In short
- The Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations are amended to remove a Syria-specific general license after Syria's rescission as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
- A Quarterly Report of Licensing Activities under the TSRA, covering April through June 2026, has been published.
What happened
OFAC announced the consolidation of enforcement procedures and penalties into a new Sanctions Penalties Regulations part, which will lead to the deletion of over 100 subparts from existing regulations and the replacement of penalties information with cross-references. This streamlines compliance by centralizing relevant information previously scattered across 31 CFR chapter V.
OFAC also amended the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations to remove and reserve a Syria-specific general license, as the authorization is no longer necessary following the rescission of Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Additionally, OFAC published its Quarterly Report of Licensing Activities under the TSRA for April through June 2026.
Following publication of this part, OFAC will update parts within 31 CFR chapter V to replace existing penalties information with cross-references to the Regulations, resulting in the deletion of over 100 subparts from existing regulations.
In numbers
- over 100 subparts deleted from regulations
Named in this item
Organization, regulator US Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSRA) —
What compliance teams should check
- Update internal compliance manuals to reference the new Sanctions Penalties Regulations instead of individual 31 CFR chapter V subparts.
- Review the removal of the Syria-specific general license in the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations and adjust any related export controls.
- Examine the Quarterly Report of Licensing Activities under the TSRA for April through June 2026 for relevant licensing trends or changes.
Why it matters
These regulatory changes centralize and clarify enforcement procedures and penalties, making it easier for compliance officers to locate and interpret relevant requirements. The removal of the Syria-specific general license reflects a significant policy shift following Syria's rescission as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, which may affect export controls and licensing. The publication of the TSRA Quarterly Report provides transparency into OFAC's licensing activities, helping compliance teams monitor trends and ensure adherence to updated sanctions requirements.
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