On 16 April 2020, the Hong Kong Competition Commission introduced significant reforms to its leniency policies, publishing substantial revisions to its corporate leniency policy aimed at businesses (Revised Corporate Leniency Policy) and a new leniency policy aimed at individuals (Individual Leniency Policy).
The recently announced Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) will require loan recipients to report on climate change and sustainability-related risks and opportunities. This reporting will likely require companies to develop forward-looking plans to contribute to Canada meeting its net-zero by 2050 goal under the Paris Agreement.
The uncertainty among producers within the waste diversion industry in Canada over the coming change from an industry-funded organization (IFO) fee-based model to an individual producer responsibility (IPR) regime for “brand holders” has principally focused upon those various regulated waste streams at the centre of mandatory diversion
On 1 October 2019, the European Commission (EC) adopted a package of Ecodesign measures which, for the first time, include requirements for repairability and recyclability for household products. These requirements seek to contribute to the EU’s circular economy objectives by improving the life span, maintenance, re-use, upgrade, recyclability and waste handling of appliances.
On 5 May 2020, the EU & Competition team of the Stockholm office sent out a newsletter regarding some of the most important Swedish changes and initiatives taken within the areas of competition law, public procurement and state aid in the wake of Covid-19.
As part of its “war on pollution”, China recently issued its first law addressing soil pollution, the Law on the Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution, which will take effect on 1 January 2019.
During the current pandemic crisis many companies within the Financial Services Industry (FSI) are struggling to balance the various countries’ COVID-19 relief measures with the very strict EU regulatory requirements that govern remuneration within the sector.
Based on public statements, including a recent speech discussing the operation of the Division of Enforcement’s COVID-19 Steering Committee (Enforcement speech), it is clear that the SEC Enforcement Staff (the Staff) is already thinking ahead to the types of enforcement investigations and actions that may follow the COVID-19 Crisis.
On 7 April 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency filed a temporary final rule in the Public Inspection issue of the Federal Register to establish export restrictions on certain types of personal protective equipment products used in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the human tragedy, COVID-19 challenges the financial sector’s operating and business models and engages a wide range of law and regulation. As organizations strive to maintain business continuity and protect their workforce, they will face competing legal and regulatory pressures, particularly those operating on a cross-border basis, with regulated sector entities facing the further challenge of specific regulatory expectations.