Do I need to screen suppliers against sanctions lists?

Yes. Sanctions and the making-available prohibition forbid providing goods, funds or economic resources to sanctioned people or companies. This applies regardless of company size and includes supplier relationships.

Are affiliated companies included?

Yes. Companies owned or controlled at a level of 50 percent or more by a sanctioned person or company (50 percent rule) also fall under the prohibition.

What are the penalties for a violation?

A violation of sanctions and the making-available prohibition is a criminal offence under Section 18(1) of the German Foreign Trade Act (AWG), punishable by three months to five years of imprisonment, or six months to ten years in particularly serious cases (Section 18(6a) AWG). Companies may additionally face a corporate fine of up to EUR 40 million (Section 19(7) AWG). Managing directors are personally liable for a fine of up to EUR 1 million if they breach their supervisory duties (Section 130(3) of the German Administrative Offences Act (OWiG)).

Does Am I Compliant replace legal advice?

No. The screening result is a risk indicator, not legal advice. The legal assessment and decision remain your responsibility.

Solution · Procurement and suppliers

Supplier and business partner screening in procurement

Supplier and business partner screening means checking each supplier and its affiliated companies (50 percent rule, ownership and control) against sanctions, PEP and crime lists. Am I Compliant offers individual checks that are ready to use via document upload: OCR identifies the supplier and people, and the system checks them against 20 official lists from 18 jurisdictions, providing an audit-proof PDF with a verification URL.

Last updated: 21 August 2026

Screen suppliers and their affiliated companies before onboarding and order approval. Results in 30 seconds as an audit-proof PDF with a verification URL.

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Where in the procurement process should you screen?

Supplier onboarding

Screen new suppliers against sanctions and PEP lists before creating their ERP records.

Before order approval

Screen the recipient and people involved before approving an order.

Audit evidence

An audit-proof PDF for each check with a verification URL for the procurement file.

What related topics can you explore?

Which primary legal sources apply?

Check your first business partner in 30 seconds

Screening against 20 official sanctions and PEP lists from 18 jurisdictions, with an audit-proof PDF.

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Create an account for your screening certificate. Result in 30 seconds.

Am I Compliant is an information and data processing service and does not provide legal advice. Results are research findings; the legal assessment and decision rest with the user.

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