendix to this part or chapter or to any regulation, ruling, order, instruction, direction, or license issued pursuant to this part refers to the same as currently amended.
§ 594.402   Effect of amendment.
Unless otherwise specifically provided, any amendment, modification, or revocation of any provision in or appendix to this part or chapter or of any order, regulation, ruling, instruction, or license issued by or under the direction of the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control does not affect any act done or omitted, or any civil or criminal suit or proceeding commenced or pending prior to such amendment, modification, or revocation. All penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities under any such order, regulation, ruling, instruction, or license continue and may be enforced as if such amendment, modification, or revocation had not been made.
§ 594.403   Setoffs prohibited.
A setoff against blocked property (including a blocked account), whether by a U.S. bank or other U.S. person, is a prohibited transfer under §§ 594.201 and 594.204 if effected after the effective date.
§ 594.404   Termination and acquisition of an interest in blocked property.
(a) Whenever a transaction licensed or authorized by or pursuant to this part results in the transfer of property (including any property interest) away from a person, such property shall no longer be deemed to be property blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a), unless there exists in the property another interest that is blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) or any other part of this chapter, the transfer of which has not been effected pursuant to license or other authorization.
(b) Unless otherwise specifically provided in a license or authorization issued pursuant to this part, if property (including any property interest) is transferred or attempted to be transferred to a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a), such property shall be deemed to be property in which that person has an interest and therefore blocked.
§ 594.405   Transactions incidental to a licensed transaction.
Any transaction ordinarily incident to a licensed transaction and necessary to give effect thereto is also authorized, except:
(a) An incidental transaction, not explicitly authorized within the terms of the license, by or with a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a); or
(b) An incidental transaction, not explicitly authorized within the terms of the license, involving a debit to a blocked account or a transfer of blocked property.
§ 594.406   Provision of services.
(a) Except as provided in § 594.207, the prohibitions on transactions or dealings involving blocked property contained in §§ 594.201 and 594.204 apply to services performed in the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, including by an overseas branch of an entity located in the United States:
(1) On behalf of or for the benefit of a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a); or
(2) With respect to property interests subject to §§ 594.201 and 594.204.
(b) Example: U.S. persons may not, except as authorized by or pursuant to this part, provide legal, accounting, financial, brokering, freight forwarding, transportation, public relations, educational, or other services to a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a).
See §§ 594.506 and 594.507, respectively, on licensing policy with regard to the provision of certain legal or medical services.
§ 594.407   Offshore transactions.
The prohibitions in §§ 594.201 and 594.204 on transactions or dealings involving blocked property apply to transactions or dealings by any U.S. person in a location outside the United States with respect to property that the U.S. person knows, or has reason to know, is held in the name of a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) or in which the U.S. person knows, or has reason to know, a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) has or has had an interest since the effective date.
§ 594.408   Payments from blocked accounts to satisfy obligations prohibited.
Pursuant to §§ 594.201 and 594.204, no debits may be made to a blocked account to pay obligations to U.S. persons or other persons, except as authorized pursuant to this part.
§ 594.409   Charitable contributions.
Unless specifically authorized by the Office of Foreign Assets Control pursuant to this part, no charitable contribution or donation of funds, goods, services, or technology, including contributions or donations to relieve human suffering, such as food, clothing, or medicine, may be made by, to, or for the benefit of, or received from, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a). For the purposes of this part, a contribution or donation is made by, to, or for the benefit of, or received from, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) if made by, to, or in the name of, or received from or in the name of, such a person; if made by, to, or in the name of, or received from or in the name of, an entity or individual acting for or on behalf of, or owned or controlled by, such a person; or if made in an attempt to violate, to evade, or to avoid the bar on the provision of contributions or donations by, to, or for the benefit of such a person, or the receipt of contributions or donations from any such person.
§ 594.410   Credit extended and cards issued by U.S. financial institutions.
The prohibitions in §§ 594.201 and 594.204 on engaging in transactions or dealings in property subject to those sections prohibits U.S. financial institutions from performing under any existing credit agreements, including, but not limited to, charge cards, debit cards, or other credit facilities issued by a U.S. financial institution to a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a).
§ 594.411   Palestinian Authority.
Following the January 2006 Palestinian elections, Hamas, a designated terrorist entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201, has been determined to have a property interest in the transactions of the Palestinian Authority. Accordingly, pursuant to §§ 594.201 and 594.204, U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with the Palestinian Authority unless authorized. Certain transactions with the Palestinian Authority may be authorized by license, see subpart E of this part.
§ 594.412   Entities owned by one or more persons whose property and interests in property are blocked.
Persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201 have an interest in all property and interests in property of an entity in which such persons directly or indirectly own, whether individually or in the aggregate, a 50 percent or greater interest. The property and interests in property of such an entity, therefore, are blocked, and such an entity is a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201, regardless of whether the name of the entity is incorporated into OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List).
§ 594.501   General and specific licensing procedures.
For provisions relating to licensing procedures, see part 501, subpart E, of this chapter. Licensing actions taken pursuant to part 501 of this chapter with respect to the prohibitions contained in this part are considered actions taken pursuant to this part.
§ 594.502   Effect of license or authorization.
(a) No license or other authorization contained in this part, or otherwise issued by or under the direction of the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, authorizes or validates any transaction effected prior to the issuance of the license, unless specifically provided in such license or authorization.
(b) No regulation, ruling, instruction, or license authorizes any transaction prohibited under this part unless the regulation, ruling, instruction or license is issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and specifically refers to this part. No regulation, ruling, instruction, or license referring to this part shall be deemed to authorize any transaction prohibited by any provision of this chapter unless the regulation, ruling, instruction, or license specifically refers to such provision.
(c) Any regulation, ruling, instruction, or license authorizing any transaction otherwise prohibited under this part has the effect of removing a prohibition contained in this part from the transaction, but only to the extent specifically stated by its terms. Unless the regulation, ruling, instruction, or license otherwise specifies, such an authorization does not create any right, duty, obligation, claim, or interest in, or with respect to, any property which would not otherwise exist under ordinary principles of law.
§ 594.503   Exclusion from licenses and other authorizations.
The Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control reserves the right to exclude any person, property, or transaction from the operation of any license or from the privileges conferred by any license. The Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control also reserves the right to restrict the applicability of any license to particular persons, property, transactions, or classes thereof. Such actions are binding upon all persons receiving actual or constructive notice of the exclusions or restrictions.
§ 594.504   Payments and transfers to blocked accounts in U.S. financial institutions.
Any payment of funds or transfer of credit in which a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) has any interest, that comes within the possession or control of a U.S. financial institution, must be blocked in an account on the books of that financial institution. A transfer of funds or credit by a U.S. financial institution between blocked accounts in its branches or offices is authorized, provided that no transfer is made from an account within the United States to an account held outside the United States, and further provided that a transfer from a blocked account may only be made to another blocked account held in the same name.
Please refer to § 501.603 of this chapter for mandatory reporting requirements regarding financial transfers. See also § 594.203 concerning the obligation to hold blocked funds in interest-bearing accounts.
§ 594.505   Entries in certain accounts for normal service charges authorized.
(a) A U.S. financial institution is authorized to debit any blocked account held at that financial institution in payment or reimbursement for normal service charges owed it by the owner of that blocked account.
(b) As used in this section, the term normal service charge shall include charges in payment or reimbursement for interest due; cable, telegraph, internet, or telephone charges; postage costs; custody fees; small adjustment charges to correct bookkeeping errors; and, but not by way of limitation, minimum balance charges, notary and protest fees, and charges for reference books, photocopies, credit reports, transcripts of statements, registered mail, insurance, stationery and supplies, and other similar items.
§ 594.506   Provision of certain legal services authorized.
(a) The provision of the following legal services to or on behalf of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) is authorized, provided that all receipts of payment of professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses must be specifically licensed or otherwise authorized pursuant to this part:
(1) Provision of legal advice and counseling on the requirements of and compliance with the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States, provided that such advice and counseling are not provided to facilitate transactions in violation of this part;
(2) Representation of persons when named as defendants in or otherwise made parties to domestic U.S. legal, arbitration, or administrative proceedings;
(3) Initiation and conduct of domestic U.S. legal, arbitration, or administrative proceedings in defense of property interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction;
(4) Representation of persons before any federal or state agency with respect to the imposition, administration, or enforcement of U.S. sanctions against such persons;
(5) Representation of persons, wherever located, detained within the jurisdiction of the United States or by the United States government, with respect to either such detention or any charges made against such persons, including, but not limited to, the conduct of military commission prosecutions and the initiation and conduct of federal court proceedings; and
(6) Provision of legal services in any other context in which prevailing U.S. law requires access to legal counsel at public expense.
(b) The provision of legal services not otherwise authorized by paragraph (a) of this section to or on behalf of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) in connection with the initiation and conduct of legal, arbitration, or administrative proceedings before any U.S. federal, state, or local court or agency is authorized, provided that all receipts of payment of professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses must be specifically licensed.
(c) The provision of any other legal services to persons whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a), not otherwise authorized in this part, requires the issuance of a specific license.
(d) Entry into a settlement agreement affecting property or interests in property or the enforcement of any lien, judgment, arbitral award, decree, or other order through execution, garnishment, or other judicial process purporting to transfer or otherwise alter or affect property or interests in property blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) is prohibited except to the extent otherwise provided by law or unless specifically licensed in accordance with § 594.202(e).
§ 594.507   Authorization of emergency medical services.
The provision of nonscheduled emergency medical services in the United States to persons whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) is authorized, provided that all receipt of payment for such services must be specifically licensed.
§ 594.508   Transactions related to telecommunications authorized.
All transactions ordinarily incident to the receipt or transmission of telecommunications involving persons whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) are authorized, provided that any payment owed to any such person is paid into a blocked account in a U.S. financial institution. This section does not authorize the provision, sale, or lease to persons whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) of telecommunications equipment or technology; nor does it authorize the provision, sale, or leasing of capacity on telecommunications transmission facilities (such as satellite or terrestrial network connectivity).
§ 594.509   Transactions related to mail authorized.
All transactions by U.S. persons, including payment and transfers to common carriers, incident to the receipt or transmission of mail between a U.S. person and a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201(a) are authorized, provided the mail is limited to personal communications not involving a transfer of anything of value and not exceeding 12 ounces in weight.
§ 594.510   U.S. person employees of certain governments.
Effective April 12, 2006, U.S. persons who are employees of the governments of states bordering the West Bank or Gaza are authorized to engage in all transactions and activities outside of the United States with the Palestinian Authority that are otherwise prohibited under this part in support of the U.S. persons' official duties, provided that no payment pursuant to this license may involve a debit to an account of the Palestinian Authority on the books of a U.S. financial institution or to any account blocked pursuant to this part.
§ 594.511   Travel, employment, residence and maintenance transactions with the Palestinian Authority.
Effective April 12, 2006, U.S. persons are authorized to engage in all transactions with the Palestinian Authority otherwise prohibited under this part that are ordinarily incident to their travel to or from, or employment, residence or personal maintenance within, the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, including, but not limited to, receipt of salaries, payment of living expenses and acquisition of goods or services for personal use. Nothing in this license authorizes any debit to an account of the Palestinian Authority on the books of a U.S. financial institution or to any account blocked pursuant to this part.
§ 594.512   Payment of taxes and incidental fees to the Palestinian Authority.
Effective April 12, 2006, U.S. persons are authorized to pay taxes or fees to, and purchase or receive permits or public utility services from, the Palestinian Authority where such transactions are necessary and ordinarily incident to such persons' day-to-day operations. Nothing in this license authorizes a debit to an account of the Palestinian Authority on the books of a U.S. financial institution or to any account blocked pursuant to this part.
§ 594.513   Transactions with entities under the control of the Palestinian President and certain other entities.
(a) Effective April 12, 2006, U.S. persons are authorized to engage in all transactions otherwise prohibited under this part with the following entities and individuals:
(1) The Palestinian Authority Presidency, including only the Office of the President, Presidential Security, General Intelligence Apparatus, Governors and Governorate staff, the Attorney General's Office, the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF), the Border Crossings Administration, and the Palestine Broadcasting Corporation (including the Voice of Palestine, Wafa News Agency, and the General Public Information Agency/State Information Services);
(2) The Palestinian Judiciary, including the Higher Judicial Council;
(3) Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) who were not elected to the PLC on the party slate of Hamas or any other Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), Specially Designated Terrorist (SDT), or Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT); and
(4) The following independent agencies: The Central Elections Commission; the Independent Citizens Rights Commission; the General Audit Authority/External Audit Agency; and the Palestinian Monetary Authority.
(b) Effective April 12, 2006, U.S. financial institutions are authorized to reject transactions with members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) who were elected to the PLC on the party slate of Hamas or any other Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), Specially Designated Terrorist (SDT), or Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), provided that any such individuals are not named on OFAC's list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons.
(c) Nothing in this license authorizes a debit to an account of the Palestinian Authority on the books of a U.S. financial institution or to any account blocked pursuant to this part.
§ 594.514   Concluding activities with the Palestinian Authority.
Effective April 12, 2006, all transactions and activities with the Palestinian Authority otherwise prohibited under this part are authorized through May 12, 2006, provided that they are necessary to conclude ongoing contracts or programs with the Palestinian Authority, and further provided that no payment pursuant to this license may involve a debit to an account of the Palestinian Authority on the books of a U.S. financial institution or to any account blocked pursuant to this part.
§ 594.515   In-kind donations of medicine, medical devices, and medical services.
(a) Effective July 6, 2006, nongovernmental organizations that are U.S. persons are authorized to provide in-kind donations of medicine, medical devices, and medical services to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health, provided that such donations are strictly for distribution in the West Bank or Gaza and not intended for resale, and provided further that no payment pursuant to this license may involve a debit to an account of the Palestinian Authority on the books of a U.S. financial institution or to any account blocked pursuant to this part.
(b) For the purposes of this section only, the term medical device has the meaning given the term “device” in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321), including medical supplies, but does not include any item listed on the Commerce Control List in the Export Administration Regulations, 15 CFR part 774, supplement no. 1.
Nongovernmental organizations that are interested in providing items listed on the Commerce Control List to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health must apply for a specific license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
§ 594.516   Transactions with the Palestinian Authority authorized.
(a) As of June 20, 2007, U.S. persons are authorized to engage in all transactions otherwise prohibited under this part with the Palestinian Authority.
(b) For purposes of this section only, the term Palestinian Authority means the Palestinian Authority government of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and President Mahmoud Abbas, including all branches, ministries, offices, and agencies (independent or otherwise) thereof.
§ 594.517   Payments for legal services from funds originating outside the United States and the formation of legal defense funds.
(a) Payments from funds originating outside the United States. (1) Effective December 7, 2010, receipt of payment of professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses for the provision of legal services authorized pursuant to § 594.506(a) to or on behalf of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201 are authorized from funds originating outside the United States, provided that the funds do not originate from:
(i) A source within the United States;
(ii) Any source, wherever located, within the possession or control of a U.S. person; or
(iii) Any individual or entity, other than the person on whose behalf the legal services authorized pursuant to § 594.506(a) are to be provided, whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to any part of this chapter or any Executive order or statute.
(2) Nothing in this paragraph (a) authorizes payments for legal services using funds in which any other person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201, any other part of this chapter, or any Executive order or statute has an interest or the receipt or payment of professional fees or reimbursement of incurred expenses for the provision of legal services authorized pursuant to § 594.506(b).
(b) Legal defense funds. Effective December 7, 2010, U.S. persons that are attorneys, law firms, or legal services organizations are authorized to form legal defense funds from which payments of professional fees and reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with the provision of legal services authorized pursuant to § 594.506(a) may be debited provided that:
(1) The legal defense fund must be held in a savings or checking account at a financial institution located in the United States;
(2) Prior to debiting the legal defense fund, the U.S. person responsible for establishing the legal defense fund must submit the following information to OFAC: a copy of a letter of engagement or a letter of intent to engage, specifying the services to be performed and signed by the individual to whom such services are to be provided, or, where services are to be provided to an entity, by a legal representative of the entity; the name of the individual or entity responsible for establishing the legal defense fund; the name of the financial institution at which the account for the legal defense fund will be held; a point of contact at the financial institution holding the account for the legal defense fund; and the account name and account number for the legal defense fund. The foregoing information must be accompanied by correspondence referencing this paragraph (b) and is to be submitted to OFAC at OFACReport@treasury.gov with this section number in the subject line.
(3) The legal defense fund may not receive funds from a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 594.201 or any other part of this chapter or any Executive order or statute; and
(4) The U.S. person responsible for establishing the legal defense fund must notify the financial institution at which the account for the legal defense fund is held that the account may only be debited to make payments of professional fees and reimburse expenses incurred in connection with the provision of legal services authorized pursuant to § 594.506(a).
(5) Nothing in this paragraph (b) authorizes the formation or debiting of legal defense funds in connection with the provision of legal services authorized pursuant to § 594.506(b).
Any funds remaining in a legal defense fund account after all payments of professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses authorized pursuant to this paragraph have been made or upon termination of the legal services for which payment is authorized pursuant to this paragraph are property in which the person to or on whose behalf the legal services were rendered has an interest and is subject to the prohibitions of this part. Persons in the possession or control of such remaining funds may apply for the unblocking of the funds by following the procedures set forth at § 501.801 of this chapter.
(c) Records. Consistent with §§ 501.601 and 501.602 of this chapter, U.S. persons who receive payments pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this section must retain for ten years from the date of the relevant payment, and furnish to OFAC on demand, a record that specifies the following for each payment:
(1) The individual or entity from whom the funds originated and the amount of funds received; and
(2) If applicable:
(i) The names of any individuals or entities providing related services to the U.S. person receiving payment in connection with authorized legal services, such as private investigators or expert witnesses;
(ii) A general description of the services provided; and
(iii) The amount of funds paid in connection with such services.
§ 594.518   Official business of the United States Government.
All transactions prohibited by this part that are for the conduct of the official business of the United States Government by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof are authorized.
§ 594.519   Official business of certain international organizations and entities.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, all transactions prohibited by this part that are for the conduct of the official business of the following entities by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof are authorized:
(1) The United Nations, including its Programmes, Funds, and Other Entities and Bodies, as well as its Specialized Agencies and Related Organizations;
(2) The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA);
(3) The African Development Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), including any fund entity administered or established by any of the foregoing; and
(4) The International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; and
(5) The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
(b) This section does not authorize funds transfers initiated or processed with knowledge or reason to know that the intended beneficiary of such transfers is a person blocked pursuant to this part, other than for the purpose of effecting the payment of taxes, fees, or import duties, or the purchase or receipt of permits, licenses, or public utility services.
§ 594.520   Authorizing Certain Transactions in Support of Nongovernmental Organizations' Activities.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, all transactions prohibited by this part that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the activities described in paragraph (b) of this section by a nongovernmental organization are authorized, provided that the nongovernmental organization is not a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to this part.
(b) The activities referenced in paragraph (a) of this section are non-commercial activities designed to directly benefit the civilian population that fall into one of the following categories:
(1) Activities to support humanitarian projects to meet basic human needs, including disaster, drought, or flood relief; food, nutrition, or medicine distribution; the provision of health services; assistance for vulnerable or displaced populations, including individuals with disabilities and the elderly; and environmental programs;
(2) Activities to support democracy building, including activities to support rule of law, citizen participation, government accountability and transparency, human rights and fundamental freedoms, access to information, and civil society development projects;
(3) Activities to support education, including combating illiteracy, increasing access to education, international exchanges, and assisting education reform projects;
(4) Activities to support non-commercial development projects directly benefiting civilians, including those related to health, food security, and water and sanitation;
(5) Activities to support environmental and natural resource protection, including the preservation and protection of threatened or endangered species, responsible and transparent management of natural resources, and the remediation of pollution or other environmental damage; and
(6) Activities to support disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs and peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and conflict resolution programs.
(c) This section does not authorize funds transfers initiated or processed with knowledge or reason to know that the intended beneficiary of such transfers is a person blocked pursuant to this part, other than for the purpose of effecting the payment of taxes, fees, or import duties, or the purchase or receipt of permits, licenses, or public utility services.
(d) Specific licenses may be issued on a case-by-case basis to authorize nongovernmental or other entities to engage in other activities designed to directly benefit the civilian population, including support for the removal of landmines and economic development projects directly benefiting the civilian population.
This section does not relieve any person authorized thereunder from complying with any other applicable laws or regulations.
§ 594.521   Transactions related to the provision of agricultural commodities, medicine, medical devices, replacement parts and components, or software updates for personal, non-commercial use.
(a) All transactions prohibited by this part that are related to the provision, directly or indirectly, of agricultural commodities, medicine, medical devices, replacement parts and components for medical devices, or software updates for medical devices to an individual whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this part are authorized, provided the items are in quantities consistent with personal, non-commercial use.
(b) For the purposes of this section, agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices are defined as follows:
(1) Agricultural commodities. For the purposes of this section, agricultural commodities are:
(i) Products that fall within the term “agricultural commodity” as defined in section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602); and
(ii) That are intended for ultimate use as:
(A) Food for humans (including raw, processed, and packaged foods; live animals; vitamins and minerals; food additives or supplements; and bottled drinking water) or animals (including animal feeds);
(B) Seeds for food crops;
(C) Fertilizers or organic fertilizers; or
(D) Reproductive materials (such as live animals, fertilized eggs, embryos, and semen) for the production of food animals.
(2) Medicine. For the purposes of this section, medicine is an item that falls within the definition of the term “drug” in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
(3) Medical devices. For the purposes of this section, a medical device is an item that falls within the definition of “device” in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
This section does not relieve any person authorized thereunder from complying with any other applicable laws or regulations.
§ 594.601   Records and reports.
For provisions relating to required records and reports, see part 501, subpart C, of this chapter. Recordkeeping and reporting requirements imposed by part 501 of this chapter with respect to the prohibitions contained in this part are considered requirements arising pursuant to this part.
§ 594.701   Penalties.
(a) Attention is directed to section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (the “Act”) (50 U.S.C. 1705), which is applicable to violations of the provisions of any license, ruling, regulation, order, direction, or instruction issued by or pursuant to the direction or authorization of the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to this part or otherwise under the Act.
(1) A civil penalty not to exceed the amount set forth in Section 206 of the Act may be imposed on any person who violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of any license, order, regulation, or prohibition issued under the Act.
(2) The applicable maximum civil penalty per violation of the Act is the greater of $377,700 or an amount that is twice the amount of the transaction that is the basis of the violation with respect to which the penalty is imposed.
(3) A person who willfully commits, willfully attempts to commit, or willfully conspires to commit, or aids or abets in the commission of a violation of any license, order, regulation, or prohibition shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $1,000,000, or if a natural person, may be imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both.
(b) Adjustments to penalty amounts. (1) The civil penalties provided in the Act are subject to adjustment pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-410, as amended, 28 U.S.C. 2461 note).
(2) The criminal penalties provided in the Act are subject to adjustment pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3571.
(c) Attention is directed to section 5 of the United Nations Participation Act (22 U.S.C. 287c(b)), which provides that any person who willfully violates or evades or attempts to violate or evade any order, rule, or regulation issued by the President pursuant to the authority granted in that section, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $10,000 and, if a natural person, may also be imprisoned for not more than 10 years; and the officer, director, or agent of any corporation who knowingly participates in such violation or evasion shall be punished by a like fine, imprisonment, or both and any property, funds, securities, papers, or other articles or documents, or any vessel, together with her tackle, apparel, furniture, and equipment, or vehicle, or aircraft, concerned in such violation shall be forfeited to the United States. The criminal penalties provided in the United Nations Participation Act are subject to increase pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3571.
(d) Attention is also directed to 18 U.S.C. 1001, which provides that whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device, a material fact, or makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(e) Violations of this part may also be subject to relevant provisions of other applicable laws.
§ 594.702   Prepenalty notice.
(a) When required. If the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control has reasonable cause to believe that there has occurred a violation of any provision of this part or a violation of the provisions of any license, ruling, regulation, order, direction, or instruction issued by or pursuant to the direction or authorization of the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to this part or otherwise under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the Director determines that further proceedings are warranted, the Director shall notify the alleged violator of the agency's intent to impose a monetary penalty by issuing a prepenalty notice. The prepenalty notice shall be in writing. The prepenalty notice may be issued whether or not another agency has taken any action with respect to the matter.
(b) Contents of notice —(1) Facts of violation. The prepenalty notice shall describe the violation, specify the laws and regulations allegedly violated, and state the amount of the proposed monetary penalty.
(2) Right to respond. The prepenalty notice also shall inform the respondent of the respondent's right to make a written presentation within the applicable 30-day period set forth in § 594.703 as to why a monetary penalty should not be imposed or why, if imposed, the monetary penalty should be in a lesser amount than proposed.
(c) Informal settlement prior to issuance of prepenalty notice. At any time prior to the issuance of a prepenalty notice, an alleged violator may request in writing that, for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days, the agency withhold issuance of the prepenalty notice for the exclusive purpose of effecting settlement of the agency's potential civil monetary penalty claims. In the event the Director grants the request, under terms and conditions within their discretion, the Office of Foreign Assets Control will agree to withhold issuance of the prepenalty notice for a period not to exceed 60 days and will enter into settlement negotiations of the potential civil monetary penalty claim.
§ 594.703   Response to prepenalty notice; informal settlement.
(a) Deadline for response. The respondent may submit a response to the prepenalty notice within the applicable 30-day period set forth in this paragraph. The Director may grant, at their discretion, an extension of time in which to submit a response to the prepenalty notice. The failure to submit a response within the applicable time period set forth in this paragraph shall be deemed to be a waiver of the right to respond.
(1) Computation of time for response. A response to the prepenalty notice must be postmarked or date-stamped by the U.S. Postal Service (or foreign postal service, if mailed abroad) or courier service provider (if transmitted to OFAC by courier) on or before the 30th day after the postmark date on the envelope in which the prepenalty notice was mailed. If the respondent refused delivery or otherwise avoided receipt of the prepenalty notice, a response must be postmarked or date-stamped on or before the 30th day after the date on the stamped postal receipt maintained at the Office of Foreign Assets Control. If the prepenalty notice was personally delivered to the respondent by a non-U.S. Postal Service agent authorized by the Director, a response must be postmarked or date-stamped on or before the 30th day after the date of delivery.
(2) Extensions of time for response. If a due date falls on a federal holiday or weekend, that due date is extended to include the following business day. Any other extensions of time will be granted, at the Director's discretion, only upon the respondent's specific request to the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
(b) Form and method of response. The response must be submitted in writing and may be handwritten or typed. The response need not be in any particular form. A copy of the written response may be sent by facsimile, but the original also must be sent to the Office of Foreign Assets Control Civil Penalties Division by mail or courier and must be postmarked or date-stamped, in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) Contents of response. A written response must contain information sufficient to indicate that it is in response to the prepenalty notice.
(1) A written response must include the respondent's full name, address, telephone number, and facsimile number, if available, or those of the representative of the respondent.
(2) A written response should either admit or deny each specific violation alleged in the prepenalty notice and also state if the respondent has no knowledge of a particular violation. If the written response fails to address any specific violation alleged in the prepenalty notice, that alleged violation shall be deemed to be admitted.
(3) A written response should include any information in defense, evidence in support of an asserted defense, or other factors that the respondent requests the Office of Foreign Assets Control to consider. Any defense or explanation previously made to the Office of Foreign Assets Control or any other agency must be repeated in the written response. Any defense not raised in the written response will be considered waived. The written response also should set forth the reasons why the respondent believes the penalty should not be imposed or why, if imposed, it should be in a lesser amount than proposed.
(d) Default. If the respondent elects not to submit a written response within the time limit set forth in paragraph (a) of this section, the Office of Foreign Assets Control will conclude that the respondent has decided not to respond to the prepenalty notice. The agency generally will then issue a written penalty notice imposing the penalty proposed in the prepenalty notice.
(e) Informal settlement. In addition to or as an alternative to a written response to a prepenalty notice, the respondent or respondent's representative may contact the Office of Foreign Assets Control as advised in the prepenalty notice to propose the settlement of allegations contained in the prepenalty notice and related matters. However, the requirements set forth in paragraph (f) of this section as to oral communication by the representative must first be fulfilled. In the event of settlement at the prepenalty stage, the claim proposed in the prepenalty notice will be withdrawn, the respondent will not be required to take a written position on allegations contained in the prepenalty notice, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control will make no final determination as to whether a violation occurred. The amount accepted in settlement of allegations in a prepenalty notice may vary from the civil penalty that might finally be imposed in the event of a formal determination of violation. In the event no settlement is reached, the time limit specified in paragraph (a) of this section for written response to the prepenalty notice will remain in effect unless additional time is granted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
(f) Representation. A representative of the respondent may act on behalf of the respondent, but any oral communication with the Office of Foreign Assets Control prior to a written submission regarding the specific allegations contained in the prepenalty notice must be preceded by a written letter of representation, unless the prepenalty notice was served upon the respondent in care of the representative.
§ 594.704   Penalty imposition or withdrawal.
(a) No violation. If, after considering any response to the prepenalty notice and any relevant facts, the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control determines that there was no violation by the respondent named in the prepenalty notice, the Director shall notify the respondent in writing of that determination and of the cancellation of the proposed monetary penalty.
(b) Violation. (1) If, after considering any written response to the prepenalty notice, or default in the submission of a written response, and any relevant facts, the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control determines that there was a violation by the respondent named in the prepenalty notice, the Director is authorized to issue a written penalty notice to the respondent of the determination of the violation and the imposition of the monetary penalty.
(2) The penalty notice shall inform the respondent that payment or arrangement for installment payment of the assessed penalty must be made within 30 days of the date of mailing of the penalty notice by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
(3) The penalty notice shall inform the respondent of the requirement to furnish the respondent's taxpayer identification number pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 7701 and that such number will be used for purposes of collecting and reporting on any delinquent penalty amount.
(4) The issuance of the penalty notice finding a violation and imposing a monetary penalty shall constitute final agency action. The respondent has the right to seek judicial review of that final agency action in a federal district court.
§ 594.705   Administrative collection; referral to United States Department of Justice.
In the event that the respondent does not pay the penalty imposed pursuant to this part or make payment arrangements acceptable to the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control within 30 days of the date of mailing of the penalty notice, the matter may be referred for administrative collection measures by the Department of the Treasury or to the United States Department of Justice for appropriate action to recover the penalty in a civil suit in a federal district court.
§ 594.801   Procedures.
For license application procedures and procedures relating to amendments, modifications, or revocations of licenses; administrative decisions; rulemaking; and requests for documents pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts (5 U.S.C. 552 and 552a), see part 501, subpart E, of this chapter.
§ 594.802   Delegation by the Secretary of the Treasury.
Any action that the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to take pursuant to Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, and any further Executive orders relating to the national emergency declared therein, and any action that the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to take pursuant to Presidential Memorandum of October 11, 2017: Delegation of Certain Functions and Authorities under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 or any further Presidential action relating to Title I of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 (Pub. L. 115-44), Presidential Memorandum of January 15, 2019: Delegation of Functions and Authorities Under the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015, as Amended, and the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2018, and Presidential Memorandum of May 24, 2019: Delegation of Functions and Authorities Under the Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act, may be taken by the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or by any other person to whom the Secretary of the Treasury has delegated authority so to act.
§ 594.901   Paperwork Reduction Act notice.
For approval by the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507) of information collections relating to recordkeeping and reporting requirements, licensing procedures (including those pursuant to statements of licensing policy), and other procedures, see 501.901 of this chapter. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid control number assigned by OMB.