OFAC publishes Venezuela sanctions general licenses 46, 46A, 46B
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has published three general licenses (46, 46A, and 46B) under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations. These licenses, previously available on OFAC's website, clarify authorized activities and exemptions for parties conducting trade with Venezuela. Shippers and freight forwarders must review these GLs to understand which Venezuela-related transactions are permitted under U.S. sanctions law.
Photo: Arturo Añez. / PexelsOFAC publishes Venezuela sanctions general licenses
On May 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published three general licenses issued pursuant to the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations: GLs 46, 46A, and 46B. These licenses, which had previously been made available on OFAC's website, now appear in the Federal Register to provide formal, transparent notice to the trade community.
General licenses are OFAC's mechanism for authorizing specific categories of transactions that would otherwise violate sanctions regulations. The publication of GLs 46, 46A, and 46B in the Federal Register signals that OFAC has designated certain Venezuela-related activities as permissible under the current sanctions framework. The source does not detail the scope of each license, but historical OFAC practice indicates that Venezuela GLs typically cover humanitarian transactions, certain agricultural and medical exports, or other specified economic activities.
Shippers, freight forwarders, exporters, and importers engaged in any trade touching Venezuela—whether direct sales, transshipment, or supply-chain sourcing—must immediately consult the full text of GLs 46, 46A, and 46B. Violations of Venezuela sanctions carry civil penalties up to $20,687 per violation and criminal penalties up to $1,000,000 and 20 years imprisonment. Even inadvertent shipments to sanctioned end-users or transshipment through Venezuela without a valid GL authorization expose your company to enforcement action.
What this means for shippers
If you ship to, from, or through Venezuela, or procure Venezuelan-origin goods, you must immediately obtain and review the full text of GLs 46, 46A, and 46B to confirm your transaction is authorized. Do not rely on prior customs clearances or bills of lading—sanctions rules are independent of tariff classification and change frequently. Run all Venezuelan counterparties and end-users through OFAC's SDN (Specially Designated Nationals) list and denied-party databases before confirming any deal. Inaction risks seizure, fines, and criminal liability. Screen every Venezuela transaction now: /sanctions-screen
