On 10 January 2020 Fifth Money Laundering Directive (EU)
2018/843 (5MLD) came into force. On 20 December 2019, the UK
Government laid before Parliament its implementing legislation, the
Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations
2019 (MLR 2019), which amends the Money Laundering, Terrorist
Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer)
Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017, and together with MLR 2019, the
MLRs).
5MLD expands the scope of businesses to which the UK’s
anti-money laundering regime applies (for example to tax advisers,
letting agents and crypto-asset exchanges), as well as amending a
number of the substantive requirements. Many businesses will have
made amendments in readiness for the anticipated changes.
Nonetheless, with financial crime prevention at the top of the
agenda for UK, European and international regulators, it is
important to ensure that your policies and procedures are fully
compliant with the finer details contained