News
- Publication of updated Anti-Money Laundering & Countering the Financing of Terrorism – Guidelines for Designated Persons supervised by the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit (6th July 2026)
- European Commission AML Legislative Package (6AMLD) – Outlook
- New Legislative Arrangements – Administrative Sanctions, effective 30 June 2026
Publication of updated Anti-Money Laundering & Countering the Financing of Terrorism – Guidelines for Designated Persons supervised by the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit (6th July 2026)
On the 6th July 2026, the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit (AMLCU) of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration published updated Anti-Money Laundering & Countering the Financing of Terrorism – Guidelines for Designated Persons supervised by the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit.
The purpose of the Guidelines is to assist those Designated Persons supervised by the AMLCU in understanding and meeting their Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism obligations under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 as amended and related Statutory Instruments. The updates published today include further information concerning business risks and customer due diligence that may be helpful to Designated Persons. It also includes information on the recently commenced SI 307 of 2026 – European Union (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Administrative Sanctions) Regulations 2026 as well as updates on the overall AMLTF supervisory landscape.
A copy of these Guidelines can be located here.
Please note: it is the ultimate responsibility of all Designated Persons to ensure that they are compliant with their obligations under the CJA 2010 as amended. These guidelines are intended to assist Designated Persons in their understanding of and compliance with those obligations. The Guidelines do not constitute secondary legislation. Firms must always refer directly to the CJA 2010 when ascertaining their statutory obligations. The Guidelines do not replace or override any legal and/or regulatory requirements. In the event of a discrepancy between these Guidelines and the CJA 2010, the CJA 2010 will apply. The Guidelines are not exhaustive and do not set limitations on the steps to be taken by Designated Persons to meet their statutory obligations.
European Commission AML Legislative Package – Outlook
The European Commission’s AML Package was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in June 2024 and is intended to strengthen the European Union’s (‘EU’) framework for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (“AML/CFT”). The AML Package comprises the AML Regulation (“AMLR”), the sixth AML Directive (“6AMLD”), the AMLA Regulation (“AMLAR”) and the recast Funds Transfer Regulation (the “recast FTR”). The AMLR will be legally binding on obliged entities across the EU from July 2027 and the majority of the provisions within 6AMLD must be transposed into national law by the same date (a small number of 6AMLD’s provisions must be transposed within a shorter deadline).
A key element of the European Commission’s AML Package was the establishment of AMLA (Anti Money laundering Agency), which is an EU agency responsible for coordinating NCAs and FIUs to ensure the correct and consistent application of EU AML/CFT rules. The AMLAR places AMLA at the centre of an integrated supervisory system made up of the Authority itself, NCAs and FIUs. AMLA is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the harmonised AML/CFT rules set out in the AMLR, thereby creating a level playing field and preventing regulatory arbitrage across both the financial and non-financial sectors.
Further information in relation to AMLA is available on the website https://www.amla.europa.eu/index_en
Ahead of the regulatory transposition, the AMLCU will update its website with the latest developments concerning its supervised obliged entities.
Obliged Entities (also known as ‘Designated Persons’) are advised to keep abreast of these developments and prepare their businesses for the requirements arising from these changes.
New Legislative Arrangements – Administrative Sanctions, effective 30 June 2026
New legislation has come into force on 30 June 2026 enabling Administrative Sanctions to be applied to Designated Persons found in breach of their AMLTF obligations (European Union (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Administrative Sanctions) Regulations 2026). Full details of this legislation are available at https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2026/si/307/made/en/pdf
TCSPs, as authorised and supervised by the AMLCU, should be aware that, as well as the existing criminal offences provided for under the Act, this new legislation introduces a range, type and value of financial penalties that may be applied to them for specific breaches of AMLTF law. Compliance with the law will avoid such penalties.
Important notice to TCSPs and First Time Applicants for Authorisation as a TCSP of changes from 1st January 2026.
Incomplete applications for TCSP authorisation or renewal of authorisation will not be accepted from 1st January 2026. Any application that does not include all of the required documentation will not be processed and will be returned by post. Any delays caused by submitting incomplete applications are the sole responsibility of the applicant.
A new TCSP applications/renewal form and new Fit & Proper form will become available from 1st December 2025 and will be the only forms accepted from applicants after 1st January 2026.
Fraud Awareness – Updated December 2022:
Please be aware of bogus operators purporting to be the AMLCU sending requests for information and/or requesting transfer of money to third parties. The AMLCU does not make such requests.
If you are concerned that you have been the victim of a fraud, please contact An Garda Síochána. Should you have any queries please contact the AMLCU at antimoneylaundering@justice.ie
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