Knowledge base
Guides to EU sanctions
The key concepts of EU goods sanctions, concrete and source-referenced, with a link to the tool that checks the status of a CN code under a given regime.
Each guide explains one topic step by step: how to establish a CN code, how to read the annexes to Regulation 833/2014 (Russia) and 765/2006 (Belarus), when exemptions and derogations apply, how goods sanctions differ from screening of persons, what obligations an exporter has after the 2025 amendment, and what penalties a breach carries. The content is informational and refers you to the binding text in EUR-Lex.
How to check whether goods are subject to EU sanctions, step by step
To establish whether goods are subject to EU sanctions, determine their CN code, check that code against the annexes to Regulation 833/2014 (Russia) and 765/2006 (Belarus), confirm the resul…
ReadCN code and sanctions: how to read the annexes to Regulation 833/2014
A CN code is an eight-digit symbol from the Combined Nomenclature that EU sanctions use to identify goods. The annexes to Regulation 833/2014 list codes or whole tariff headings, and the pro…
ReadExemptions and derogations in the sanctions against Russia, when trade is allowed
Even if a CN code is subject to a ban, trade can still be allowed thanks to exemptions and derogations set out in Regulation 833/2014. An exemption operates by force of the provision itself,…
ReadGoods sanctions vs screening of persons and entities, how they differ
Goods sanctions concern what you ship and are based on CN codes in Regulations 833/2014 and 765/2006. Screening of persons and entities concerns who you trade with and relies on lists of ent…
ReadExporter obligations after the 2025 amendment (end-user statement)
After the amendment of the Polish sanctions act of 9 January 2025, and as EU obligations expand, an exporter must not only check CN codes but also build and document due diligence: verify th…
ReadPenalties for breaching sanctions in Poland (up to PLN 20 million)
Breaching EU sanctions in Poland carries an administrative fine of up to PLN 20 million under the act of 13 April 2022 (Journal of Laws 2022 item 835), and in certain cases criminal liabilit…
ReadThe most commonly checked CN codes covered by EU sanctions against Russia
Among the categories most often covered by EU sanctions against Russia are iron and steel products (Chapters 72 and 73), machinery and electronics (Chapters 84 and 85), crude oil and oil pro…
ReadCBAM versus EU sanctions, how they differ and why you check both
CBAM, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and EU goods sanctions both use CN codes, but they pursue completely different aims. Sanctions prohibit trade in certain goods with the Russia a…
ReadFrequently asked questions
What is a CN code and where do I get it?
The CN code (Combined Nomenclature) is the 8-digit customs code of a product, the same one you use in the customs declaration and on the export invoice. You will find it in your customs documentation, in the TARIC system or from your customs agency. You enter it in Restrikt to check the sanctions status of the item.
What does no CN code match in the result mean?
No match only means that the given CN code was not found in our database of regimes, not that the trade is permitted. Check a higher level of the CN code, the other regime and, separately, the list of persons and entities under sanctions. The binding text is the EU regulation, not the tool result.
How does the 833/2014 regime (Russia) differ from 765/2006 (Belarus)?
These are two separate EU legal acts with their own goods annexes. Regulation 833/2014 covers Russia and Regulation 765/2006 covers Belarus, and the same CN code may be banned under one regime and absent from the other. That is why you check the item separately for each destination, and Restrikt shows the result with the legal basis specific to the given regime.
Which regimes does the tool cover?
In this version, two EU goods regimes: Russia (Regulation 833/2014) and Belarus (Regulation 765/2006). With each result you see the legal basis, that is the annex and article, as well as the date of the consolidated version, with a link to the full text in EUR-Lex.
What is the No Russia clause (art. 12g) and whom does it concern?
The No Russia clause is a requirement under art. 12g of Regulation 833/2014 to contractually prohibit the re-export of certain sensitive goods to Russia in sales to third countries. It applies to EU exporters selling, among others, dual-use goods and items from selected annexes. In practice you place the relevant contractual clause in the contract and on the invoice, and its absence may be treated as a failure of due diligence.
What does an exemption or derogation under art. 3k mean?
Article 3k of Regulation 833/2014 bans the export of a broad list of industrial goods set out in Annex XXIII. At the same time it provides exemptions and derogations, that is situations where trade remains permitted, for example performing contracts concluded before the ban took effect. Restrikt describes such exemptions next to the code, but their application to a specific transaction is confirmed by the customs authority or a law firm.
Is CBAM a form of sanctions?
No. CBAM, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, is a reporting and payment obligation linked to the import of carbon-intensive goods such as steel, aluminium, cement or fertilisers. Sanctions are trade bans and restrictions arising from Regulations 833/2014 and 765/2006. These are two different legal regimes, so the same product may be subject to CBAM and at the same time not be covered by sanctions, or the other way round.
How do I document export due diligence?
Keep a record of the check for every item: the CN code, sanctions status, regime, annex and article, the version date of the regulation and the EUR-Lex link. Add screening of the counterparty against sanctions lists and, where art. 12g requires it, the No Russia clause in the contract. Restrikt generates a PDF report with this data that you attach to the transaction file as proof of due diligence in case of a customs inspection.
Where does the data come from?
From the consolidated texts of EU regulations published in EUR-Lex and from the TARIC nomenclature. For each code we show the date of the version of the act on which the result is based, and a direct link to the source, so you can verify the wording in the original.
How does this differ from screening persons and entities?
Restrikt checks the goods, that is whether a given CN code is subject to an import or export restriction. Sanctions screening is a separate process that verifies the counterparty, that is a person or entity, against sanctions lists. Both steps are needed, the tool does not replace counterparty screening.
Is this legal advice?
No. Restrikt is an informational tool supporting due diligence, it does not constitute legal or customs advice. The final assessment of the compliance of a specific transaction is confirmed by a law firm or customs agency. The binding text is the EU regulation in force, for example 833/2014.