{"id":10926,"date":"2026-03-26T11:56:04","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T11:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/?p=10926"},"modified":"2026-05-01T12:02:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T12:02:23","slug":"whats-meant-by-the-fatf-black-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/bz\/whats-meant-by-the-fatf-black-list\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s meant by the FATF Black List?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What\u2019s meant by the FATF Black List?<\/h1>\n\n\n
\"Lisa<\/div>
Lisa Simms<\/span>

Director and Founder of AMLCC and AMLCC Consult<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
\"What\u2019s<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The FATF Black List is a formal designation published by FATF (the Financial Action Task Force) identifying countries that have serious, ongoing strategic weaknesses in their anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF) and counter-proliferation financing (CPF) frameworks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For regulated UK firms, it\u2019s one of the most significant indicators of elevated jurisdictional risk. And it carries direct legal consequences under the UK\u2019s Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (as amended) (MLRs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding what the Black List means, how it works and what it requires of you in practice is a core part of applying a sound risk-based approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What FATF is and why it matters<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FATF<\/a> is the international standard-setter for AML, CTF and CPF. It publishes the global standards that most countries, including the UK, embed into domestic law. It also assesses whether individual countries are meeting those standards through a programme of mutual evaluations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FATF publishes two public statements following those assessments. The first, commonly known as the Grey List, covers jurisdictions under increased monitoring but that have acknowledged weaknesses and are actively working to address them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Black List, formally called the list of High-Risk Jurisdictions Subject to a Call for Action, is the more serious designation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It identifies countries where strategic deficiencies are significant enough that FATF is calling on other countries to apply enhanced due diligence. In the most serious cases, countermeasures are needed to protect the international financial system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What puts a country on the Black List?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A country ends up on the Black List when FATF concludes that its AML, CTF or CPF framework has serious structural failures and that the country is either unwilling or unable to address them within agreed timescales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common underlying issues include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n