Taiwan is bolstering its anti-money laundering rules by way of amendments to its Cash Laundering Management Act, because the island aligns its legal guidelines with worldwide requirements set by the Asia/Pacific Group on Cash Laundering (APG).
The important thing focus of the amendments is to convey digital belongings and digital asset service suppliers firmly beneath the oversight of Taiwan’s anti-money laundering regime. The revised regulation provides clear definitions for “digital belongings” and “digital asset service suppliers” to shut earlier gaps.
Digital asset service suppliers should now register with the authorities for anti-money laundering functions and show their service capabilities. Failure to conform will lead to legal penalties. Most fines for designated non-financial companies or personnel that violate the rules are additionally being raised, with the flexibility to impose penalties per violation.
To fight cross-border cash laundering, the amendments require passengers coming into or leaving Taiwan to declare any foreign exchange, Hong Kong or Macau-issued currencies, New Taiwan {Dollars}, securities, gold, or different objects above a certain quantity. Customs may have the ability to grab any undeclared quantities exceeding the required restrict.
To encourage self-policing, the revised regulation will increase fines on firms concerned in cash laundering whereas additionally offering exemptions from legal responsibility if the corporate had taken preventive measures. Sentence reductions are additionally doable for people who give up illicit good points and help in investigations.
The strengthening of Taiwan’s anti-money laundering legal guidelines comes because the island seeks to deal with gaps recognized by the APG in earlier evaluations. By extending oversight to the digital belongings sector and inspiring higher company governance, Taiwan goals to make its monetary system extra resilient to cash laundering threats because it additional integrates with the worldwide financial system.