Jurisdictions under increased monitoring are actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. When the FATF places a jurisdiction under increased monitoring, it means the country has committed to resolve swiftly the identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes and is subject to increased monitoring. This list is often externally referred to as the ‘grey list’.

The FATF and FATF-style regional bodies (FSRBs) continue to work with the jurisdictions noted below and to report on the progress made in addressing the identified strategic deficiencies. The FATF calls on these jurisdictions to complete their agreed action plans expeditiously and within the proposed timeframes. The FATF welcomes their commitment and will closely monitor their progress. The FATF does not call for the application of enhanced due diligence to be applied to these jurisdictions, but encourages its members to take into account the information presented below in their risk analysis.

The FATF continues to identify additional jurisdictions, on an on-going basis, that have strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. A number of jurisdictions have not yet been reviewed by the FATF and FSRBs.

On 28 April, the FATF decided on a general pause in the review process for the list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring,

FATF extends its assessment and follow-up deadlines in response to COVID-19 (28 April 2020)
The FATF granted jurisdictions an additional four months for deadlines, with the exception of Mongolia and Iceland who requested to continue on their original schedule. As a result, the FATF reviewed and virtually met with only these jurisdictions and the result of these discussions is noted below.

Iceland

In October 2019, Iceland made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime and address any related technical deficiencies. The FATF has made the initial determination that Iceland has substantially completed its action plan and warrants an on-site assessment to verify that the implementation of Iceland’s AML/CFT reforms has begun and is being sustained, and that the necessary political commitment remains in place to sustain implementation in the future. Specifically, Iceland has made the following key reforms: (1) ensuring the access to accurate basic and beneficial ownership information for legal persons by competent authorities in a timely manner; (2) introducing an automated system for STR filing and enhancing the FIU’s capacity in its strategic and operational analysis; (3) ensuring implementation of TFS requirements among FIs and DNFBPs through effective supervision; and (4) enabling effective oversight and monitoring of NPOs with adequate resources and in line with the identified TF risks. The FATF will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and conduct an on-site visit at the earliest possible date.

Mongolia

In October 2019, Mongolia made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime and address any related technical deficiencies. The FATF has made the initial determination that Mongolia has substantially completed its action plan and warrants an on-site assessment to verify that the implementation of Mongolia’s AML/CFT reforms has begun and is being sustained, and that the necessary political commitment remains in place to sustain implementation in the future. Specifically, Mongolia has made the following key reforms: (1) improving sectoral ML/TF risk understanding by DNFBP supervisors, applying a risk-based approach to supervision and applying proportionate and dissuasive sanctions for breaches of AML/CFT obligations; (2) demonstrating increased investigations and prosecutions of different types of ML activity in line with identified risks; (3) demonstrating further seizure and confiscation of falsely/non-declared currency and applying effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions; (4) demonstrating cooperation and coordination between authorities to prevent sanctions evasion; and (5) monitoring compliance by FIs and DNFBPs with their PF-related TFS obligations, including the application of proportionate and dissuasive sanctions. The FATF will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and conduct an on-site visit at the earliest possible date.

The statement on Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring, adopted in February 2020 remains in effect for the remaining jurisdictions identified at that time:

Albania
The Bahamas
Barbados
Botswana
Cambodia
Ghana
Jamaica
Mauritius
Myanmar
Nicaragua
Pakistan
Panama
Syria
Uganda
Yemen
Zimbabwe
Please refer to the statement issued in February 2020 for details concerning each of these jurisdictions. However, please be advised that the statement may not necessarily reflect the most recent status in the jurisdiction’s AML/CFT regime.

Published Date:2020-07-02