Proliferation and proliferation financing in Guernsey

Wednesday 22 March 2023

Proliferation and proliferation financing (collectively "PPF") are both significant threats to global peace and security. Given current instability arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the knock-on political impact worldwide, it is now more important than ever for financial services businesses ("FSBs") to understand and recognise what is meant by PPF and have systems and controls in place to prevent and detect it.

In this guide we address three simple questions:

1. What does PPF mean?
2. What are countering PPF obligations for FSBs?; and
3. What should FSBs do to ensure they continue to meet their obligations?

1. What does PPF mean?

Proliferation:

Proliferation is the delivery system of weapons of mass destruction ("WMD") to states, non-state actors or individuals who are not authorised to possess them.

It includes the development, production, acquisition, transfer and use of WMD and any activity which supports these actions.

WMD includes explosive missiles or chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons that cause significant harm and can kill innumerable individuals, catastrophically damage infrastructure and cause irreversible harm to the environment.

Proliferation Financing:

Proliferation Financing refers to the financial transactions that facilitate proliferation or the delivery systems of WMD.

The Financial Action Task Force ("FATF") have issued the following definition of Proliferation Financing:

"Proliferation financing" refers to: the act of providing funds or financial services which are used, in whole or in part, for the manufacture, acquisition, possession, development, export, trans-shipment, brokering, transport, transfer, stockpiling or use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery and related materials (including both technologies and dual use goods used for non-legitimate purposes), in contravention of national laws or, where applicable, international obligations.

2. What are countering PPF obligations for FSBs?

The FATF is an inter-governmental body, which sets international standards and recommendations ("Standards") on anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and countering proliferation financing (collectively AML/CFT/CPF).

In 2020 the FATF revised its Standards to require countries, financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions and virtual asset service providers to identify, assess, understand and mitigate their PPF risks.

Although the Bailiwick of Guernsey is not a FATF Member, it is a Crown Dependency of the United Kingdom (the UK being a FATF Member) and is evaluated against the FATF Standards by MONEYVAL, which is a FATF-style Regional Body.

Guernsey's next MONEYVAL visit is expected to be in 2024. While we understand the evaluation will be based on the FATF Fourth Round (2013) Methodology, it is becoming increasingly clear that PPF is high on the agenda and therefore as a jurisdiction, it makes sense for FSBs to be prepared for it to be a point of interest of the visiting MONEYVAL assessors.

Relevant FATF PPF Updates:

 

Guernsey's legal and regulatory framework

The Guernsey legal framework surrounding PPF is well-established and has serious criminal consequences for non-compliance.

Guernsey's 2019 National Risk Assessment ("NRA") published in January 2020, refers to the proliferation of WMD when referring to targeted financial sanctions measures.

The GFSC's Handbook on Countering Financial Crime and Terrorist Financing (the "Handbook") includes the financing of the proliferation of WMD in its introduction and encompasses it within the ML and TF definition.

3. What should FSBs do to ensure they continue to meet their obligations?

As preparations for the MONEYVAL inspection continue apace, the focus on PPF may well become more prominent, not least in light of the comments in FATF's April 2022 report, that encourages countries to provide additional guidance to improve overall risk-awareness and address vulnerabilities.

FSBs would be well placed to prepare themselves for scrutiny of their PPF risk framework(s) and questions from the Regulator, and potentially MONEYVAL, on the state of their effectiveness and compliance with their PPF obligations.

Read, review and update

Given the heightened awareness and interest in PPF, MLCOs may wish to consider doing the following to ensure that PPF risks of the firm have been clearly identified, assessed, understood and mitigated.