Customs Notice 13-013

Ottawa, June 7, 2013

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Amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations

1. The purpose of this notice is to inform importers and exporters of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations that came into force on May 29, 2013. These amendments impose a complete ban on imports from Iran and exports to Iran, subject to certain exemptions.

2. Exemptions include consumer communication technologies that contribute to internet freedom; goods used to purify water for civilian and public health purposes, and food, medicine and medical equipment listed in annex 3 of the Regulations; personal or settlers' effects; correspondence; and packages sent by mail for non-commercial reasons.

3. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) assists Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada with the administration of these Regulations.

Summary of the Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations that relate to various import and export prohibitions

4. Sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations prohibit importing, purchasing, acquiring, shipping or transhipping any goods that are exported, supplied or shipped from Iran after May 29, 2013, whether the goods originated in Iran or elsewhere, subject to certain exemptions.

5. Additionally these Regulations prohibit the exporting, selling, supplying or shipping of goods, wherever situated, to Iran, to a person in Iran, or to a person for the purposes of a business carried on in or operated from Iran, subject to certain exemptions.

6. The exemptions to the import and export ban include exemptions for personal or settlers' effects; informational materials; correspondence; packages sent by mail for non-commercial reasons, equipment;  services and software that facilitate secure and widespread communications via information technologies; goods used to purify water for civilian and public health purposes; and activities that have as their purpose, the safeguarding of human life, disaster relief, or the provision of food, medicine and medical supplies listed in annex 3 of the Regulations.

7. A separate Special Economic Measures (Iran) Permit Authorization Order, made pursuant to subsection 4(4) of the Special Economic Measures Act authorizes the Minister of Foreign Affairs to issue to any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada a permit to carry out a specified activity or transaction, or any class of activity or transaction, that is restricted or prohibited pursuant to the Regulations.

Note of Caution

8. This Customs Notice provides only a brief summary of your obligations under the Regulations. The CBSA recommends that you consult the Canadian Economic Sanctions Iran page of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website.

Additional Information

9. For more information on how the CBSA assists with the administration of economic sanctions please consult the Departmental Memorandum D19-11-1 Canadian Economic Sanctions.

10. Additional information regarding the administration of these Regulations can be obtained on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website or by contacting one of the groups listed below.

United Nations, Human Rights and Economic Law Division
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0G2
Telephone: 613-944-3055
Fax: 613-992-2467
E-mail: sanctions@international.gc.ca

Exports Control Division
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Telephone: 613-996-2387

Effective date

11. The Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations came into force May 29, 2013.