On 22 April 2026, the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (the “Syria Amendment Regulations“) came into force, amending the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the “Syria Sanctions“) to remove trade restrictions relating to luxury goods, gold, precious metals and diamonds.
What have the Syria Amendment Regulations changed?
The Syria Amendment Regulations have amended UK Syria Sanctions to remove the definitions of “gold, precious metals or diamonds” and “luxury goods” in their entirety. As such, it is no longer prohibited to:
- export, supply, deliver or make available gold, precious metals or diamonds to the Governing Authority of Syria, or to import or acquire such items from the Governing Authority of Syria; or
- export, supply or make available luxury goods to Syria or a person connected with Syria.
It also follows that restrictions preventing the provision of ancillary services (brokering, financing, funding and technical assistance) in respect of such transactions have been removed. Items previously caught under such definitions included, but were not limited to: pure-bred horses, certain luxury food items meeting certain value thresholds (e.g., truffles, caviar, wine), cigars, certain perfumes and cosmetics meeting value thresholds, pearls and precious stones, certain luxury vehicles, certain luxury fashion items, artwork and antiques, as well as gold, precious metals and diamonds (being anything of HS codes 7102, 7106, 7108, 7109, 7110, 7111 and 7112).
