UK bans import of Russian-processed synthetic diamonds and helium; extends technology and software transfer bans (SI 2025/504)

Mechanism

SI 2025/504 amends the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. On the import side it covers helium and helium-3 and Russian-origin synthetic diamonds (>=0.5 carat) processed in third countries, closing a third-country-processing route. Technology definitions exclude public-domain items and basic scientific research. Extends to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Scope note

The primary text discloses no trade value or tariff rate, so severity is a qualitative judgment. Secondary summaries also describe export prohibitions on chemicals, electronics, machinery, plastics and metals; the legislation.gov.uk summary retrieved for this filing did not itemise those, so they are not asserted here.

Downstream implications

Helium and synthetic-diamond buyers using Russian-origin supply or third-country processing chains must re-source or document origin.