31 CFR § 525.509 - Official business of certain international organizations and entities.

Date issued: Dec. 21 2022

TURBOFAC Commentary (275 words)

Notes:

1) On 12-21-22, this GL was added to the regulations, along with over 20 other “Official business of certain international organizations and entities” GLs that were implemented in sanctions regulations that did not previously have the GL [1]. Refer to “Treasury Implements Historic Humanitarian Sanctions Exceptions” (Press Release) (https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1175).(“Treasury is issuing these GLs across sanctions programs that did not previously have humanitarian exceptions, implementing a new standardized baseline set of authorizations across OFAC-administered programs.”)

[1] See https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/126/usg_io_official_business_regulations_amendment.pdf

2) See general discussion of the “official business” licenses and exemptions at General Note on Exemptions and General Licenses for the “Official Business” of the U.S. Government (and/or United Nations) and Employees, Contractors, or Grantees Thereof. This provision is standard; there is no reason to believe that it is or will be interpreted differently than its analogues in other sanctions programs, except insofar as (i) the non-UN entities listed in the GL may be program specific, and (ii) there may be a subsection (b) stating that "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." This GL does not have that limitation (compare e.g. 536.513), so we assume that there is no limitation on payments to blocked persons in connection with otherwise authorized activities).