UNICORN PRIVATE Sanctions compliance in Spain: which rules apply and what companies must do
In short
In Spain, EU sanctions regulations apply directly, together with Law 10/2010 on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.
The General Secretariat of the Treasury and International Financing is the competent authority for financial sanctions, and SEPBLAC is the financial intelligence unit.
Companies must not make funds or goods available to listed parties and should screen clients and suppliers regularly.
Applicable rules and competent authorities
EU sanctions regulations are binding in Spain without national transposition. Law 10/2010 on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing sets duties for obliged entities, and Law 12/2003 covers the freezing of terrorist financing.
The General Secretariat of the Treasury and International Financing (Secretaría General del Tesoro y Financiación Internacional) is the competent authority for financial sanctions, and SEPBLAC is the financial intelligence unit. Export licences for dual use goods are handled by the Secretary of State for Trade.
Practical duties for companies
- Do not make funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to persons and entities listed by the EU.
- Screen clients, suppliers, owners and banks against the sanctions lists, also when the lists change.
- Report frozen funds and request licences from the competent authority when the regulations require it.
- Check whether your goods need a dual use export licence.
- Keep records of the checks you carried out and of the decisions taken.
Fines and penalties
Statutory maximums we verified on the official texts:
- European Union, Directive 2024/1226: fines on companies of at least 5% of worldwide turnover or €40,000,000, and prison terms of at least 5 years. (source)
Maximum amounts set by law, as published by the authorities linked, checked on October 29, 2026.
Official sources
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Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for financial sanctions in Spain?
The General Secretariat of the Treasury, at the Ministry of Economy, is the competent authority for financial sanctions.
What is SEPBLAC?
SEPBLAC is the Spanish financial intelligence unit, which supervises the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.
Do EU sanctions apply directly to Spanish companies?
Yes. EU sanctions regulations are directly binding in Spain without national transposition.
The program can make mistakes. The final responsibility for compliance stays with your company. Unicorn Intelligence is an information tool. Decisions and legal obligations, including sanctions compliance, due diligence and tender participation, remain with the customer.
Unicorn Intelligence checks your clients and suppliers against the sanctions lists every day.