Which lists exist
| List | Publisher | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Consolidated list of financial sanctions | European Commission | Brings together EU financial sanctions. Usually the starting point for EU companies. |
| Consolidated sanctions list | UN Security Council | Listings of the Security Council, observed worldwide. |
| SDN list | US Treasury (OFAC) | Relevant for business with a US link. |
| UK Sanctions List | UK government | Relevant for business with a UK link. |
| SECO sanctions list | State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Switzerland | For companies in Switzerland and their partners. |
Export control and embargo rules for goods and countries are a separate topic, not covered here.
Five steps
- Keep master data cleanFull company name, legal form, country and, if available, LEI or VAT number. Better data means fewer false matches.
- MatchCompare names including spelling variants, transliterations and the aliases on the list.
- Check matchesCompare country, address, register number and date of incorporation. The same name alone is not a match.
- Decide and justifyA qualified person decides: true match or false match. They record the reason.
- RecordRecord date, list with version, result and person. This proves your due care.
Screen every new supplier and again whenever the lists change. The lists change all the time.
False and true matches
- Most matches are name collisions. Remember resolved false matches so the same case does not return every day.
- Review a case again when the list entry changes.
- On a true match, stop payments and deliveries until it is resolved. Inform compliance and management, and get legal advice.
- For important suppliers, also check owners and parent company. The open GLEIF LEI index often names the parent.
This guide deliberately cites no articles of sanctions regulations. The prohibitions differ per programme. The legal act named in each list entry is decisive.
Checklist: sanctions screening of suppliers
This keeps your screening traceable.
- Decided which lists apply to your business.
- Master data with full name, country and an identifier such as LEI or VAT number.
- Screening for every new supplier and on every list change.
- Name variants and aliases included in matching.
- Every possible match decided by a qualified person.
- Reason, date, list and list version recorded.
- Resolved false matches noted, review when the entry changes.
- Process for true matches defined: stop, inform, legal advice.
You may copy and adapt this list freely.
Frequently asked questions
Is sanctions screening mandatory?
That depends on your industry and business. The exact prohibitions are in the legal act each list entry names. Have the duty for your company assessed by a lawyer.
How often should we screen?
For every new supplier and on every change of the lists. A daily automatic match covers both.
Is the EU list enough?
For many EU companies it is the starting point. For business with a US, UK or Swiss link, their lists apply as well.
Sources
- EU consolidated list of financial sanctions, European Commission
- UN Security Council consolidated list, United Nations
- Swiss sanctions, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
- LEI index, Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF)
Legal sources checked on 31 October 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. For your own case, please ask a professional. The German version is binding.