UK sets 1 January 2027 end date for the licence allowing Russian-origin diesel and jet fuel via third countries
UK refined-fuel importers must replace the temporary licence for Russian-origin diesel and jet fuel via third countries by 1 January 2027, possibly sooner
Change
On 12 June 2026 the UK Government confirmed 1 January 2027 as the latest end date for the temporary licence permitting imports of diesel and jet fuel refined from Russian crude in third countries, with the licence under fortnightly review and intended to be lifted earlier where practicable.
Why it matters
The temporary general licence that allows continued imports of diesel and jet fuel made from Russian crude through third countries will be withdrawn no later than 1 January 2027, closing the remaining legal route for those products into the UK. The Government will write the end date into the licence and keep it under fortnightly review, intending to lift it earlier where practicable — so importers should treat 1 January 2027 as a backstop, not a guaranteed runway. Affected firms must secure non-Russian-origin supply, amend contracts and update origin-tracing before the licence ends.
Implications
- — UK refined-fuel import compliance teams must end reliance on the temporary licence to authorise imports of diesel and jet fuel derived from Russian crude via third countries by 1 January 2027 at the latest — importing under the licence after it is withdrawn lacks legal authorisation, and the fortnightly review means the cut-off could arrive earlier.
- — UK fuel procurement and trading desks must secure alternative non-Russian-origin supply and amend licence-dependent contracts ahead of the end date — and build origin-tracing to evidence that third-country refined product is not derived from Russian crude, since that is the basis on which the import route is being closed.
Who is affected
- — UK refined-fuel import compliance and sanctions teams relying on the temporary general licence
- — UK fuel procurement and trading desks sourcing diesel and jet fuel through third countries
What to watch
- — 1 January 2027: latest end date for the temporary refined-oil licence — after withdrawal, imports of diesel and jet fuel derived from Russian crude via third countries have no authorised route into the UK.
- — Fortnightly licence reviews: the Government intends to lift the licence before the backstop where practicable, so the operative end date may fall earlier than 1 January 2027.
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