antihvidvasklovgivning

Antihvidvasklovgivning refers to the set of laws and regulations designed to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism within a jurisdiction. It creates obligations for financial institutions and certain other entities to identify and mitigate risks, monitor transactions, and report suspicious activity to authorities.

The core goals are to detect, deter, and disrupt illicit financial flows and to promote transparency in financial transactions. The rules typically require customer due diligence at onboarding, ongoing monitoring of accounts and transactions, and enhanced due diligence for higher‑risk situations. They also require identifying and verifying the identities of customers and, where applicable, beneficial owners of legal entities, maintaining adequate records, and reporting suspicious or unusual activities to the national financial intelligence unit.

Compliance is organized around a risk‑based approach. Institutions implement internal policies, risk assessments, and control systems; provide staff training; and undergo regular audits. Supervisory authorities oversee adherence to the rules and may conduct inspections. Non‑compliance can lead to administrative penalties, fines, criminal charges, or loss of licenses.

The legislation is anchored in international standards, notably the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations, and is often harmonized with regional directives, such as the European Union’s AML directives. This facilitates cross‑border cooperation, information sharing, and the development of common practices for beneficial ownership, sanctions, and cooperation with law enforcement.

In Denmark, antihvidvasklovgivning is implemented through Hvidvaskloven and related regulations, requiring entities such as banks, payment services, and investment firms to apply a risk‑based approach, conduct CDD, monitor activities, and report suspicious transactions to the appropriate authorities.