Regional councils publish uniform information aids nationwide on the implementation of legal requirements
The regional councils of Darmstadt, Gießen , and Kassel have jointly published the revised interpretive and application guidelines for the Money Laundering Act (GwG) . These guidelines are intended to support companies such as car dealerships, real estate agents , and jewelers, as well as many other affected sectors, in correctly implementing the complex legal requirements.
Germany is considered an attractive location for money laundering activities – according to estimates, the state loses billions of euros. Businesses where large sums of cash change hands are particularly vulnerable. The new guidelines offer those subject to these obligations greater orientation, legal certainty, and relief in the practical implementation of their duties.
Uniform rules – coordinated nationwide
The updated guidelines were developed by a cross-state working group , in which the Hessian regional councils also played a key role. The 102-page version clarifies many open questions and pictograms and diagrams to improve readability. Furthermore, some of the content was coordinated with BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority).
Uniform information material
In addition to the application instructions, other materials have also been revised – including:
- Documentation forms for fulfilling due diligence obligations towards customers
- Fact sheets on industry-specific topics
- Short flyers for a quick overview
These materials are now used uniformly throughout Germany and can be accessed on the websites of the regional government offices
A Hessian initiative with nationwide impact
The initiative for standardized guidance documents originally came from the state of Hesse . The aim is to provide businesses operating nationwide with a reliable basis for interpreting the law – regardless of which supervisory authority is responsible. The previous version of the guidance documents will remain temporarily online for direct comparison .
A look into the future
From 2027, the national money laundering law will be largely replaced by an EU regulation that defines key rules uniformly across Europe. Nevertheless, the authorities anticipate a continued need for supplementary information materials tailored to specific target groups.
(RED/RP)
Further information, fact sheets and documentation forms are available on the website of the Darmstadt Regional Council:
👉 www.rp-darmstadt.hessen.de/sicherheit-und-kommunales/gefahrenabwehr/geldwaesche
