HM Treasury Guidance

HM Treasury today issues a Statement on Money Laundering controls in Overseas Jurisdictions

The notice constitutes advice issued by HM Treasury about risks posed by unsatisfactory money laundering controls in a number of jurisdictions.

The Money Laundering Regulations 2007 require firms to put in place policies, procedures or systems in order to prevent money laundering or terrorist financing. Regulated businesses are also required to apply enhanced customer due diligence and enhanced ongoing monitoring on a risk-sensitive basis in certain defined situations and in “any other situation which by its nature can present a higher risk of money laundering or terrorist financing”.

Proposed amendments to key AML guidance in the UK were released on August 10th by the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG), a group of leading UK financial services trade associations that includes the British Bankers Association. JMLSG guidance is seen as the standard for AML compliance.

This guidance is being sent to Money Service Businesses (MSBs) with a copy of the first direction issued under the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 Schedule 7 which affects them and will shortly be included in Public Notice MLR8: Preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.

This note is to alert all Money Service Businesses (MSBs) to HM Treasury’s new powers to issue directions under the Counter Terrorism Act which came into force on 26 November 2008.