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Effective 28 January 2026
The UK government has announced that from 28 January 2026, it will consolidate its current two sanctions lists into a single list. This means all sanctions designations — whether financial, trade, transport or immigration-related — will be published in one place, known as the UK Sanctions List.
Until now, information on sanctions has been split between two lists:
- The UK Sanctions List (maintained by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), and
- The OFSI Consolidated List of Asset Freeze Targets (maintained by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation).
This dual system often caused confusion and duplication of effort for compliance teams and screening providers. From January 2026, only the UK Sanctions List will be updated — the OFSI list will be discontinued.
Why the Change Matters
For most regulated businesses, this shift won’t alter the day-to-day compliance process, but it does have some important implications:
- Simpler compliance – Having one definitive list removes the risk of inconsistency between different government sources.
- Less duplication – Firms and their third-party providers will no longer need to reconcile two datasets or question which list takes priority.
- Clearer accountability – The government aims to make it easier to confirm who is sanctioned, under what regime, and when designations change.
In short, the move is designed to simplify, not complicate — but all firms should still confirm that their sanctions-screening software providers are aware of the change and plan to update their systems in advance of January 2026.
What Businesses Should Do
While the change is administrative, there are a few sensible steps to take:
- Check with your screening provider – Most compliance and AML software firms already use both lists, but you should confirm they will transition smoothly to the single list.
- Update internal policies – Where your internal documentation refers to the “OFSI Consolidated List”, this should be revised to reference the UK Sanctions List only.
- Brief your compliance team – Make sure staff are aware that after January 2026, any UK sanctions checks should reference the single list.
No new regulatory action is required, but ensuring internal consistency now will prevent future confusion.
Impact Across Sectors
This change applies equally across all regulated sectors. Whether you operate in real estate, financial services, legal, fintech, crypto, or gaming, the practical effect is the same: your screening systems will pull data from a single, official UK source.
For most firms, this will mean:
- Less manual reconciliation or cross-checking.
- A more consistent compliance environment.
- Continued reliance on your chosen screening platform to manage updates automatically.
The fundamental obligation — to avoid dealing with sanctioned persons or entities — remains unchanged.
The Bigger Picture
The move to a single list is part of a wider effort to modernise and streamline UK sanctions administration following Brexit. It reflects the government’s intent to make compliance clearer and more accessible for businesses of all sizes.
For LondonCDD’s clients, it’s also an opportunity to ensure sanctions controls are up to date and proportionate. As with any regulatory change, clear communication between compliance officers, external partners and software providers will be key.
In summary:
From 28 January 2026, the UK will maintain one official sanctions list — the UK Sanctions List. The change simplifies compliance, reduces duplication, and affects all sectors equally. Most third-party compliance tools will handle the update automatically, but it’s wise to confirm that your systems and internal references are ready.
Change is always easier with the right guidance. Speak to LondonCDD about how we can support your business through the transition to the UK’s single sanctions list — from policy updates to staff briefings and risk reviews.
