Canadian Sanctions Related to Lebanon

Prohibitions

Sanctions related to Lebanon were enacted under the United Nations Act to give effect to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. Subject to certain exceptions, the measures imposed against Lebanon include:

• a prohibition on the export of arms and related material to any person in Lebanon; and
• a prohibition on the provision to any person in Lebanon of any technical assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of arms and related material.

Exceptions

There is an exception to the above prohibitions for arms and related material and related technical assistance authorized in advance in writing by the Government of Lebanon or by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

On June 19, 2023, the Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolutions on Lebanon were amended to allow the provision, processing or payment of funds, other financial assets or economic resources or the provision of goods and services that are necessary to ensure the timely delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance or to support other activities related to basic human needs, if provided by specified groups. These changes are the result of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2664 (2022), which created a carve-out for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in all current UN sanctions regimes that impose asset freezes.

Background

On August 11, 2006, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1701 imposing sanctions against Lebanon, in response to the continued escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and Israel stemming from Hizbollah's attack of July 12, 2006, on Israel. The resolution was also adopted in recognition of the commitment of the Government of Lebanon to extend its authority over its territory, through its own legitimate armed forces, such that there will be no weapons without the consent of the Government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the Government of Lebanon.

The Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolution on Lebanon implement the decisions of the Security Council in Canadian domestic law.

On August 4, 2023, Canada amended the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Regulations to include 3 Lebanese nationals, who in the opinion of the Governor in Council, were involved in acts of significant corruption, including the misappropriation of public assets for personal gain and the transfer of the proceeds of corruption to foreign States.

Selected documents

Related links

• United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006)
• Export and Import Controls
• Canada-Lebanon relations

Legal advice

Please be advised that Global Affairs Canada cannot provide legal advice to members of the public. For this reason, we cannot deliver an opinion as to whether or not a specific activity or transaction would contravene sanctions legislation. You should consider seeking legal advice in relation to an activity that may contravene a Canadian sanction law.