Australia's autonomous sanctions: Syria

On 13 May 2011, the Minister for Foreign Affairs announced new sanctions measures against Syria to reflect Australia's grave concern at the deeply disturbing and unacceptable use by the Syrian regime of violence against its people.

As a consequence, Australian law currently prohibits:

Sanctioned supply

1. The supply, sale or transfer to Syria of the following "export sanctioned goods":

  1. arms or related matériel
  2. specified equipment and technology, for use in the construction or installation of new power plants for electricity*
  3. specified equipment and technology for the oil and gas industry, or the petrochemical industry*
  4. newly printed or unissued Syrian denominated bank notes or newly minted or unissued Syrian denominated coinage
  5. specified equipment, technology or software for the monitoring or interception of internet or telephone communications*
  6. luxury goods, of a kind specified by the Minister in an instrument under this regulation
  7. gold, precious metals and diamonds (applies only to the sale, supply or transfer of such goods to the government of Syria or its public bodies, corporations or agencies, including persons, entities or bodies acting on their behalf or at their direction and entities or bodies owned or controlled by them).
  8. designated goods of particular concern if destined for end-users in Syria.**

*Goods specified by the Minister in the Autonomous Sanctions (Export Sanctioned Goods - Syria) Specification 2012 [PDF 122 KB]

** Goods designated by the Minister in the Autonomous Sanctions (Export Sanctioned Goods – Syria) Designation 2012 [PDF 60 KB]

Sanctioned import

2. The import, purchase or transport goods of the following "import sanctioned goods", when the goods originate in, or are exported from, Syria:

  1. specified crude oil products*
  2. specified petroleum products*
  3. specified petrochemical products*
  4. gold, precious metals and diamonds (applies only to the import, purchase or transport of such goods from or for the government of Syria or its public bodies, corporations or agencies, including persons, entities or bodies acting on their behalf or at their direction and entities or bodies owned or controlled by them).

*Goods specified by the Minister in the Autonomous Sanctions (Import Sanctioned Goods – Syria) Specification 2012 [PDF 61 KB]

Sanctioned service

3. The provision of technical advice, assistance or training, a financial service or financial or other assistance to Syria, related to

  1. military activities or
  2. a sanctioned supply for Syria
  3. the manufacture, maintenance or use of an export sanctioned good for Syria

4. The provision of a financial service or financial assistance to Syria, related to a sanctioned import for Syria.

Sanctioned commercial activity

5. The acquisition or extension of an interest in, or the establishment of or participation in a joint venture with, or the granting of a financial loan or credit to, any of the following entities:

  1. an entity in Syria that is engaged in:
    • the Syrian petrochemical industry; or
    • any of the following sectors of the Syrian oil and gas industry:
      • refining of fuels;
      • exploration of crude oil or natural gas;
      • production of crude oil or natural gas;
      • liquefaction of natural gas
  2. a Syrian entity engaged in a sector mentioned in (a) outside Syria
  3. a Syrian-owned entity engaged in a sector mentioned in (a) outside Syria
  4. an entity in Syria engaged in the construction or installation of new power plants for electricity production

6. The sale (or otherwise making available) of an interest in a commercial activity in the Australian oil and gas industry (refining of fuels, exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, and the liquefaction of natural gas) to any of the following persons or entities:

  1. the government of Syria
  2. any natural person in, or resident in, Syria
  3. an entity formed or incorporated in Syria
  4. an entity or person acting on behalf of or at the direction of an entity or a person mentioned in items (a) to (c)
  5. an entity owned or controlled by a person or entity mentioned in items (a) to (c)

7. The setting up in Australia of a representative office, or of a branch or subsidiary, of, or the acquisition or extension of an interest in an Australian financial institution by, any of the following entities:

  1. a financial institution domiciled in Syria
  2. a branch or a subsidiary, wherever located, of a financial institution domiciled in Syria
  3. a financial institution, wherever domiciled, that is controlled by an entity or a person domiciled in Syria

8. The establishment, by a financial institution, of a joint venture, or a correspondent banking relationship, or a bank account, with any of the following entities:

  1. a financial institution domiciled in Syria
  2. a branch or a subsidiary, wherever located, of a financial institution domiciled in Syria
  3. a financial institution, wherever domiciled, that is controlled by an entity or a person domiciled in Syria

The setting up, by a financial institution, of a representative office or of a branch or subsidiary in Syria.

Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011, regulations 5A and 13A

Targeted financial sanctions

9. The use or dealing with the assets of, and the making available of assets to, a person or entity designated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs other than as authorised by a permit issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Travel restrictions

10. The entry or transit through Australia of persons declared by the Minister as meeting the criteria for Syria under regulation 6 of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations.

Authorisations and inquiries

To apply for an authorisation to engage in conduct otherwise prohibited by sanctions, or to make an inquiry as to whether a specific transaction is subject to sanctions, please use the Online Sanctions Administration System.