meta_id 3547965

On October 1, 2026, the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) published regulatory technical standards (RTS) providing detailed guidance on implementing provisions of the new Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR). The technical standards address customer due diligence, business relationships, occasional transactions, interconnected transactions, and group-wide control measures for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) purposes. The technical standards clarify how financial institutions must identify and verify customers and monitor business relationships on an ongoing basis. AMLA has also established criteria for determining when a business relationship exists, when a transaction qualifies as occasional, and when transactions are interconnected—distinctions that determine the scope and intensity of required customer due diligence. For groups operating internationally, the standards establish minimum requirements for AML/CTF control measures, including risk assessment across the entire organisation, even where operations extend to third countries. Group policies, procedures, internal controls, and governance structures must align with identified risks. Although AMLA has submitted the technical standards to the European Commission for formal adoption, the publication provides valuable insight into how the new European AML/CTF framework will be applied in practice. The AMLR, Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD6), and Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLAR) take effect on July 10, 2027. Financial institutions should begin assessing compliance implications immediately, including conducting gap analyses, updating risk assessments and policies, training staff, and engaging relevant governance functions. AMLA recommends institutions evaluate the specific impact on their service offerings, client base, and transaction flows, with external expertise available to support implementation planning.