Frequently Asked Questions

The simple answer is that there is no best way to maintain export compliance. For an organization to be truly export compliant, there should be a program in place that includes the following export compliance best practices:

Descartes Visual Compliance solutions are affordable and modular, giving organizations the option to add solutions they need to get compliant right now, and the ability to add complementary solutions to bolster compliance should needs ever change.

Check out our Buyer’s Guide, which brings together everything you need to know about in order to start to transform your sanctions compliance program.

Contact us today to learn more about how your organization can get started today with one or more of our screening solutions can decrease reputational risk, increase productivity, and save staff hours spent on searching for sanctioned parties manually.

Descartes Visual Compliance OFAC Sanctions List Search solutions check for individuals and companies that are found on OFAC watch lists, as well as countries facing sanctions or under embargo. Options include:

Yes. There are a number of denied party lists of individuals, entities, and countries that, for a variety of reasons, the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, and others, as well as international governmental agencies, have placed trade restrictions upon. Watch lists against which organizations are expected to screen include:

If an organization conducts business with entities on these watch lists, they are risking an export violation that could result in fines and other penalties. By making sure that they avoid doing business with anyone on a government watch list, companies are helping to protect themselves against said fines, other criminal and civil penalties, denial of export privileges, and negative media coverage.

Yes, for many reasons. Chief among them is the fact that OFAC sanctioned entities don’t have to be foreign nationals or organizations—many U.S. individuals and companies are on OFAC lists. Even if you are only conducting business in the United States, there is a chance you could violate OFAC regulations if you don’t perform OFAC sanctions list searches.

The specifics of this can vary from organization to organization, and on occasion, even from transaction to transaction. Some organizations may choose to screen potential customers or vendors at first contact. Some screen at every step of a transaction, while others screen right before delivery of an order is scheduled. Many organizations have automated screening solutions that are integrated with their ERP, CRM, and/or other business systems, to screen and re-screen entities on a schedule determined by the organization.

The important thing is that your screening activities help keep your organization in the clear. Exactly how that is achieved is, as mentioned, variable.

Generally speaking, every business transaction, and every party involved in that transaction, should be screened. This includes the end user, as well as all intermediaries. Organizations should also screen business associates, employees, partners, vendors, resellers, visitors, etc. Countries should also be screened to ensure they are not currently facing sanctions or under embargoes. Put simply, it is best practice to screen everyone, all the time.

Yes. The United States is not the only country that maintains watch lists of denied and restricted parties, and sanctioned entities. Many countries maintain similar lists of their own—for instance, the Government of Canada’s Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OFSI)—as do international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank.

Yes. Many large transactions are facilitated in U.S. Dollars, and processed through U.S. Banks. These banks may freeze funds from being transferred to sanctioned parties or face penalties themselves. To avoid this possibility, OFAC sanctions list searches are strongly recommended.