Sanctions & Tariff Lookup
SDN List vs the Consolidated Screening List: which to check
Last updated · Starry Night
"Check the OFAC list" usually means the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List. It is the best-known U.S. list, but not the only one. Exporters in particular need the Commerce Department's lists too.
The SDN List
OFAC's SDN List names people, companies and vessels whose property U.S. persons must block and with whom they generally may not deal. OFAC also keeps non-SDN lists with narrower restrictions, such as the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List. OFAC Sanctions List Search searches OFAC's lists.
The Consolidated Screening List
The Consolidated Screening List (CSL) on trade.gov combines the export screening lists of the Departments of Commerce, State and Treasury in one search. trade.gov says that when you find a potential match you must check the official publication of restricted parties in the Federal Register and the official lists on each agency's website.
The lists in the CSL as loaded in this mirror today, plus the non-U.S. lists it also loads:
| Code | List | Published by |
|---|---|---|
| SDN | Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | Treasury Department |
| EL | Entity List (EL) | Bureau of Industry and Security |
| DPL | Denied Persons List (DPL) | Bureau of Industry and Security |
| DTC | ITAR Debarred (DTC) | State Department |
| SSI | Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List (SSI) | Treasury Department |
| UVL | Unverified List (UVL) | Bureau of Industry and Security |
| ACN | Nonproliferation Sanctions (ACN) | State Department |
| PLC | Palestinian Legislative Council List (PLC) | Treasury Department |
| MEU | Military End User (MEU) List | Bureau of Industry and Security |
| CMIC | Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List (CMIC) | Treasury Department |
| NS-MBS | Non-SDN Menu-Based Sanctions List (NS-MBS List) | Treasury Department |
| CAP | Capta List (CAP) | Treasury Department |
| FSE | Foreign Sanctions Evaders (FSE) | Treasury Department |
| UN | UN Security Council Consolidated List | United Nations Security Council |
| UK | UK Sanctions List | UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) |
| EU | EU consolidated financial sanctions list | European Commission (Financial Sanctions Files) |
Which to check
- Payments, customers and suppliers in the U.S. only: the SDN List is the core check; the CSL costs nothing extra to add.
- Exports, re-exports or foreign customers: the CSL, since the Entity List, Denied Persons List and Unverified List restrict exports rather than payments.
- Deals involving the UK, EU or UN measures: also the UK Sanctions List, the EU consolidated list or the UN list, as they apply to you.
Lists change often, and a name can sit on one list and not another. Screen against all that apply in one pass, and record the as-of date of each.
Screen once against every list
The screening record page screens up to 500 customers, suppliers or vessels at once against the U.S. Consolidated Screening List (OFAC, BIS and State Department lists), the UN Security Council Consolidated List, the UK Sanctions List and the EU consolidated financial sanctions list, with name matching that handles word order, transliteration variants and small typos, and builds a dated PDF record of the run. On-screen results and a PDF marked PREVIEW are free; a $29 one-time unlock removes the watermark for 24 hours. Names are not stored.
Checking a few names while you work in Claude? The free Sanctions & Tariff Lookup connector screens a name from a chat and shows each possible match with its list, programs and identifiers. No sign-up with Starry Night is needed.
This guide explains public rules and OFAC guidance in plain English. It is not legal advice; for a decision about a specific party or transaction, talk to sanctions counsel or contact OFAC. Sanctions & Tariff Lookup is published by Starry Night and is not affiliated with OFAC, the Department of Commerce, the State Department, the UN, the UK government or the European Commission.
Questions
Is the SDN List the same as the Consolidated Screening List?
No. The SDN List is OFAC's main sanctions list. The Consolidated Screening List on trade.gov combines export screening lists from Commerce, State and Treasury, including the SDN List.
Is a Consolidated Screening List result final?
No. trade.gov says users must check the official publication of restricted parties in the Federal Register and the official lists on the Commerce, State and Treasury websites.