The Council of the European Union has adopted Regulation 509-2012 containing implementing rules for sanctions against Syria, effecting a ban on exports of luxury goods and of additional dual-use goods, which came into force on 17 June 2012. The regulation identifies a number of luxury goods, as well as dual-use goods such as chemicals, pathogens and equipment used in laboratories and the manufacture of chemicals, which will be subject to the export prohibition. The adoption of these measures is in line with the on-going pressure on Syria from the EU and the international community in relation to the violent repression of anti-government protests.
The luxury goods prohibited under the Regulation are listed in Annex III. These specified exports are, in most cases, prohibited where the item concerned exceeds a certain minimum sales value, as established for each category. The items listed include pure-bred horses, caviar, truffles, wines and spirits, cigars, beauty products, leather and travel goods, precious and semi-precious stones and metals, cutlery and tableware, luxury vehicles, clocks, works of art and antiques, and certain sports and games equipment.