反洗钱法修订出炉

11月8日，十四届全国人大常委会通过了新修订的《中华人民共和国反洗钱法》， 2025年1月1日起正式施行。现行反洗钱法自2007年施行至今，已经难以适应洗钱犯罪的新形势，而且难以防控未来洗钱犯罪风险。因此，自2024年4月以来，《反洗钱法》经历三次审议后终得以通过。新修订的《反洗钱法》从细化洗钱犯罪定义、个人与金融机构的防范义务、保护数据与个人信息安全等多个方面入手，对《反洗钱法》进行了全面的“升级”。

在细化洗钱犯罪定义方面，新《反洗钱法》在现行《反洗钱法》中规定的七类洗钱上游犯罪外加入“和其他犯罪”的表述，意味着掩盖或隐瞒犯罪所得等行为将被纳入监管范围，对未来加强打击新型洗钱犯罪留下了立法空间。同时，新《反洗钱法》还强调任何单位和个人不得为洗钱活动提供便利，填补了现行《反洗钱法》中的空白。新《反洗钱法》还引入了普遍管辖权的概念，即发生于境外的洗钱和恐怖主义融资活动将适用于新《反洗钱法》，为跨境执法提供了便利条件。

新《反洗钱法》要求金融机构和房地产开发企业、贵金属交易场所、会计师事务所等特定非金融机构建立健全反洗钱内部控制制度，履行客户尽职调查。不过，为了保证金融服务正常运行，新《反洗钱法》要求金融机构不得采取与洗钱风险状况明显不匹配的风险管理措施，以反洗钱为目的影响客户使用各类基本金融服务。另外，新《反洗钱法》列明了需要采取反洗钱特别预防措施的涉恐名单，意味着新《反洗钱法》大大加强了针对恐怖主义金融活动的打击力度。

新《反洗钱法》自二审稿以来进一步提升了对个人信息安全的关注。例如，新《反洗钱法》提出境内金融机构或特定非金融机构向外国国家或组织提供设计个人信息的资料时应符合国家数据安全管理、个人信息保护的规定。除此以外，新《反洗钱法》明确要求提供反洗钱服务的第三方服务机构应确保因提供服务获得的数据、信息安全。泄露个人信息的反洗钱行政部门和金融机构将被追究法律责任。

金融行动特别工作组（FATF）预计将在明年对中国启动第五轮互评估，而在2018年举行的上一轮互评估中，（FATF）指出了一些中国在反洗钱领域的短板和风险。在此背景下新《反洗钱法》的出台体现了中国防范洗钱犯罪，从容应对FATF下一轮评估的决心。金融机构与特定非金融机构如何落实新《反洗钱法》中的各项新内容，势必成为明年金融领域的关注焦点之一。

On 8 November, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress passed the newly revised Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Law, due to take effect on 1 January 2025. The current law, in place since 2007, has struggled to adapt to the evolving nature of money laundering crimes and is largely no longer fit for purpose. After three rounds of review since April 2024, the new version of the AML Law has now been adopted. The revision represents a comprehensive ‘upgrade’ across a range of areas. It clarifies the definition of money laundering crimes, expands the spectrum of obligations on individuals and financial institutions in preventing such crimes, and strengthens protections for data and personal information.

The new AML Law adds the phrase ‘other crimes’ to the seven categories of upstream crimes defined under the current law. This means that activities like concealing or disguising the proceeds of crime will now fall under regulatory oversight, while also leaving space for legislative action to address emerging forms of money laundering. The new law also emphasises that no unit or individual may facilitate money laundering activities, which addresses a gap in the previous version. It also introduces the concept of universal jurisdiction, meaning that money laundering and terrorism financing offences committed abroad will also be subject to the new law, facilitating cross-border enforcement.

The new AML Law requires financial institutions and specific non-financial entities, such as real estate developers, precious metals trading venues, and accounting firms, to establish and maintain robust internal AML control systems and conduct customer due diligence. However, to ensure the normal operation of financial services, the law mandates that financial institutions must not implement risk management measures that are disproportionate to the actual risk posed by potential money laundering, ensuring that clients are not unduly restricted from accessing essential financial services. Additionally, the law outlines special preventive measures against individuals and entities on terrorism-related watchlists, thereby significantly enhancing efforts to combat terrorism financing.

Compared with the second draft, the new AML Law has put increased emphasis on personal information security. It stipulates that domestic financial institutions and specific non-financial institutions must comply with national data security and personal information protection regulations when sharing data with foreign countries or organisations. Moreover, the law explicitly requires third-party service providers involved in AML services to ensure the security of the data they obtain. Institutions and administrative bodies that leak personal information will be held legally accountable.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is expected to begin its fifth round of mutual evaluations for China next year. In the most recent evaluation, held in 2018, the FATF identified several weaknesses in China’s AML framework. The introduction of the new AML Law underscores China’s commitment to combating money laundering and the government’s determination to effectively prepare for the next FATF evaluation. Implementing the provisions of the new AML Law will be a key focus for institutions operating in the financial sector next year.