Syria Sanctions Amendments

Summary#

These are final changes to the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations (SOR/2026-23). The amendments ease several broad economic prohibitions, change who can be listed or delisted, remove some state-linked entities from the sanctions list, and add six individuals. The regulations came into force on February 13, 2026.

What it does#

• Changes who can be listed under the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations:

  • Narrows some listings to persons tied to the government led by Bashar al‑Assad from March 2011 to December 2024.
  • Expands the rules so persons who undermine Syria’s peace or who contribute to gross and systematic human rights violations can also be listed.

• Removes or relaxes several broad economic bans so that certain trade, investment and financial dealings with Syria are now allowed. This includes removing prohibitions on imports/exports (including some technical data), investment, and some financial services.

• Clarifies and tightens prohibitions that do remain:

  • It is still banned to deal in property owned or controlled by a listed person.
  • It is banned to provide goods, services, or property (other than goods) for the benefit of listed persons.
  • It is banned to provide financial or related services for the benefit of listed persons.

• Lists and delists:

  • Delists 24 entities and 1 individual from the sanctions list.
  • Adds 6 individuals to Schedule 1: Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr, Mohammad Hussein Al‑Jasim, Ghaith Suleiman Dalla, Miqdad Fatiha, Mudalal Khoury, and Imad Khoury.

• Updates reporting and administrative rules:

  • Requires people in Canada and Canadians abroad to disclose, without delay, property they believe is owned or controlled by a listed person to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) or the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
  • A person who says they are not a listed person can apply for a certificate; if found not to be listed, the Minister must issue the certificate within 30 days.
  • A listed person may apply to the Minister to have their name removed from Schedule 1.

• Keeps and clarifies an exception for activities needed to support the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons program.

• Confirms penalties for knowingly breaking the rules (fines and possible jail time).

Who's affected#

• Canadians and people in Canada who do business, donate, invest, or send goods or services connected to Syria. This includes the Syrian diaspora in Canada and Canadian businesses (including small businesses).
• The six newly listed individuals: Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr, Mohammad Hussein Al‑Jasim, Ghaith Suleiman Dalla, Miqdad Fatiha, Mudalal Khoury, and Imad Khoury.
• The delisted entities (including state-linked bodies such as the Central Bank of Syria and Syrian Air), which can now be dealt with in ways that were previously prohibited.
• Federal agencies that enforce sanctions or handle immigration and customs, including Global Affairs Canada, the RCMP, CSIS, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Why it matters#

• The changes make it easier for Canadians and Canadian businesses to engage economically and provide humanitarian assistance in Syria. That could help stabilization and recovery efforts there.
• At the same time, Canada is keeping targeted tools: individuals responsible for repression, serious human rights violations, or actions that threaten Syria’s transition can still be sanctioned and made inadmissible to Canada.
• People and businesses need to take care: dealing with listed persons remains prohibited and can lead to penalties (up to $25,000 on summary conviction, and jail up to one year on summary conviction or up to five years on indictment).
• The rules also preserve an exception for work the OPCW needs to destroy or secure chemical weapons, so international disarmament work can continue.