The European Council on July 20 established a new framework for sanctions following Iran's support of Russia's war in Ukraine. The regime bars the export from the EU to Iran of parts used in the construction and production of unmanned aerial vehicles while also providing for sanctions against people responsible for Iran's UAV program, the council said. It also added six Iranian people, all of whom are currently listed under two existing sanctions regimes, for their roles in Iran's support of both Russian and Syrian aggression.

The EU last week sanctioned 18 people and five entities under its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime due to their human rights violations in Afghanistan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Ukraine and Russia.

The EU levied a seventh round of sanctions against the parties responsible for the continuing violence and human rights violations in Myanmar, the European Council announced July 20. The designations target union ministers for immigration and population, labor, and health and sports; two members of the State Administration Council; and the quartermaster general. The lone sanctioned entity is No. 2 Mining Enterprise, a state-owned company generating revenue for the Myanmar Armed Forces, the council said. The sanctions regime now covers 99 people and 19 entities.

The European Council in a July 20 notice extended the sanctions framework on Lebanon for another year. The restrictions will now expire July 31, 2024. The framework allows for the imposition of sanctions on people and entities responsible for "undermining democracy or the rule of law in Lebanon" by obstructing the political process, undermining the implementation of plans approved by Lebanese authorities or "serious financial misconduct."

The European Council on July 20 renewed and expanded the temporary suspension of all tariffs and the entry-price system on seven agricultural products from Moldova for another year. The measures will now lapse July 24, 2024. The seven agricultural goods subject to the measures, which allow imports of the products to the EU, are plums, table grapes, apples, tomatoes, garlic, cherries and grape juice. The council's expansion of the measures also includes "more stringent reporting obligations" and says the Committee on Safeguards, rather than the Customs Code Committee, likely will be involved in implementing the safeguard mechanism.

The European Council this week extended by six months, until Jan. 31, its sanctions targeting certain sectors of the Russian economy. The restrictions were imposed in 2014 and expanded following the invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions include a host of sectoral restrictions on trade, finance, technology, dual-use goods, industry, transport and luxury goods, the council said, as well as an import ban on seaborne crude oil and restrictions on Russia-based "disinformation outlets."

The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation added five entries to its Sudan sanctions regime, one to its Mali restrictions list and seven under its Central African Republic sanctions regime in a series of three July 20 notices.

The Norwegian government will establish a new agency to handle matters relating to export controls and sanctions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced July 11. The country said it's forming the agency in part due to the growing number of restrictions stemming from Russia's war in Ukraine, adding that it wanted to create a "separate government agency to dedicate more resources to efforts relating to implementing sanctions and export control." The new agency, which is expected to be established within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2024, will deal with case processing, oversee export licenses and provide guidance.

The Russian government on July 17 extended for another year, until Sept. 1, 2024, its simplified procedure for confirming the compliance of imported goods with technical regulations and interstate standards, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced, according to an unofficial translation. Originally set in March 2022, the policy allows exporters to use a simplified procedure whereby they submit declarations of conformity based on their own evidence without "lengthy laboratory tests."

The U.S. and EU this week condemned Russia's decision to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which had allowed grain to be exported from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia amid fighting between Russia and Ukraine (see 2305030024). "We urge the Government of Russia to reverse its decision, to resume negotiations, and to extend, expand, and fully implement the Initiative immediately for the benefit of the millions of people who depend on Ukrainian grain," the State Department said. The European Council also called on Russia to "cease illegally blocking Ukrainian seaports and allow freedom of navigation on the Black Sea," adding that it will "spare no efforts" in supporting the delivery of all goods, "especially agricultural products to global markets through EU-Ukraine 'Solidarity Lanes.'"