Notice

General Trade Licence for sanctioned Russian synthetic diamonds processed in third countries

Published 24 April 2025

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-trade-licence-for-sanctioned-russian-synthetic-diamonds-processed-in-third-countries/general-trade-licence-for-sanctioned-russian-synthetic-diamonds-processed-in-third-countries

Licence number: [GBSAN0003]

1. The Secretary of State grants this General Trade Licence under regulation 65 of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the ‘Russia Regulations’).

2. The prohibitions in regulations 46Z16W, 46Z16X, 46Z16Y, and 46Z16Z of Chapter 4JD (certain synthetic diamonds processed in a third country) of the Russia Regulations do not apply to anything done that is authorised under this Licence.

Interpretation  

3. For the purposes of this Licence: 

a) ‘person’ means an individual, a body of persons corporate or unincorporate, any organisation or any association or combination of persons

b) ‘relevant processed synthetic diamond’ means any synthetic diamond which—

  • i. is equal to or larger than 0.5 carats
  • ii. was manufactured in Russia; and
  • iii. has been processed in a third country

c) ‘synthetic diamond’ means any thing falling within the following commodity codes—

  • i. 7104 21 (synthetic or reconstructed diamonds, unworked or simply sawn or roughly shaped)
  • ii. 7104 91 (synthetic or reconstructed diamonds, other than unworked or simply sawn or roughly shaped)

d) ‘third country’ means a country that is not the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or Russia

e) paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Russia Regulations applies for the purposes of interpreting the definition of ‘synthetic diamond’;

f) for the purposes of the definition of ‘relevant processed synthetic diamond’, a synthetic diamond is processed where it is—

  • i. altered
  • ii. transformed in any way; or
  • iii. subjected to any other type of operation or process.

Authorisation for relevant synthetic diamonds processed outside of Russia since before 24 April 2025 

4. The prohibitions specified at regulations 46Z16W to 46Z16Z of the Russia Regulations do not apply to a relevant processed synthetic diamond, or in relation to a relevant processed synthetic diamond, where the conditions set out in paragraph 5 of this Licence are met.

5. The conditions are that: 

a) any synthetic diamond processed to produce the relevant processed synthetic diamond has not been located in Russia at any time beginning with 24 April 2025, and

b) the relevant processed synthetic diamond has not been located in Russia at any time beginning with 24 April 2025

General  

6. This Licence does not authorise any act which the person carrying out the act knows, or has reasonable grounds for suspecting, will result in a breach of any part of the Russia Regulations, save as authorised under this Licence or any other licence granted under the Russia Regulations.

7. Information provided to the Secretary of State in connection with this Licence shall be processed in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. This information may be disclosed to third parties as permitted or required by law, including as required under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 or permitted under regulation 78 of the Russia Regulations.

8. This Licence is subject to any obligation arising in respect of the Windsor Framework as it may apply through section 7A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in respect of Northern Ireland.

9. The provisions of regulation 76 (general trade licences: records) of the Russia Regulations apply to any act under the authority of this Licence.

10. This Licence comes into force on 24 April 2025. It is of indefinite duration and shall be periodically reviewed by the Secretary of State.

11. The Secretary of State has the power to vary, revoke or suspend this Licence at any time.

An Official of the Department for Business and Trade, authorised to act on behalf of the Secretary of State.

Contact us

Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to: 

Import Sanctions Team
Department for Business and Trade
Old Admiralty Building
Admiralty Place
London
SW1A 2BL

Email importsanctions@businessandtrade.gov.uk

If you require this publication in an alternative format, email importsanctions@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

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