On February 20, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) extended Russia-related General License (GL) 83 by issuing a revised version: GL 83A, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Imports of Certain Categories of Fish, Seafood, and Preparations Thereof Prohibited by Executive Order 14068.” The modified GL 83A maintains the authorization to engage in transactions “that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the importation into the United States of seafood derivative products” of Russian Federation origin pursuant to written contracts or written agreements entered into prior to December 22, 2023, but extends the deadline to load such seafood derivative products onto a vessel at the port of loading until 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 31, 2024. The original deadline set by the preceding GL 83 had been 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, February 21, 2024.
GL 83A and its antecedent were issued pursuant to Executive Order 14114—published on December 22, 2023—which, among other things, amended Executive Order 14068 so as to also prohibit the importation and entry into the United States, including into a foreign trade zone located in the United States, “fish, seafood, and preparations thereof” whether produced or manufactured wholly or in part in the Russian Federation, or harvested in waters under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation or by Russia-flagged vessels, notwithstanding whether such products have been incorporated or substantially transformed into other products outside of the Russian Federation. See Update of January 2, 2024.