Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 26, 2024

Title 31 - Money and Finance: Treasury last revised: Aug 26, 2024
Table of Contents

§ 589.501 - General and specific licensing procedures.

§ 589.502 - Effect of license or other authorization.

§ 589.503 - Exclusion from licenses.

§ 589.504 - Payments and transfers to blocked accounts in U.S. financial institutions.

§ 589.505 - Entries in certain accounts for normal service charges.

§ 589.506 - Provision of certain legal services.

§ 589.507 - Payments for legal services from funds originating outside the United States.

§ 589.508 - Emergency medical services.

§ 589.509 - Investment and reinvestment of certain funds.

§ 589.510 - Official business of the United States Government.

§ 589.511 - Official business of certain international organizations and entities.

§ 589.512 - Certain transactions related to derivatives prohibited by or § 589.204.

§ 589.513 - Exportation or reexportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, medical supplies, and replacement parts to the Crimea region of Ukraine.

§ 589.514 - Noncommercial, personal remittances to or from the Crimea region of Ukraine or for or on behalf of individuals ordinarily resident in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

§ 589.515 - Operation of accounts for individuals ordinarily resident in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

§ 589.516 - Transactions related to telecommunications and mail involving the Crimea region of Ukraine.

§ 589.517 - Exportation of certain services and software incident to internet-based communications to the Crimea Region of Ukraine.

§ 589.518 - Transactions necessary and ordinarily incident to publishing in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

§ 589.519 - Emergency landings and air ambulance services in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

§ 589.520 - Certain transactions in support of nongovernmental organizations' activities in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

§ 589.521 - Transactions related to closing a correspondent or payable-through account.

§ 589.501 - General and specific licensing procedures.

For provisions relating to licensing procedures, see part 501, subpart E, of this chapter. Licensing actions taken pursuant to part 501 of this chapter with respect to the prohibitions contained in this part are considered actions taken pursuant to this part. General licenses and statements of licensing policy relating to this part also may be available through the Ukraine-/Russia-Related Sanctions page on OFAC's website: www.treas.gov/ofac.

Note 1 to § 589.501:

Section 216 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9511) requires Congressional review prior to the issuance of a license that significantly alters the United States' foreign policy with regard to the Russian Federation.

§ 589.502 - Effect of license or other authorization.

(a) No license or other authorization contained in this part, or otherwise issued by OFAC, authorizes or validates any transaction effected prior to the issuance of such license or other authorization, unless specifically provided in such license or authorization.

(b) No regulation, ruling, instruction, or license authorizes any transaction prohibited under this part unless the regulation, ruling, instruction, or license is issued by OFAC and specifically refers to this part. No regulation, ruling, instruction, or license referring to this part shall be deemed to authorize any transaction prohibited by any other part of this chapter unless the regulation, ruling, instruction, or license specifically refers to such part.

(c) Any regulation, ruling, instruction, or license authorizing any transaction prohibited under this part has the effect of removing a prohibition contained in this part from the transaction, but only to the extent specifically stated by its terms. Unless the regulation, ruling, instruction, or license otherwise specifies, such an authorization does not create any right, duty, obligation, claim, or interest in, or with respect to, any property that would not otherwise exist under ordinary principles of law.

(d) Nothing contained in this part shall be construed to supersede the requirements established under any other provision of law or to relieve a person from any requirement to obtain a license or other authorization from another department or agency of the U.S. Government in compliance with applicable laws and regulations subject to the jurisdiction of that department or agency. For example, exports of goods, services, or technical data that are not prohibited by this part or that do not require a license by OFAC nevertheless may require authorization by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, or other agencies of the U.S. Government.

(e) No license or other authorization contained in or issued pursuant to this part authorizes transfers of or payments from blocked property or debits to blocked accounts unless the license or other authorization explicitly authorizes the transfer of or payment from blocked property or the debit to a blocked account.

(f) Any payment relating to a transaction authorized in or pursuant to this part that is routed through the U.S. financial system should reference the relevant OFAC general or specific license authorizing the payment to avoid the blocking or rejection of the transfer.

§ 589.503 - Exclusion from licenses.

OFAC reserves the right to exclude any person, property, transaction, or class thereof from the operation of any license or from the privileges conferred by any license. OFAC also reserves the right to restrict the applicability of any license to particular persons, property, transactions, or classes thereof. Such actions are binding upon actual or constructive notice of the exclusions or restrictions.

§ 589.504 - Payments and transfers to blocked accounts in U.S. financial institutions.

Any payment of funds or transfer of credit in which a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 589.201 has any interest that comes within the possession or control of a U.S. financial institution must be blocked in an account on the books of that financial institution. A transfer of funds or credit by a U.S. financial institution between blocked accounts in its branches or offices is authorized, provided that no transfer is made from an account within the United States to an account held outside the United States, and further provided that a transfer from a blocked account may be made only to another blocked account held in the same name.

Note 1 to § 589.504:

See § 501.603 of this chapter for mandatory reporting requirements regarding financial transfers. See also § 589.211 concerning the obligation to hold blocked funds in interest-bearing accounts.

§ 589.505 - Entries in certain accounts for normal service charges.

(a) A U.S. financial institution is authorized to debit any blocked account held at that financial institution in payment or reimbursement for normal service charges owed it by the owner of that blocked account.

(b) As used in this section, the term normal service charges shall include charges in payment or reimbursement for interest due; cable, telegraph, internet, 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, photocopies, credit reports, transcripts of statements, registered mail, insurance, stationery and supplies, and other similar items.

§ 589.506 - Provision of certain legal services.

(a) The provision of the following legal services to or on behalf of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 589.201, or to whom the provision of legal services would be prohibited by § 589.207, is authorized, provided that any receipt of payment of professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses must be authorized pursuant to § 589.507, which authorizes certain payments for legal services from funds originating outside the United States; via specific license; or otherwise pursuant to this part:

(1) Provision of legal advice and counseling on the requirements of and compliance with the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States, provided that such advice and counseling are not provided to facilitate transactions in violation of this part;

(2) Representation of persons named as defendants in or otherwise made parties to legal, arbitration, or administrative proceedings before any U.S. Federal, State, or local court or agency;

(3) Initiation and conduct of legal, arbitration, or administrative proceedings before any U.S. Federal, State, or local court or agency;

(4) Representation of persons before any U.S. Federal, State, or local court or agency with respect to the imposition, administration, or enforcement of U.S. sanctions against such persons or enforcement of U.S. sanctions against the Crimea region of Ukraine; and

(5) Provision of legal services in any other context in which prevailing U.S. law requires access to legal counsel at public expense.

(b) The provision of any other legal services to or on behalf of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 589.201, or to whom the provision of legal services would be prohibited by § 589.207, not otherwise authorized in this part, requires the issuance of a specific license.

(c) U.S. persons do not need to obtain specific authorization to provide related services, such as making filings and providing other administrative services that are ordinarily incident to the provision of services authorized by paragraph (a) of this section. Additionally, U.S. persons who provide services authorized by paragraph (a) of this section do not need to obtain specific authorization to contract for related services that are ordinarily incident to the provision of those legal services, such as those provided by private investigators or expert witnesses, or to pay for such services. See § 589.404.

(d) Entry into a settlement agreement 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 property or interests in property blocked pursuant to § 589.201 is prohibited unless licensed pursuant to this part.

(e) All receipts of payment of professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses for the provision of legal services authorized pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section to or on behalf of a person in the Crimea region of Ukraine, or in circumstances in which the benefit is otherwise received in the Crimea region of Ukraine, other than those persons whose property and interest in property are blocked pursuant to § 589.201, are authorized, except that nothing in this section authorizes the debiting of any blocked account or the transfer of any blocked property.

Note 1 to § 589.506:

Pursuant to part 501, subpart E, of this chapter, U.S. persons seeking administrative reconsideration or judicial review of their designation or the blocking of their property and interests in property may apply for a specific license from OFAC to authorize the release of certain blocked funds for the payment of professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses for the provision of such legal services where alternative funding sources are not available.

§ 589.507 - Payments for legal services from funds originating outside the United States.

(a) Professional fees and incurred expenses. (1) Receipt of payment of professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses for the provision of legal services authorized pursuant to § 589.506(a) to or on behalf of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 589.201 is authorized from funds originating outside the United States, provided that the funds do not originate from:

(i) A source within the United States;

(ii) Any source, wherever located, within the possession or control of a U.S. person; or

(iii) Any individual or entity, other than the person on whose behalf the legal services authorized pursuant to § 589.506(a) are to be provided, whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to any part of this chapter or any Executive order or statute.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (a) of this section authorizes payments for legal services using funds in which any other person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 589.201, any other part of this chapter, or any Executive order or statute has an interest.

(b) Reports. (1) U.S. persons who receive payments pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section must submit annual reports no later than 30 days following the end of the calendar year during which the payments were received providing information on the funds received. Such reports shall specify:

(i) The individual or entity from whom the funds originated and the amount of funds received; and

(ii) If applicable:

(A) The names of any individuals or entities providing related services to the U.S. person receiving payment in connection with authorized legal services, such as private investigators or expert witnesses;

(B) A general description of the services provided; and

(C) The amount of funds paid in connection with such services.

(2) The reports, which must reference this section, are to be submitted to OFAC using one of the following methods:

(i) Email (preferred method): [email protected]; or

(ii) U.S. mail: OFAC Regulations Reports, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Freedman's Bank Building, Washington, DC 20220.

§ 589.508 - Emergency medical services.

The provision and receipt of nonscheduled emergency medical services that are prohibited by this part are authorized.

§ 589.509 - Investment and reinvestment of certain funds.

Subject to the requirements of § 589.211, U.S. financial institutions are authorized to invest and reinvest assets blocked pursuant to § 589.201, subject to the following conditions:

(a) The assets representing such investments and reinvestments are credited to a blocked account or subaccount that is held in the same name at the same U.S. financial institution, or within the possession or control of a U.S. person, but funds shall not be transferred outside the United States for this purpose;

(b) The proceeds of such investments and reinvestments shall not be credited to a blocked account or subaccount under any name or designation that differs from the name or designation of the specific blocked account or subaccount in which such funds or securities were held; and

(c) No immediate financial or economic benefit accrues (e.g., through pledging or other use) to a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 589.201.

§ 589.510 - Official business of the United States Government.

All transactions prohibited by this part that are for the conduct of the official business of the United States Government by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof are authorized.

§ 589.511 - Official business of certain international organizations and entities.

All transactions prohibited by this part that are for the conduct of the official business of the following entities, by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof are authorized:

(a) The United Nations, including its Programmes, Funds, and Other Entities and Bodies, as well as its Specialized Agencies and Related Organizations;

(b) The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA);

(c) The African Development Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), including any fund entity administered or established by any of the foregoing; and

(d) The International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

§ 589.512 - Certain transactions related to derivatives prohibited by or § 589.204.

(a) All transactions by U.S. persons, wherever located, and transactions within the United States involving derivative products whose value is linked to an underlying asset that constitutes prohibited debt issued by a person subject to § 589.202, § 589.203, or § 589.204, or prohibited equity issued by a person subject to § 589.202, are authorized.

(b) This section does not authorize the holding, purchasing, or selling of underlying assets otherwise prohibited by § 589.202, § 589.203, or § 589.204 by U.S. persons, wherever are located, or within the United States.

§ 589.513 - Exportation or reexportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, medical supplies, and replacement parts to the Crimea region of Ukraine.

(a)(1) Agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical supplies. Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this section, the exportation or reexportation, from the United States or by a U.S. person, wherever located, of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical supplies to the Crimea region of Ukraine, or to persons in third countries purchasing specifically for resale to the Crimea region of Ukraine, and the conduct of related transactions are authorized.

(2) Replacement parts. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the exportation or reexportation, from the United States or by a U.S. person, wherever located, of replacement parts for medical supplies exported or reexported pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and the conduct of related transactions are authorized, provided that such replacement parts are designated as EAR99, or, in the case of replacement parts that are not subject to the Export Administration Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730 through 744 (EAR), are not listed under any multilateral export control regime; and further provided that such replacement parts are limited to a one-for-one export or reexport basis (i.e., only one replacement part can be exported or reexported to replace a broken or non-operational component).

Note 1 to paragraph (a):

Related transactions in this paragraph include the making of shipping and cargo inspection arrangements, the obtaining of insurance, the arrangement of financing and payment, shipping of the goods, receipt of payment, and the entry into contracts (including executory contracts).

(b)(1) Excluded persons. Paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section do not authorize the exportation or reexportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, medical supplies, or replacement parts to military or law enforcement purchasers or importers.

(2) Excluded agricultural commodities. Paragraph (a)(1) of this section does not authorize the exportation or reexportation of the following items: Castor beans, castor bean seeds, certified pathogen-free eggs (unfertilized or fertilized), dried egg albumin, live animals (excluding live cattle), embryos (excluding cattle embryos), Rosary/Jequirity peas, non-food-grade gelatin powder, peptones and their derivatives, super absorbent polymers, western red cedar, or all fertilizers.

(3) Excluded medicines. Paragraph (a)(1) of this section does not authorize the exportation or reexportation of the following medicines: Non-NSAID analgesics, cholinergics, anticholinergics, opioids, narcotics, benzodiazapenes, and bioactive peptides.

(c)(1) Other excluded items agricultural commodities. For the purposes of this section, agricultural commodities do not include furniture made from wood; clothing manufactured from plant or animal materials; agricultural equipment (whether hand tools or motorized equipment); pesticides, insecticides, or herbicides; or cosmetics (unless derived entirely from plant materials).

(2) Other excluded medicine. For the purposes of this section, medicine does not include cosmetics.

(d) Nothing in this section relieves the exporter from compliance with the export license application requirements of another Federal agency.

(e) Nothing in this section authorizes the exportation or reexportation of any agricultural commodity, medicine, or medical device controlled on the United States Munitions List established under section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778); controlled on any control list established under the Export Administration Act of 1979 or any successor statute (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.); or used to facilitate the development or production of a chemical or biological weapon or weapon of mass destruction.

(f) Nothing in this section affects prohibitions on the sale or supply of U.S. technology or software used to manufacture agricultural commodities, medicine, or medical devices, such as technology to design or produce biotechnological items or medical devices.

(g) Nothing in this section affects U.S. nonproliferation export controls, including the end-user and end-use controls maintained under Part 744 of the EAR, 15 CFR part 744.

(h) Nothing in this section authorizes any transaction or dealing with a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to 31 CFR 536.201, 544.201, 594.201, 597.201, or 598.202, or with any foreign organization, group, or person subject to any restriction for its involvement in weapons of mass destruction or missile proliferation, or involving property blocked pursuant to this chapter or any other activity prohibited by this chapter not otherwise authorized in or pursuant to this part.

(i) Nothing in this section authorizes the exportation or reexportation of any agricultural commodity, medicine, or medical device that is not designated as EAR99 or, in the case of any agricultural commodity, medicine, or medical device not subject to the EAR, is not listed under any multilateral export control regime.

(j) For the purposes of this section, agricultural commodities, medicine, medical devices, and medical supplies are defined below.

(1) Agricultural commodities. For the purposes of this section, agricultural commodities are:

(i) In the case of products subject to the EAR, products that are designated as EAR99, and, in the case of products not subject to the EAR, products that are not listed under any multilateral export control regime, in each case that fall within the term “agricultural commodity” as defined in section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602); and

(ii) In the case of products subject to the EAR, products that are designated as EAR99, and in the case of products not subject to the EAR, products that are not listed under any multilateral export control regime, in each case that are intended for ultimate use in the Crimea region of Ukraine as: Food for humans (including raw, processed, and packaged foods, live animals, vitamins and minerals, food additives or supplements, and bottled drinking water) or animals (including animal feeds); seeds for food crops; fertilizers or organic fertilizers; or reproductive materials (such as live animals, fertilized eggs, embryos, and semen) for the production of food animals;

(2) Medicine. For the purposes of this section, medicine is an item that falls within the definition of the term “drug” in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321) and that, in the case of an item subject to the EAR, is designated as EAR99 or, in the case of an item not subject to the EAR, is not listed under any multilateral export control regime.

(3) Medical devices. For the purposes of this section, a medical device is an item that falls within the definition of “device” in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321) and that, in the case of an item subject to the EAR, is designated as EAR99, or in the case of an item not subject to the EAR, is not listed under any multilateral export control regime.

(4) Medical supplies. For purposes of this section, the term medical supplies means those medical devices, as defined in paragraph (j)(3) of this section, that are included on the List of Medical Supplies on OFAC's website (www.treas.gov/ofac) on the Ukraine-/Russia-Related Sanctions page.

Note 1 to paragraph (j)(4):

The List of Medical Supplies is maintained on OFAC's website (www.treas.gov/ofac) on the Ukraine-/Russia-Related Sanctions page. The list will be published in the Federal Register, as will any changes to the list.

(k) Specific licenses may be issued on a case-by-case basis to authorize the export or reexport of medical devices that are not medical supplies (and therefore not authorized pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section) to the Crimea region of Ukraine, or to persons in third countries purchasing specifically for resale to the Crimea region of Ukraine.

§ 589.514 - Noncommercial, personal remittances to or from the Crimea region of Ukraine or for or on behalf of individuals ordinarily resident in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

(a)(1) U.S. persons are authorized to send and receive, and U.S. depository institutions, U.S.-registered brokers or dealers in securities, and U.S.-registered money transmitters are authorized to process transfers of, funds to or from the Crimea region of Ukraine or for or on behalf of an individual ordinarily resident in the Crimea region of Ukraine in cases in which the transfer involves a noncommercial, personal remittance, provided the transfer is not by, to, or through any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 589.201.

(2) Noncommercial, personal remittances do not include charitable donations of funds to or for the benefit of an entity or funds transfers for use in supporting or operating a business, including a family-owned business.

(b) The transferring institutions identified in paragraph (a) of this section may rely on the originator of a funds transfer with regard to compliance with paragraph (a), provided that the transferring institution does not know or have reason to know that the funds transfer is not in compliance with paragraph (a).

(c) An individual who is a U.S. person is authorized to carry funds as a noncommercial, personal remittance, as described in paragraph (a) of this section, to an individual in the Crimea region of Ukraine or to an individual ordinarily resident in the Crimea region of Ukraine, other than an individual whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant § 589.201, provided that the individual who is a U.S. person is carrying the funds on his or her behalf, but not on behalf of another person.

§ 589.515 - Operation of accounts for individuals ordinarily resident in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

The operation of an account in a U.S. financial institution for an individual ordinarily resident in the Crimea region of Ukraine, other than an individual whose property and interests in property are blocked § 589.201, is authorized, provided that transactions processed through the account:

(a) Are of a personal nature and not for use in supporting or operating a business;

(b) Do not involve transfers, directly or indirectly, to the Crimea region of Ukraine or for the benefit of individuals ordinarily resident in the Crimea region of Ukraine unless authorized by § 589.514; and

§ 589.516 - Transactions related to telecommunications and mail involving the Crimea region of Ukraine.

(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, all transactions with respect to the receipt and transmission of telecommunications involving the Crimea region of Ukraine are authorized, provided that no payment pursuant to this section may involve any transaction with a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 589.201.

(2) This section does not authorize:

(i) The provision, sale, or lease of telecommunications equipment or technology; or

(ii) The provision, sale, or lease of capacity on telecommunications transmission facilities (such as satellite or terrestrial network activity).

(b) All transactions of common carriers incident to the receipt or transmission of mail and packages between the United States and the Crimea region of Ukraine are authorized, provided that the importation or exportation of such mail and packages is exempt from or authorized pursuant to this part.

§ 589.517 - Exportation of certain services and software incident to internet-based communications to the Crimea Region of Ukraine.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, the exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, to persons in the Crimea region of Ukraine of services incident to the exchange of personal communications over the internet, such as instant messaging, chat and email, social networking, sharing of photos and movies, web browsing, and blogging, is authorized, provided that such services are widely available to the public at no cost to the user.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, the exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, to persons in the Crimea region of Ukraine of software necessary to enable the services described in paragraph (a) of this section is authorized, provided that such software is designated EAR99 under the Export Administration Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730 through 774 (EAR), or is classified by the Department of Commerce as mass market software under export control classification number (ECCN) 5D992 of the EAR, and provided further that such software is widely available to the public at no cost to the user.

(c) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, the exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, to persons in the Crimea region of Ukraine of software that is not subject to the EAR because it is of foreign origin and is located outside the United States that is necessary to enable the services described in paragraph (a) of this section is authorized, provided that such software is not listed under any multilateral export control regime, or would meet the criteria for classification under ECCN 5D992 of the EAR if it were subject to the EAR, and provided further that such software is widely available to the public at no cost to the user.

(d) This section does not authorize:

(1) The exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, of services or software with knowledge or reason to know that such services or software are intended for any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 589.201.

(2) The exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, of any goods or technology listed on the Commerce Control List in the EAR, 15 CFR part 774, supplement No. 1 (CCL), except for software necessary to enable the services described in paragraph (a) of this section that is classified by the Department of Commerce as mass market software under ECCN 5D992 of the EAR;

(3) The exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, of commercial-grade internet connectivity services or telecommunications transmission facilities (such as dedicated satellite links or dedicated lines that include quality of service guarantees); or

(4) The exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, of web-hosting services that are for commercial endeavors or of domain name registration services.

(e) Specific licenses may be issued on a case-by-case basis for the exportation or reexportation of services or software incident to the exchange of personal communications over the internet not specified in paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section, and for the exportation or reexportation of hardware incident to the exchange of personal communications over the internet.

§ 589.518 - Transactions necessary and ordinarily incident to publishing in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

(a) To the extent that such activities are not exempt from this part, and subject to the restrictions set forth in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section, U.S. persons are authorized to engage in all transactions necessary and ordinarily incident to the publishing and marketing of manuscripts, books, journals, and newspapers in paper or electronic format (collectively, “written publications”) involving the Crimea region of Ukraine. This paragraph does not apply if the parties to the transactions described in this paragraph include any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 589.201. Pursuant to this section, the following activities are authorized, provided that U.S. persons ensure that they are not engaging, without separate authorization, in the activities identified in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section:

(1) Commissioning and making advance payments for identifiable written publications not yet in existence, to the extent consistent with industry practice;

(2) Collaborating on the creation and enhancement of written publications;

(3)(i) Augmenting written publications through the addition of items such as photographs, artwork, translation, explanatory text, and, for a written publication in electronic format, the addition of embedded software necessary for reading, browsing, navigating, or searching the written publication;

(ii) Exporting embedded software necessary for reading, browsing, navigating, or searching a written publication in electronic format, provided that, to the extent authorization is required under the Export Administration Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730 through 774 (EAR), the exportation is licensed or otherwise authorized by the Department of Commerce under the provisions of the EAR;

(4) Substantive editing of written publications;

(5) Payment of royalties for written publications;

(6) Creating or undertaking a marketing campaign to promote a written publication; and

(7) Other transactions necessary and ordinarily incident to the publishing and marketing of written publications as described in this paragraph (a).

(b) This section does not authorize transactions involving the provision of goods or services not necessary and ordinarily incident to the publishing and marketing of written publications as described in paragraph (a) of this section. For example, this section does not authorize persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States:

(1) To provide or receive individualized or customized services (including, but not limited to, accounting, legal, design, or consulting services), other than those necessary and ordinarily incident to the publishing and marketing of written publications, even though such individualized or customized services are delivered through the use of information and informational materials;

(2) To create or undertake for any person a marketing campaign with respect to any service or product other than a written publication, or to create or undertake a marketing campaign of any kind;

(3) To engage in the exportation or importation of goods to or from the Crimea region of Ukraine other than the exportation of embedded software described in paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of this section; or

(4) To operate a publishing house, sales outlet, or other office in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

(c) This section does not authorize U.S. persons to engage the services of publishing houses or translators in the Crimea region of Ukraine unless such activity is primarily for the dissemination of written publications in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

(d) This section does not authorize:

(1) The exportation from or the importation into the United States of services for the development, production, or design of software;

(2) Transactions for the development, production, design, or marketing of technology specifically controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, 22 CFR parts 120 through 130 (ITAR), the EAR, or the Department of Energy Regulations set forth at 10 CFR part 810.

(3) The exportation of information or technology subject to the authorization requirements of 10 CFR part 810, or Restricted Data as defined in section 11 y. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, or of other information, data, or technology the release of which is controlled under the Atomic Energy Act and regulations therein;

(4) The exportation of any item (including information) subject to the EAR where a U.S. person knows or has reason to know that the item will be used, directly or indirectly, with respect to certain nuclear, missile, chemical, or biological weapons or nuclear-maritime end-uses as set forth in part 744 of the EAR. In addition, U.S. persons are precluded from exporting any item subject to the EAR to certain restricted end-users, as set forth in part 744 of the EAR, as well as certain persons whose export privileges have been denied pursuant to parts 764 or 766 of the EAR, without authorization from the Department of Commerce; or

(5) The exportation of information subject to licensing requirements under the ITAR, or exchanges of information that are subject to regulation by other government agencies.

§ 589.519 - Emergency landings and air ambulance services in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

(a) The receipt of, and payment of charges for, services rendered in connection with emergency landings in the Crimea region of Ukraine by aircraft registered in the United States or owned or controlled by, or chartered to, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction that would be prohibited by § 589.206, § 589.207, or § 589.208 are authorized.

(b) U.S. persons are authorized to engage in all transactions prohibited by § 589.206, § 589.207, or § 589.208 that are necessary to provide air ambulance and related medical services, including medical evacuation from the Crimea region of Ukraine, for individuals in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

§ 589.520 - Certain transactions in support of nongovernmental organizations' activities in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

Nongovernmental organizations are authorized to export or reexport services to the Crimea region of Ukraine that would be prohibited by § 589.207 in support of the following not-for-profit activities:

(a) Activities to support humanitarian projects to meet basic human needs in the Crimea region of Ukraine, including drought and flood relief; food, nutrition, and medicine distribution; the provision of health services; assistance for vulnerable populations, including individuals with disabilities; and environmental programs;

(b) Activities to support democracy building in the Crimea region of Ukraine, including activities to support rule of law, citizen participation, government accountability, universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, access to information, and civil society development projects;

(c) Activities to support education in the Crimea region of Ukraine, including combating illiteracy, increasing access to education, international exchanges, and assisting education reform projects;

(d) Activities to support non-commercial development projects directly benefiting the Crimean people, including preventing infectious disease and promoting maternal/child health, and clean water assistance; and

(e) Activities to support environmental protection, including the preservation and protection of threatened or endangered species and the remediation of pollution or other environmental damage.

[87 FR 26099, May 2, 2022, as amended at 89 FR 67557, Aug. 21, 2024]
§ 589.521 - Transactions related to closing a correspondent or payable-through account.

(a) During the 10-day period beginning on the effective date of the prohibition in § 589.209 on the opening and the prohibition or imposition of one or more strict conditions on the maintaining of a correspondent account or a payable-through account for a foreign financial institution listed on the List of Foreign Financial Institutions Subject to Correspondent Account or Payable-Through Account Sanctions (CAPTA List), U.S. financial institutions that maintain correspondent accounts or payable-through accounts for the foreign financial institution are authorized to:

(1) Process only those transactions through the account, or permit the foreign financial institution to execute only those transactions through the account, that are for the purpose of, and necessary for, closing the account; and

(2) Transfer the funds remaining in the correspondent account or the payable-through account to an account of the foreign financial institution located outside of the United States and close the correspondent account or the payable-through account.

(b) A report must be filed with OFAC within 30 days of the closure of an account, providing full details on the closing of each correspondent account or payable-through account maintained by a U.S. financial institution for a foreign financial institution whose name is added to the CAPTA List. Such report must include complete information on the closing of the account and on all transactions processed or executed through the account pursuant to this section, including the account outside of the United States to which funds remaining in the account were transferred. The reports, which must reference this section, are to be submitted to OFAC using one of the following methods:

(1) Email (preferred method): [email protected]; or

(2) U.S. mail: Attention: Enforcement Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Freedman's Bank Building, Washington, DC 20220.

(c) Specific licenses may be issued on a case-by-case basis to authorize transactions outside the scope or time period authorized in paragraph (a) of this section by a U.S. financial institution with respect to a correspondent account or a payable-through account maintained by the U.S. financial institution for a foreign financial institution whose name is added to the CAPTA List. License applications should be filed in conformance with § 501.801 of the Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations, 31 CFR part 501.

(d) Nothing in this section authorizes the opening of a correspondent account or a payable-through account for a foreign financial institution whose name appears on the CAPTA List.

Note 1 to § 589.521:

This section does not authorize a U.S. financial institution to unblock property or interests in property, or to engage in any transaction or dealing in property or interests in property, blocked pursuant to any other part of this chapter in the process of closing a correspondent account or a payable-through account for a foreign financial institution whose name has been added to the CAPTA List. See § 589.101.

[87 FR 58996, Sept. 29, 2022, as amended at 89 FR 15742, Mar. 5, 2024]
source: 87 FR 26099, May 2, 2022, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 31 CFR 589.506