FINMA Revises Its Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA revised its Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance (AMLO-FINMA). The changes are part of an overall package and include measures resulting from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) mutual evaluation report on Switzerland. The changes also take account of feedback from the consultation phase and the revised ordinance will enter into force on January 01, 2020.
In the context of the fourth country review of Switzerland, FATF identified a range of weaknesses in Switzerland's arrangements for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. As a result, Switzerland is now engaged in an enhanced follow-up procedure. To exit this procedure successfully, Switzerland will have to implement a number of changes, which includes amending the AMLO-FINMA. The draft ordinance is part of a package of follow-up measures related to the FATF country review.
The revised FINMA Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance (AMLO-FINMA) addresses shortcomings identified in the FATF country review and incorporates findings from FINMA's supervisory and enforcement practice. It will give financial intermediaries the time they need to come into line with the new rules. Further, it allows Switzerland to demonstrate to FATF in the next follow-up report that it is making progress on addressing key issues. The amended AMLO-FINMA sets out in more detail the requirements for global monitoring of these risks. This affects Swiss financial intermediaries with branches or group companies outside Switzerland. It also specifies the risk management measures that must be put in place if domiciliary companies or complex structures are used or if there are links with high-risk countries. In addition, FINMA has reduced the threshold for identification measures for cash transactions to the FATF level of CHF 15,000.
Related Link: Press Release and Related Documents
Effective Date: January 01, 2020
Keywords: Europe, Switzerland, Banking, AML, AMLO-FINMA, FATF, FINMA
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