UK Weekly Sanctions Update - Week of April 20, 2026

In this weekly update, we summarise the most notable updates in the UK sanctions world. If you have any questions in respect of any of the developments set out below, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our London Global and Government Trade team listed above.

• UK government issues Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026: On 23 April 2026, the UK government amended its sanctions regimes by issuing the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026, which come into force on 13 May 2026. These regulations affect end-user controls, financing monitoring thresholds, electronic notices, and broaden the prior obligations licensing ground. These regulations create new end-user controls for which OTSI has updated its guidance in order to help UK businesses understand sanctions end-use controls and how to ensure compliance. (Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026)
• OTSI updates guidance on end-user controls: On 22 April 2026, OTSI updated its guidance on end-user controls. The controls constitute a new licensing requirement for export to a non-sanctioned third country where the exporter has been informed by the government that there is a risk of ultimate diversion of the goods or related technology, via that route, to a sanctioned destination. These controls build upon current ‘making available’ prohibitions, that make it an offence to make available restricted goods and technology to a sanctioned destination by direct or indirect means. This measure will only apply to goods, or technology related to the export of a good, that are not otherwise subject to strategic export controls. (Sanctions End-Use Controls: guidance for businesses - GOV.UK)
• OFSI issues General Licence INT/2026/9512597: On 24 April 2026, OFSI issued a general licence pertaining to legal services, granted under the UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations. This licence will take effect following the expiry of the Legal Services General Licence INT/2025/7323088 on 28 April 2026. (INT.2026.9512597_GL.pdf)
• OTSI updates guidance on trade sanctions, arms embargoes, and other trade restrictions: On 23 April 2026, OTSI updated its guidance on how to navigate trade sanctions, arms embargoes, and other trade restrictions as a result of OTSI’s expanded licensing remit. (Trade sanctions, arms embargoes, and other trade restrictions - GOV.UK)

Syria

• The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026: On 22 April 2026, the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 came into force. These Regulations revoke regulations 42-46 of the 2019 Regulations. This removes trade prohibitions on gold, precious metals, diamonds, and luxury goods. (The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026)

Israel

• ECJU publishes data on UK-Israel export control licensing: On 20 April 2026, the ECJU published data on UK-Israel export control licensing, including data on the number of non-suspended extant licences, licence applications, and licensing decisions, where Israel was included as a destination. (Israel export control licensing data: 28 February 2026 - GOV.UK)