2004-04-01 | Advisory Withdrawal - Issue 30WAdded
FinCEN withdraws Advisory Issue 30, which previously required enhanced scrutiny of transactions involving the Arab Republic of Egypt. This withdrawal follows Egypt's enactment of significant counter-money laundering reforms and its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's list of non-cooperative countries. The action relieves banks and other financial institutions operating in the United States from the specific enhanced scrutiny obligations of the prior advisory, though it does not affect their ongoing obligations to report suspicious activity under existing regulations.
United States Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Subject: Transactions Involving the Arab Republic of Egypt
Date: April 2004
Advisory: Issue 30W
This Advisory is being issued to inform banks and other financial institutions operating in the United States that Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Advisory Issue 30, regarding the Arab Republic of Egypt, is hereby withdrawn.
Since the issuance of Advisory 30, Egypt has enacted significant reforms to its counter-money laundering system, addressing the points noted in Advisory 30, and has taken concrete steps to bring these reforms into effect. Because of the enactment of new laws and the beginning of effective implementation, enhanced scrutiny with respect to transactions involving Egypt, as called for in Advisory 30, is no longer necessary. Egypt now has in place a counter-money laundering system that generally meets international standards, as reflected in the February 27, 2004, decision of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering to remove Egypt from its list of countries that are non-cooperative in the fight against money laundering.
The withdrawal of Advisory 30 does not relieve institutions of their pre-existing and on-going obligation to report suspicious activity, as set forth in regulations issued by FinCEN and by the federal bank supervisory agencies, as well as their obligation to comply with all other applicable provisions of law.
William F. Baity Acting Director
FinCEN Advisory is a product of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Department of the Treasury, Post Office Box 39, Vienna, Virginia 22183. For more information about FinCEN's programs, visit the FinCEN web site at http://www.fincen.gov. General questions or comments regarding FinCEN publications should be addressed to the Office of Communications, FinCEN, (703) 905-3773. Information may also be faxed to (703) 905-3885.