Consolidated Processes and Procedures for Mutual Evaluations and Follow-Up: “Universal Procedures”

As amended May 2024

The Consolidated Processes and Procedures for Mutual Evaluations and Follow-Up (Universal Procedures), which are based on the FATF Procedures,  sets out the core elements that should form the basis for the mutual evaluations and follow-up conducted by all assessment bodies. 

In principle, FATF-Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs) and International Financial Institutions, should be using the same or similar procedures as the FATF to assess countries' effectiveness in tackling money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing, and their compliance with the FATF Standards.  While there is some flexibility in the procedural arrangements, these arrangements must address a set of core elements that should apply to all assessments. This obligation is noted in the High-Level Principles and Objectives for FATF and FATF-style regional bodies which govern the relationship between FATF and FSRBs.

The FATF and FSRBs should periodically review their procedures to identify on-going challenges and update their procedures to address those challenges.

The Global Network commenced a new round of evaluations in 2024 using these revised Universal Procedures. The Universal Procedures for the previous round of AML/CFT Mutual Evaluations and the 2013 FATF Methodology for assessing compliance with the FATF Recommendations and the effectiveness of AML/CFT systems will continue to apply to countries being evaluated and those engaged in follow-up processes under the previous round of evaluations.