On 22 February 2019, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), of which Singapore is a member, issued an updated Public Statement that highlights the strategic deficiencies in the anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regimes of the following jurisdictions:

• The FATF remains concerned by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s failure to address the significant deficiencies in its AML/CFT regime and the serious threats they pose to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF urges the DPRK to immediately and meaningfully address its AML/CFT deficiencies. The FATF has serious concerns with the money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing risks posed by DPRK’s illicit activities. DPRK is subject to the FATF’s call on countries to apply counter-measures and Financial Institutions (FIs) should give special attention to business relationships and transactions with links, whether directly or indirectly, to the DPRK. Countries and financial institutions are called to apply effective counter‑measures, targeted financial sanctions, and other measures in accordance with the applicable United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs). In considering the range of counter-measures, FIs in Singapore should also take into account the requirements in the MAS (Sanctions and Freezing of Assets of Persons – DPRK) Regulations 2016, and relevant guidance provided by MAS.

• In acknowledgement of Iran’s commitment to an Action Plan to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, the FATF has suspended counter-measures since June 2016. The FATF decided in February 2019 to continue with the suspension of counter-measures, but expressed its disappointment that the Action Plan remains outstanding. The FATF expects Iran to proceed swiftly to address all of the remaining items in its Action Plan by completing and implementing the necessary AML/CFT reforms. If Iran does not enact the remaining legislation in line with FATF Standards by June 2019, the FATF will require increased supervisory examination for branches and subsidiaries of financial institutions based in Iran. The FATF remains concerned with the terrorism financing risk emanating from Iran and the threat this poses to the international financial system. Enhanced due diligence should therefore continue to be applied on business relationships and transactions with natural and legal persons from Iran, consistent with FATF Recommendation 19. This includes obtaining information on reasons for intended transactions, conducting enhanced monitoring of business relationships by tightening controls, and selecting patterns of transactions that need further examination.

Details of the FATF Statement can be found at:

http://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/high-riskandnon-cooperativejurisdictions/documents/public-statement-february-2019.html

The FATF has also issued an updated statement on its on-going process to improve global AML/CFT compliance.  This statement provides information on a list of jurisdictions that have committed to action plans to address and strengthen their respective AML/CFT deficiencies, and would assist financial institutions and relevant non-financial institutions in your risk assessment and mitigation.  The FATF Compliance statement can be found at:

 http://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/high-riskandnon-cooperativejurisdictions/documents/fatf-compliance-february-2019.html

Non-financial institutions that are subjected to AML/CFT requirements in Singapore are similarly advised to note the updated and new statements and take appropriate measures in accordance with your respective AML/CFT obligations.