The EU General Court on May 29 annulled the European Council's sanctions designation of Russian businessperson Farkhad Akhmedov, founder of Russian gas equipment supplier Tansley Trading and minority shareholder of Northgas. The court said that the council "made an error of assessment" in sanctioning Akhmedov "by considering that the applicant was a leading businessperson involved in economic sectors which provided a substantial source of revenue to" the Russian government.

The Council of the European Union on May 30 approved a regulation that will impose tariffs on cereals, oilseeds and derived products from Russia and Belarus, with the goal of halting all imports of these goods into the EU. The duties also applied to beet-pulp pellets and dried peas from Russia and Belarus, which currently enter the bloc duty-free. The duties will enter into force July 1.

The Council of the European Union on May 30 cleared the way for the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement to enter into force, the council announced. It will take effect on the first day of the second month after the date on which the countries have told each other they have completed their internal procedures.

The Council of the European Union on May 30 adopted new anti-money laundering rules, which "exhaustively harmonises anti-money laundering rules for the first time throughout the EU." The rules are extended to new entities, including "most of the crypto-sector, traders of luxury goods and football clubs and agents."

The U.K. on May 24 added one company and removed two from its open general trade control license regarding maritime anti-piracy, which allows certain companies to "supply, transfer or deliver controlled goods," the Export Control Joint Unit announced. The unit added Open Ocean Services Ltd. and removed Protection Vessels International Limited and Solace Global Maritime Limited.

The U.K. said it "reissued" a general license under its Russia sanctions regime allowing U.K. parties to use the retail banking services of a sanctioned credit or financial institution "provided that the payments made or received are intended for the personal use of" the individual. Payments may not exceed 50,000 pounds (about $63,500), and registered financial institutions can process those payments. Payments must be reported to the U.K. within 14 days with information on the amount processed, the payment route used and the date on which the funds were processed. The license expires May 27, 2026.

The EU and Australia on May 28 signed a memorandum of understanding for a "bilateral partnership" on sustainable critical and strategic minerals, the European Commission announced. The deal calls for cooperation in three areas: integration of "sustainable raw materials value chains," cooperation on research "along the raw materials value chains," and cooperation to boost greater environmental, social and governance practices. The two sides will develop a road map with "concrete actions" over the next six months to implement the MOU, the commission said.

The Council of the European Union on May 27 adopted new rules on the cross-border transfer of substances of human origin, including blood, tissues and cells used in healthcare. The scope of the existing rules were expanded to include "human breast milk and intestinal microbiota" and other substances that may be applied to humans in the future.

The European Commission on May 27 issued a "yellow card" notification to Senegal, telling the country to beef up its "fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated" fishing. The decision was made based on "serious shortcomings detected over the last years" with Senegal's compliance, the commission said, adding that it has caught "illegal exportations from Senegal to the EU market."

The Council of the European Union last week officially adopted new EU-wide supply chain due diligence rules that will require certain companies to conduct specific due diligence on their supply chains, including to root out forced labor.