Europe’s new anti-money laundering authority has finalised its customer due diligence rulebook, shifting the focus for financial institutions from collecting extensive customer data to demonstrating that their decisions are proportionate, risk-based and properly documented.

On 1 October 2026, the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) published its final report, dated 30 September, containing draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) on customer due diligence under Article 28(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR). The changes are particularly relevant for RegTech providers such as CleverChain, whose AI due diligence agent, VERA, is designed to help firms gather customer information, assess ownership structures and maintain an auditable record of their decisions. The text has now been submitted to the European Commission, which must adopt it as a delegated regulation before publication in the Official Journal. The consultation, which opened in February and closed in May, received 325 responses. The final draft has been reduced from 33 articles to 29.

The AMLR is due to apply from 10 July 2027. The RTS will enter into force 20 days after publication and become applicable six months later. Football agents and professional clubs have until 10 July 2029 to comply. The standards cover standard, simplified and enhanced due diligence, politically exposed person (PEP) identification, sanctions screening, ownership structures and electronic identification. They apply to banks, crypto-asset service providers, high-value goods dealers and other obliged entities.

Industry feedback played a significant role in shaping the final draft. Respondents raised concerns that the original proposals, which repeatedly required firms to “obtain at least” specified customer information, were more prescriptive than the underlying regulation.

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