AMLA Finalises Technical Standards For AML And CFT

AMLA Finalises Three Sets Of Regulatory Technical Standards For AML And CFT Compliance

by Dimitri Dimitrov Published on October 26, 2026 Europe

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European Union flags flying against a dramatic sky representing AMLA regulatory technical standards

Key Takeaways

⏱ 2 min read

New technical standards — AMLA finalizes three distinct sets of regulatory technical standards (RTS) to establish a clear and consistent anti money laundering rulebook in the EU

Business relationships scope — The first standard clarifies how entities should distinguish between business relationships and occasional transactions while identifying linked transactions consistently

Customer due diligence — The second standard outlines mandatory collection and verification protocols, including remote identification, electronic verification, and screening of politically exposed persons

Group wide arrangements — The third standard sets minimum compliance requirements for internal governance, risk management, internal controls, and secure data sharing across corporate groups

Implementation timeline — Submitted to the European Commission, the rules are proposed to apply six months after publication, with a deferred implementation date of July 10, 2029, for professional football clubs and agents

The Anti Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) has finalized three sets of regulatory technical standards (RTS) defining critical measures that companies and professionals must implement to mitigate money laundering and terrorist financing risks.

Shaped by extensive stakeholder feedback, these standards provide the private sector with a unified framework for meeting regulatory mandates, marking a significant milestone toward establishing a clear and consistent anti money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) rulebook across the European Union.

The newly finalized standards address three distinct operational areas for obliged entities:

Business relationships and occasional transactions: establishing clear criteria for distinguishing between ongoing business relationships and standalone transactions, alongside protocols for identifying linked transactions to ensure customer due diligence thresholds are applied uniformly.
Customer due diligence: defining the precise information companies and professionals must collect and verify, encompassing proportionate measures for lower-risk scenarios, non-face-to-face verification, electronic identification, and screening procedures for politically exposed persons (PEPs) alongside their family members and close associates.
Group-wide arrangements: setting mandatory minimum requirements for effective group-wide compliance structures, including robust governance frameworks, risk management protocols, internal controls, and secure information-sharing mechanisms.

Together, these measures equip obliged entities and national supervisors with transparent expectations regarding regulatory enforcement. The framework is designed to reinforce AML/CFT controls and enhance financial crime detection while preserving proportionality and a risk-based approach.

Collaborative development and future timeline

The technical standards were formulated in close collaboration with national financial supervisors and refined through written consultations and public hearings involving a broad spectrum of industry stakeholders. The final draft standards have been submitted formally to the European Commission for adoption. Once officially adopted and published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the rules are slated to take effect six months after entry into force. Recognizing the unique operational structures of professional sports, the regulations will apply to professional football clubs and football agents starting July 10, 2029.