The UK has amended its sanctions regime against Syria in relation to petroleum products.
The sanctions included an extension of the eligibility criteria for relying on the humanitarian aid exception to UK-funded companies only.
The amendment was intended to include international organisations that bilaterally or multilaterally fund NGOs carrying out humanitarian assistance in Syria and participating in UN humanitarian response plans.
The UK also expanded the scope of the humanitarian aid exception, making it applicable to the ‘acquisition’ rather than the ‘purchase’ of petroleum products.
The Syria sanctions fully entered into force on 31 December 2020. The aim of the sanctions was to encourage the Syrian government to refrain from repressing the Syrian civilian population and to engage in negotiations to reach a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict and a political settlement.
