Amendments to the Ukrainian government's sanctions legislation came into effect July 29, according to an unofficial translation. Under the alterations, the government will establish a register of sanctioned individuals and entities that includes a list of the reasons for their addition and the type of sanctions to which they are subject. The amendments also extend the deadlines for the High Anti-Corruption Court to consider appeals of asset freezes, giving the court up to 30 days after receiving the claim to consider the appeals.

An EU proposal to reform its customs system could make European trade “more efficient and less burdensome,” and would be “a key tool in risk analysis and risk management as a centralized data repository at the Union level,” Crowell & Moring said in an Aug. 2 client alert.

The U.K. last week released new guidance on the Windsor Framework, the agreement inked with the EU on post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland (see 2302270051). The new guidance covers the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme, including an overview of how the scheme will work, how to register and seal consignments and information on groupage and mixed load consignments. Another guidance covers labeling and packaging of “medicinal products for human use."

The U.K.'s Export Control Joint Unit updated six open general export licenses this week to reflect updates to the list of controlled dual-use items. The six licenses involve dual-use exports for repair under warranty, dual-use exports after repair under warranty, dual-use exports after exhibition, low-value shipments, technology for dual-use items, and dual-use items for export to India.

USDA is accepting applications from exporters to participate in the USA Pavilion at BioFach, the world's largest organic trade show held each year in Nuremburg, Germany. U.S. exhibitors in the pavilion display can promote a "variety of USDA organic products to visitors and buyers from around the world," the agency said in an Aug. 1 email, and is "an excellent platform to expand your business into the global organic market." BIOFACH 2024 is scheduled for Feb. 13-16, and interested parties should contact Steve Kamrass with Nurnberg Messe North America at steve.kamrass@nuernbergmesse-north-america.com.

The U.K. added six entries to its Russia sanctions regime July 31 for being connected to the trial against Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was found guilty of spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces. The listings are for three Moscow City Court judges, two prosecutors and a witness in the trial. The U.K. also amended the entry for Ella Pamfilova, chairperson of the Russia's Central Election Commission.

The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation issued a general license allowing payments and other permitted activities to take place related to insolvency proceedings for two Irish wings of Russian leasing firm GTLK. The two companies are GTLK Europe Designated Activity Co. and GTLK Europe Capital Designated Activity Co. Under the license, any party, including the GTLK companies or their subsidiaries, along with involved practitioners, may "make, receive or process any payments" in connection with the insolvency proceedings. The license expires at the end of the day July 31, 2025.

The European Council in a July 28 move amended its Haiti sanctions regime to allow the EU to "autonomously impose restrictive measures" on individuals and entities that undermine democracy in the Caribbean nation. While no parties were sanctioned under the council's announcement, the decision complements sanctions the U.N. Security Council imposed in October, the council said. The move comes in response to the "high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities, sexual and gender-based violence, embezzlement of public funds, ongoing impunity for perpetrators," and the "dire humanitarian situation" in Haiti.

The EU on July 28 added nine individuals to its sanctions regime covering those who commit human rights abuses and sustain armed conflict. The restrictions cover nine Congolese and Rwandan people who are charged with carrying out serious human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the European Council said. The people include members of non-state militant groups M23, Twirwaneho, ADF, APCLS, CODECO/ALC and FDLR/FOCA. In addition, a member of the Congolese Armed Forces and one member of the Rwanda Defense Force were listed.

The European Commission last week proposed a new toy safety regulation that could lead to new requirements for EU importers. The law, designed to “protect children from potential risks in toys,” prohibits the use of certain harmful chemicals in toys and will require all toy imports to have a “Digital Product Passport.”