Source: http://ecfr.io/Title-31/pt31.3.536
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 04:50:17+00:00

Document:
§536.101 Relation of this part to other laws and regulations.
§536.201 Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.
§536.202 Effect of transfers violating the provisions of this part.
§536.203 Holding of certain types of blocked property in interest-bearing accounts.
§536.301 Blocked account; blocked property.
§536.306 Information and informational materials.
§536.312 Specially designated narcotics trafficker.
§536.316 United States person; U.S. person.
§536.401 Reference to amended sections.
§536.403 Termination and acquisition of an interest in blocked property.
§536.405 Transactions incidental to a licensed transaction.
§536.408 Alleged change in ownership or control of an entity designated as a specially designated narcotics trafficker.
§536.409 Credit extended and cards issued by U.S. financial institutions.
§536.501 Effect of license or authorization.
§536.502 Exclusion from licenses and authorizations.
§536.503 Payments and transfers to blocked accounts in U.S. financial institutions.
§536.504 Investment and reinvestment of certain funds.
§536.505 Entries in certain accounts for normal service charges authorized.
§536.506 Provision of certain legal services authorized.
§536.507 Authorization of emergency medical services.
§536.703 Response to prepenalty notice.
§536.705 Administrative collection; referral to United States Department of Justice.
§536.802 Delegation by the Secretary of the Treasury.
§536.901 Paperwork Reduction Act notice.
Authority: 3 U.S.C. 301; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); 50 U.S.C. 1601-1651, 1701-1706; Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note); Pub. L. 110-96, 121 Stat. 1011; E.O. 12978, 60 FR 54579, 3 CFR, 1995 Comp., p. 415; E.O. 13286, 68 FR 10619, 3 CFR, 2003 Comp., p. 166.
Source: 62 FR 9960, Mar. 5, 1997, unless otherwise noted.
(a) 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. Differing foreign policy and national security contexts 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.
(a) Except as authorized by regulations, orders, directives, rulings, instructions, licenses, or otherwise, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date, no property or interests in property of a specially designated narcotics trafficker that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of U.S. persons, including their overseas branches, may be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn or otherwise dealt in.
(b) When a transaction results in the blocking of funds at a financial institution pursuant to this section and a party to the transaction believes the funds have been blocked due to mistaken identity, that party may seek to have such funds unblocked pursuant to the administrative procedures set forth in §501.806 of this chapter.
(a) Any transfer after the effective date, which is in violation of any provision of this part or of any regulation, order, directive, ruling, instruction, license, or other authorization hereunder and involves any property held in the name of a specially designated narcotics trafficker or in which a specially designated narcotics trafficker has or has had an interest since such date, 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.
(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 interest in, any property held in the name of a specially designated narcotics trafficker or in which a specially designated narcotics trafficker has an interest, or has had an interest since such date, unless the person with whom such property is held or maintained, prior to such 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 render 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 hereunder.
Nfd)(3): The filing of a report in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph (d)(3) shall not be deemed evidence that the terms of paragraphs (d)(l) and (2) of this section have been satisfied.
(e) Unless licensed or authorized pursuant to this part, any attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial process is null and void with respect to any property which, on or since the effective date, was held in the name of a specially designated narcotics trafficker or in which there existed an interest of a specially designated narcotics trafficker.
(a)(1) Any person, including a U.S. financial institution, currently holding property subject to §536.201 which, as of the effective date or the date of receipt if subsequent to the effective date, is not being held in an interest-bearing account, or otherwise invested in a manner authorized by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (e.g., §536.504), shall transfer such property to, or hold such property or cause such property to be held in, an interest-bearing account or interest-bearing status in a U.S. financial institution as of the effective date or the date of receipt if subsequent to the effective date of this section, unless otherwise authorized or directed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
(2) The requirement set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall apply to currency, bank deposits, accounts, obligations, and any other financial or economic resources or assets, and any proceeds resulting from the sale of tangible or intangible property. If interest is credited to an account separate from that in which the interest-bearing asset is held, the name of the account party on both accounts must be the same and must clearly indicate the specially designated narcotics trafficker having an interest in the accounts. If the account is held in the name of a specially designated narcotics trafficker, the name of the account to which interest is credited must be the same.
(b) For purposes of this section, the term interest-bearing account means a blocked account in a U.S. financial institution earning interest at rates that are commercially reasonable for the amount of funds in the account. Except as otherwise authorized, the funds may not be invested or held in instruments the maturity of which exceeds 90 days.
(c) This section does not apply to blocked tangible property, such as chattels, nor does it create an affirmative obligation on the part of the holder of such blocked tangible property to sell or liquidate the property and put the proceeds in a blocked account. However, the Office of Foreign Assets Control may issue licenses permitting or directing sales of tangible property in appropriate cases.
(b) Information and informational materials. (1) The importation from any country and the exportation to any country of information or informational materials as defined in §536.306, whether commercial or otherwise, regardless of format or medium of transmission, are exempt from the prohibitions and regulations of this part.
(2) This section does not authorize transactions related to information and informational materials not fully created and in existence at the date of the transactions, or to the substantive or artistic alteration or enhancement of informational materials, or to the provision of marketing and business consulting services by a U.S. person. Such prohibited transactions include, without limitation, payment of advances for informational materials not yet created and completed, provision of services to market, produce or co-produce, create or assist in the creation of information and informational materials, and payment of royalties to a specially designated narcotics trafficker with respect to income received for enhancements or alterations made by U.S. persons to information or informational materials imported from a specially designated narcotics trafficker.
(3) This section does not authorize transactions incident to the exportation of technology that is not informational material as defined in §536.306(b)(1) or incident to the exportation of goods for use in the transmission of any information.
(c) Travel. The prohibitions contained in this part do not apply to transactions ordinarily incident to travel to or from any country, including importation of accompanied baggage for personal use, maintenance within any country including payment of living expenses and acquisition of goods or services for personal use, and arrangement or facilitation of such travel including non-scheduled air, sea, or land voyages. Any transactions entered into by a specially designated narcotics trafficker while traveling in the United States that are outside the scope of those set forth in this paragraph are in violation of §536.201.
The terms blocked account and blocked property shall mean any account or property subject to the prohibition in §536.201 held in the name of a specially designated narcotics trafficker or in which a specially designated narcotics trafficker 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 authorizing such action.
The term effective date refers to the effective date of the applicable prohibitions and directives contained in this part which is 12:01 a.m. EDT, October 22, 1995, or, in the case of specially designated narcotics traffickers designated after that date, the earlier of the date on which a person receives actual or constructive notice of such designation.
The term entity means a partnership, association, corporation, or other organization, group or subgroup.
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.
(1) Publications, films, posters, phonograph records, photographs, microfilms, microfiche, tapes, compact disks, CD ROMs, artworks, and news wire feeds, and other information and informational articles.
(2) To be considered informational materials, artworks must be classified under chapter subheading 9701, 9702, or 9703 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
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.
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.
The term narcotics trafficking means any activity undertaken illicitly to cultivate, produce, manufacture, distribute, sell, finance or transport, or otherwise assist, abet, conspire, or collude with others in illicit activities relating to narcotic drugs, including, but not limited to, cocaine.
(c) Persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, to be owned or controlled by, or to act for or on behalf of, any other specially designated narcotics trafficker.
Note to §536.312: The names of persons determined to fall within this definition, whose property and interests in property therefore are blocked pursuant to this part, are published in the Federal Register and incorporated into the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[SDNT].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found in appendix A to this chapter. Sections 501.806 and 501.807 of this chapter describe the procedures to be followed by persons seeking, respectively, the unblocking of funds that they believe were blocked due to mistaken identity, or administrative reconsideration of their status as persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this part.
The term United States person or U.S. person means any United States citizen or national; permanent resident alien; entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches); or any person in the United States.
The term U.S. financial institution means any U.S. person (including 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 which are located in the United States, but not such institutions' foreign branches, offices, or agencies.
(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 specially designated narcotics trafficker, such property shall no longer be deemed to be property in which a specially designated narcotics trafficker has or has had an interest, or which is held in the name of a specially designated narcotics trafficker, unless there exists in the property another interest of a specially designated narcotics trafficker, 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 specially designated narcotics trafficker, such property shall be deemed to be property in which there exists an interest of the specially designated narcotics trafficker.
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 §536.201 if effected after the effective date.
Any transaction ordinarily incident to a licensed transaction and necessary to give effect thereto is also authorized, except a transaction by an unlicensed, specially designated narcotics trafficker or involving a debit to a blocked account or a transfer of blocked property not explicitly authorized within the terms of the license.
(b) Example: U.S. persons may not, except as authorized by the Office of Foreign Assets Control by or pursuant to this part, provide legal, accounting, financial, brokering, freight forwarding, transportation, public relations, educational, or other services to a specially designated narcotics trafficker. See §536.506, with respect to certain authorized legal services.
The prohibitions contained in §536.201 apply to transactions by U.S. persons in locations outside the United States with respect to property which the U.S. person knows, or has reason to know, is held in the name of a specially designated narcotics trafficker, or in which the U.S. person knows, or has reason to know, a specially designated narcotics trafficker has or has had an interest since the effective date.
(a) A change or alleged change in ownership or control of an entity designated as a specially designated narcotics trafficker shall not be the basis for removal of that entity from the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List unless, upon investigation by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and submission of evidence by the entity, it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control that the transfer to a bona fide purchaser at arm's length is legitimate and that the entity no longer meets the criteria for designation under §536.312. Evidence submitted must conclusively demonstrate that all ties with other specially designated narcotics traffickers have been completely severed, and may include, but is not limited to, articles of incorporation; identification of new directors, officers, shareholders, and sources of capital; and contracts evidencing the sale of the entity to its new owners.
(b) Any continuing substantial financial obligations on the part of the new owners to any specially designated narcotics traffickers, including long-term payment plans, leases, or rents, will be considered as evidence of continuing control of the entity by the specially designated narcotics trafficker. Purchase of a designated entity without ongoing substantial financial obligations to a specially designated narcotics trafficker may nonetheless be a basis for subsequent designation of the purchaser, if the transaction is determined materially to assist in or provide financial support for the narcotics trafficking activities of specially designated narcotics traffickers for purposes of §536.312(b)(2). For example, any acquisition transaction resulting in a direct cash transfer to or other enrichment of a specially designated narcotics trafficker could lead to designation of the purchaser. Mere change in name of an entity will not be considered as constituting a change of the entity's status.
The prohibition in §536.201 on dealing in property in which a specially designated narcotics trafficker has an interest 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 designated under this part.
(a) Any payment of funds or transfer of credit or other financial or economic resources or assets into a blocked account in a U.S. financial institution is authorized, provided that a transfer from a blocked account pursuant to this authorization may only be made to another blocked account held in the same name on the books of the same U.S. financial institution.
Note to §536.503: Please refer to §501.603 of this chapter for mandatory reporting requirements regarding financial transfers.
(3) No immediate financial or economic benefit or access accrues (e.g., through pledging or other use) to the specially designated narcotics trafficker.
(b)(1) U.S. persons seeking to avail themselves of this authorization must register with the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Blocked Assets Division, before undertaking transactions authorized under this section.
(2) Transactions conducted pursuant to this section must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Blocked Assets Division, in a report filed no later than 10 business days following the last business day of the month in which the transactions occurred.
(b) As used in this section, the term normal service charge shall include charges in payment or reimbursement for interest due; cable, telegraph, 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, photostats, credit reports, transcripts of statements, registered mail, insurance, stationery and supplies, check books, and other similar items.
(a) The provision to or on behalf of a specially designated narcotics trafficker of the legal services set forth in paragraph (b) of this section is authorized, provided that all receipt of payment therefor must be specifically licensed.
(5) Provision of legal services in any other context in which prevailing United States law requires access to legal counsel at public expense.
(c) The provision of any other legal services to a specially designated narcotics trafficker, not otherwise authorized in or exempted by this part, requires the issuance of a specific license.
(d) Entry into a settlement agreement affecting property or interests in property of a specially designated narcotics trafficker 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 a property interest of a specially designated narcotics trafficker is prohibited unless specifically licensed in accordance with §536.202(e).
The provision of nonscheduled emergency medical services to a specially designated narcotics trafficker located in the United States is authorized, provided that any payment for such services requires prior authorization by specific license.
(a) Attention is directed to section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705—the “Act”), 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.
(c) Attention is also directed to 18 U.S.C. 1001, which provides that whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States, knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any 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.
(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, he shall issue to the person concerned a notice of his intent to impose a monetary penalty. The prepenalty notice may be issued whether or not another agency has taken any action with respect to this matter.
(2) Right to respond. The prepenalty notice also shall inform the respondent of respondent's right to respond to the notice within 30 days of its mailing as to why a monetary penalty should not be imposed, or, if imposed, why it should be in a lesser amount than proposed.
(b) Form and contents of written response. The written response need not be in any particular form, but shall contain information sufficient to indicate that it is in response to the prepenalty notice. It should respond to the allegations in the prepenalty notice and set forth the reasons why the person believes the penalty should not be imposed or, if imposed, why it should be in a lesser amount than proposed.
(a) No violation. If, after considering any written 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 promptly shall notify the respondent in writing of that determination and that no monetary penalty will be imposed.
(b) Violation. If, after considering any written response to the prepenalty notice 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 promptly shall issue a written notice of the imposition of the monetary penalty or other available disposition on the respondent.
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 mailing of the written notice of the imposition of the penalty, the matter may be referred for administrative collection measures or to the United States Department of Justice for appropriate action to recover the penalty in a civil suit in a Federal district court.
Any action which the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to take pursuant to Executive Order 12978 or any further executive orders relating to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12978 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.

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