The FATF Recommendations

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FATF Recommendations

As amended November 2023. 

The FATF Recommendations set out a comprehensive and consistent framework of measures which countries should implement in order to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Countries have diverse legal, administrative and operational frameworks and different financial systems, and so cannot all take identical measures to counter these threats.

The FATF Recommendations, therefore, set an international standard, which countries should implement through measures adapted to their particular circumstances. The FATF Standards comprise the Recommendations themselves and their Interpretive Notes, together with the applicable definitions in the Glossary.         

FATF Recommendations 2012

Adopted on 16 February 2012 and regularly updated since.  Last updated in November 2023

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Related material

  • Consolidated FATF Standards on Information Sharing This document groups the relevant sections on information sharing from the FATF Recommendations, to clarify the types of information that should be shared, when it should be shared and the safeguards and protections that should apply to sharing information.
  • FATF Methodology These documents are guides intended for use by assessors who are tasked with conducting a mutual evaluation. They provide a structured framework of analysis that ensures a level of consistency and high quality of the mutual evaluation reports produced. Latest update: August 2024
  • Procedures for the FATF Fourth Round of AML/CFT Mutual Evaluations This document sets out the procedures that are the basis for the fourth round of mutual evaluations which involves two inter-related components for technical compliance and effectiveness. Adopted in 2013, these Procedures were last amended in February 2023.
  • Consolidated Processes and Procedures for Mutual Evaluations and Follow-Up Universal Procedures The set of core elements that apply to all anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing assessments, in accordance with the FATF 2013 Methodology. These procedures were last revised in September 2022.

An effective system to combat money laundering and terrorist financing

What is the objective of anti-money laundering, counter terrorist and counter proliferation financing efforts?  Find out more about the various components that governments must implement, and that the FATF will assess against.

Assessment

Guidance and Best Practices

Information on updates to the FATF Recommendations

 

Date / FATF Plenary Type of amendments Sections subject to amendments
Outcomes of the FATF Plenary, 20-22 February 2013 Alignment of the Standards between R.37 and R.40 

Insertion of the reference that DNFBP secrecy or confidentiality laws should not affect the provision of mutual legal assistance, except where the relevant information that is sought is held in circumstances where legal professional privilege or legal professional secrecy applies.

FATF Plenary week from 17 October to 23 October 2015 Revision of the Interpretive Note to R. 5 to address the foreign terrorist fighters threat Insertion of B.3 to incorporate the relevant element of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2178 which addresses the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters. This clarifies that Recommendation 5 requires countries to criminalise financing the travel of individuals who travel to a State other than their States of residence or nationality for the purpose of the perpetration, planning, or preparation of, or participation in, terrorist acts or the providing or receiving of terrorist training.
Existing B.3-11 became B.4-12.

Outcomes of the Plenary meeting of the FATF, Busan Korea, 22–24 June 2016 Revision of R. 8 and the Interpretive Note to R. 8 Revision of the standard on non-profit organisation (NPO) to clarify the subset of NPOs which should be made subject to supervision and monitoring. This brings INR.8 into line with the FATF Typologies Report on Risk of terrorist abuse in non-profit organisations (June 2014) and the Best Practices on Combating the Abuse of Non-Profit Organisations (June 2015) which clarify that not all NPOs are high risk and intended to be addressed by R.8, and better align the implementation of R.8/INR.8 with the risk-based approach.

Outcomes of the Plenary meeting of the FATF, Paris, 19-21 October 2016 Revision of the Interpretive Note to R. 5 and the Glossary definition of 'Funds or other assets' Revision of the INR.5 to replace “funds” with “funds or other assets” throughout INR.5, in order to have the same scope as R.6. Revision of the Glossary definition of  “funds or other assets” by adding references to oil and other natural resources, and to other assets which may potentially be used to obtain funds.

Outcomes of the Plenary meeting of the FATF, Valencia, 21-23 June 2017 Revision of the Interpretive Note to R.7 and the Glossary definitions of “Designated person or entity”, “Designation” and “Without delay” 

Revision of the INR.7 and consequential revisions of the Glossary definitions of “Designated person or entity”, “Designation” and “Without delay” to bring the text in line with the requirements of recent United Nations Security Council Resolutions and to clarify the implementation of targeted financial sanctions relating to proliferation financing.

 

November 2017 Revision of the Interpretive Note to Recommendation 18 

Revision of INR.18 to clarify the requirements on sharing of information related to unusual or suspicious transactions within financial groups. It also includes providing this information to branches and subsidiaries when necessary for AML/CFT risk management.

November 2017 

Revision of Recommendation 21

 Revision of R. 21 to clarify the interaction of R. 18 requirements with tipping-off provisions.
February 2018 Revision of Recommendation 2 

Revision of R2 to ensure compatibility of AML/CFT requirements and data protection and privacy rules, and to promote domestic inter-agency information sharing among competent authorities.

Outcomes FATF Plenary, 17-19 October 2018 Revision of Recommendation 15 and addition of two new definitions in the Glossary 

Revision of R.15 and addition of new definitions “virtual asset” and “virtual asset service provider” in order to clarify how AML/CFT requirements apply in the context of virtual assets. 

 

June 2019 Addition of Interpretive Note to Recommendation 15 

Insertion of an Interpretive Note that sets out the application of the FATF Standards to virtual asset activities and service providers.

Outcomes FATF Plenary, 21-23 October 2020 Revision of Recommendation 1 and Interpretive Note to Recommendation 1 

Revision of R. 1 and INR.1 to require countries, financial institutions and DNFBPs to identify and assess the risks of potential breaches, non-implementation or evasion of the targeted financial sanctions related to proliferation financing, as contained in FATF Recommendation 7, and to take action to mitigate these risks.

Outcomes FATF Plenary, 21-23 October 2020 Revision of Recommendation 2 and a new Interpretive Note to Recommendation 2 

Minor consequential amendment in R.2 to insert reference to counter proliferation financing in the context of national co-operation and co-ordination.
Insertion of a new interpretive note that sets out the inter-agency framework to promote domestic co-operation, co-ordination and information exchange

June 2021 Revision of Interpretive Note15 

Revision of INR.15 to clarify the applicability of proliferation financing risk assessment and mitigation requirements to virtual asset activities and service providers.

October 2021 

Revision of the Glossary definition of ‘designated categories of offences’

 

Revision of the Glossary definition of ‘designated categories of offences’ to clarify the types of offences which fall within the ‘environmental crime’ category.

October 2021 Revision of INR.22/23, Glossary and consequential edits   

Revision of R.23 to clarify obligations on DNFBPs to apply group-wide programmes.

Clarification that the Glossary definition of ‘financial group’ is not limited to Core Principles institutions and a minor consequential amendment to INR.26.

Outcomes FATF Plenary, 2-4 March 2022

 

 

 

Outcomes FATF Plenary February 2023

 

Revision of Recommendation 24, INR.24 and Glossary, and addition of two new definitions in the Glossary

 

 

Revision of Recommendation 25, INR.25 and Glossary

 

R.24 – page 22
INR.24 – pages 91-95
Glossary – pages 118-119 and 128

Revision of R.24 and the Glossary definition.
Addition of new definitions “nominator” and “nominee shareholder or director”, to strengthen the standards on beneficial ownership of legal persons.

R.25, INR 25 and Glossary

Revision of R.25 and the Glossary definitions of “beneficial owner”, “beneficiary” and “legal arrangements”, to strengthen the standards on beneficial ownership of legal arrangements.

Outcomes FATF Plenary
October 2023
 Revision of Recommendations 4, 30, 31, 38 and INR.4, INR.30, INR.38 and INR.40 and Glossary Revision of FATF’s asset recovery Standards and Glossary definitions related to asset recovery
Outcomes FATF Plenary
October 2023
 Revision of Recommendation 8 and INR.8 Clarificatory amendments to R.8 and INR.8 to strengthen the implementation of focused, targeted and risk-based measures on non-profit organisations

                                                                                                      

 

Translations

The following unofficial translations, are provided for your convenience. These are working translations. In the event of a conflict over interpretation, the official English and French versions of the text, as published on the FATF website, are authoritative. 

Arabic translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by MENAFATF

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MENAFATF-Arabic-FATF-Recommendations-March2022.pdf
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Armenian translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by the Central Bank of Armenia

Filename
FATF-40-Rec-2012-Armenian.pdf
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1 MB
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Chinese translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by the People's Bank of China

Filename
Chinese-FATF-Recommendations-2012_(Updated June 2019).pdf
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789 KB
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Czech translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by the Financial Analytical Office of the Czech Republic

Filename
Moneyval-Czech-FATF-Recommendations.pdf
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1 MB
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Dari translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Filename
FATF-40-Rec-2012-Dari.pdf
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7 MB
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Estonian translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by the Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority

Filename
FATF-40-Rec-2012-Estonian.pdf
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Mongolian translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by the Financial Information Unit, Bank of Mongolia

Filename
Mongolian Translation FATF Recommendations mng.pdf
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Pashto translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Filename
FATF-40-Rec-2012-Pashto.pdf
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7 MB
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Portuguese translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by GAFILAT

Filename
FATF-40-Rec-2012-Portuguese-GAFISUD.pdf
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1 MB
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Portuguese translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by the Portuguese delegation

Filename
FATF-40-Rec-2012-Portuguese-Port.pdf
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1 MB
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Russian translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by the Russian Delegation

Filename
FATF-40-Rec-2012-Russian.pdf
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1 MB
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Spanish translation of the FATF Recommendations

 Translated by GAFILAT

Filename
FATF-40-Rec-2012-Spanish.pdf
Size
1 MB
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application/pdf
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