OFAC publishes Venezuela general licenses 48A and 49A
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has published two general licenses (GLs 48A and 49A) under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations. These licenses authorize certain transactions that would otherwise be prohibited under U.S. sanctions on Venezuela. The licenses were previously available on OFAC's website and are now formally documented in the Federal Register for clarity and compliance.
Photo: Arturo Añez. / PexelsOn June 10, 2026, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published General Licenses 48A and 49A in the Federal Register under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations. These licenses were previously made available on OFAC's website but are now formally recorded in federal registry.
General licenses issued by OFAC authorize specific categories of transactions that would otherwise violate U.S. sanctions programs. Under Venezuela sanctions, most transactions with sanctioned entities or persons are prohibited unless explicitly permitted by a general license or a specific license granted on a case-by-case basis.
The publication of GLs 48A and 49A in the Federal Register provides official notice and documentation of the authorizations they contain. Exporters, importers, and freight forwarders handling shipments involving Venezuelan parties, goods, or services must review these licenses to determine whether their transactions fall within the permitted scope.
Companies engaged in international trade must ensure they understand which counterparties and transaction types are covered. Violations of Venezuela sanctions carry significant civil and criminal penalties, including substantial fines and potential imprisonment. The formal publication enables shippers and their counsel to cite these licenses as compliance defense if OFAC enforcement action occurs.
What this means for shippers
Any shipment involving Venezuela, Venezuelan entities, or goods destined to or originating from Venezuela requires immediate sanctions screening. Download and review GLs 48A and 49A from OFAC's website to confirm your transaction qualifies for authorization. If your counterparty or shipment route touches Venezuela, screen it against the OFAC SDN List and denied-parties lists now—not doing so exposes your company to civil penalties up to $20 million per violation and criminal liability. Use our sanctions screening tool to automate this review for every shipment.
