Embargoed goods policy

What is the policy?

Sellers in the Republic of Cyprus must not list or offer for sale any goods that are either embargoed or still under the EU’s phase-out (“pre-embargo”) windows from the following jurisdictions:

• Crimea, Donetsk & Luhansk People’s Republics of Ukraine (per Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014)
• Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)
• Iran
• Syria
• Belarus
• Russia – only those goods specifically subject to EU sanctions (e.g. arms, dual-use items, petroleum products under phase-out contracts, luxury goods)
• Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) – any goods bearing TRNC certificates of origin

Note: Only items listed in the relevant EU (or UN) sanctions annexes and any still-valid phase-out contracts are prohibited. All other goods originating in those territories remain eligible for sale. Additionally, any organisation, business, or individual established in, incorporated under the laws of, or ordinarily resident in these jurisdictions —or appearing on the EU’s Consolidated Financial Sanctions List—may not register an account on Ventio or list items. Activity on Ventio must follow this policy, the Ventio User Agreement, and all applicable Cyprus and EU laws, and must respect third-party rights. Violations may result in listing removal, warnings, account restrictions, or suspension.

Why does Ventio have this policy?

This policy ensures compliance with Cyprus’s obligations under:

• EU restrictive measures (Common Foreign and Security Policy)
• United Nations Security Council sanctions
• National implementing legislation

By prohibiting embargoed goods and preventing sanctioned parties from trading, we help uphold international law, protect human rights, and avoid exposing our community to legal risks. Helpful links

• EU Sanctions Map (interactive overview of all EU, UN, UK, and US sanctions regimes)
• EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (CSV/JSON of designated persons, groups, and entities)
• UN Security Council Sanctions Committees (details of UN arms, travel, and asset-freeze measures)
• Cyprus MFA Sanctions Information (implementation of UN and EU measures in Cyprus)