OFAC Issues General License 34 for Terrorism & Drug-Trade Sanctions
The U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has published General License 34 under the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations and Illicit Drug Trade Sanctions Regulations. The license, which was previously available on OFAC's website, is now formally published in the Federal Register. Shippers and freight forwarders must ensure compliance with these sanctions frameworks when screening parties, goods, and transactions in international commerce.
Photo: MART PRODUCTION / PexelsOFAC publishes General License 34 for terrorism and drug-trade sanctions
On May 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published General License 34 in the Federal Register pursuant to the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations and the Illicit Drug Trade Sanctions Regulations. Although the license had previously been made available on OFAC's website, this Federal Register publication provides formal notice and establishes the official record.
Who this affects
Any exporter, freight forwarder, or e-commerce merchant engaged in international shipments must screen all parties—consignees, suppliers, and intermediaries—against OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list and other sanctions lists. General License 34 provides specific authorization pathways for certain transactions that would otherwise be prohibited under the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations and Illicit Drug Trade Sanctions Regulations.
Shippers trading with customers, suppliers, or logistics partners in jurisdictions with heightened sanctions risk, or those handling commodities linked to designated individuals or entities, must understand which activities fall under GL 34's authorization and which remain blocked.
What General License 34 covers
General licenses issued by OFAC authorize specific categories of transactions that would otherwise violate sanctions regulations. GL 34's scope under both the terrorism and illicit-drug frameworks means affected shippers need to:
- Verify that transactions and parties comply with the license's specific conditions
- Maintain records demonstrating compliance
- Understand that authorization under GL 34 does not eliminate screening or due-diligence obligations
"The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing a general license (GL) issued pursuant to the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations and the Illicit Drug Trade Sanctions Regulations: GL 34."
— Federal Register, May 7, 2026
What this means for shippers
Download and review GL 34 immediately on OFAC's website and verify whether your current shipments, customers, or suppliers qualify for this authorization. If you move goods internationally, you must screen every transaction and counterparty against OFAC's SDN list before shipment — GL 34 does not exempt you from screening. Non-compliance with sanctions regulations carries civil penalties up to $300,000 per violation and criminal penalties including imprisonment. Use /sanctions-screen to validate your parties and transactions against current designations and understand which general licenses apply to your trade.
