Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Sanction definition

What does Sanction mean? A sanction is the court’s consequence for a party’s failure to comply with a rule, practice direction or order. It is a descriptive procedural term used across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland; powers derive from each jurisdiction’s rules and case law. Sanctions include: strike‑out or dismissal of a claim or defence; debarring a party from evidence or participation; the automatic effect of an unless order; adverse or wasted costs; and, for serious breaches, contempt of court (fines or committal). In England & Wales, relief from sanctions is under CPR r 3.9 and Denton, focussing on seriousness/significance, reasons, and all...

UK sanctions law under SAMLA 2018: international regimes, UN/EU context, types of sanctions, designations, licensing, challenges and enforcement

Published by a LexisNexis Corporate Crime expert

Practice notes

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This Practice Note offers an overview of international Sanctions regimes. It clarifies what sanctions mean, differentiates between financial sanctions and trade sanctions, and outlines the distinct legal frameworks through which international sanctions are imposed, including UN sanctions, UK domestic sanctions and EU sanctions. It also describes how sanctions are enforced and how, in the UK, penalties for breaching sanctions are applied.

What are sanctions?

Sanctions are temporary restrictions or bans put in place by governments that govern how their nationals and entities deal with sanctioned states or regimes. They may, for instance, forbid particular categories of Goods from being exported to, or imported from, a sanctioned country, or designate individuals, companies or vessels in that jurisdiction with whom business is prohibited. In some situations, specific activities can be authorised under a licence issued by the competent authorities.

Sanctions are a vital foreign policy instrument. They can be directed at countries, regimes, organisations, individuals and entities. Their aim is to prompt a change in policy or conduct within the Targeted country, region, government, companies or individuals. Accordingly, there should be a connection between the chosen target and the overarching foreign policy objective. As sanctions are a...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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