The European Union’s Conflict Timber Regulation, updated in 2021, represents a major advancement in the fight against illegal logging and the trade of timber linked to armed conflict and human rights abuses. The regulation builds upon earlier frameworks such as the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) by expanding due-diligence requirements and reinforcing the mechanisms for tracing […]
Canada’s National Pharmacare Act, passed in 2023, marks a significant step toward universal access to affordable medicines while embedding supply chain transparency as a core element of pharmaceutical governance. In addition to creating a national framework for drug coverage, the Act introduces provisions that require enhanced oversight of pharmaceutical supply chains. These provisions are designed […]
Australia’s National Anti-Corruption Commission Act (NAC Act), passed in 2022 and coming into force in July 2024, represents a major reform in tackling corruption and bribery within government operations, including public procurement and supply chain activities. The Act established the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), a powerful and independent body empowered to investigate and prosecute serious […]
The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA), which came into effect in June 2022, represents the most significant overhaul of US maritime regulations in decades. Passed in response to mounting concerns over excessive freight charges, unpredictable demurrage and detention fees, and opaque shipping practices, OSRA aims to create a more transparent, fair, and competitive […]
The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which began its pilot phase in 2023, marks a transformative shift in how European companies disclose environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data. As the successor to the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), the CSRD significantly expands the scope of reporting obligations, bringing thousands of large companies and, soon, mid-cap […]
The US Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, signed into law in March 2020 and effective from November that year, represents a cornerstone of federal efforts to protect the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure from security risks associated with high-risk suppliers. The Act prohibits US government agencies and federally funded projects from procuring, leasing, or maintaining telecommunications […]
South Korea’s Act on the Fairness of Supply Contracts, originally passed to address imbalances between large corporations and their subcontractors, underwent key amendments in 2021 to enhance transparency and accountability across critical sectors—including logistics. The revised law specifically targets freight, warehousing, and related service agreements, aiming to prevent unfair practices such as opaque pricing, hidden […]
The European Union’s 2024 update to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) marks a significant advancement in the bloc’s drive toward a circular economy. Building on the original 1994 Directive and subsequent amendments, the latest revision increases mandatory recycled content targets for plastic, metal, paper, and glass packaging. By 2030, manufacturers must ensure that […]
Canada’s Green Procurement Policy, revised in 2022, marks a major step forward in embedding climate accountability within public sector purchasing. The updated policy mandates that federal departments and agencies actively consider and disclose greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with major procurements, including goods, services, and construction projects. This initiative aligns with the federal government’s broader […]
The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, effective since November 2022, marks a significant step in federal efforts to combat severe animal mistreatment in the United States. Although originally focused on criminalizing acts such as crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, or impaling animals, the law has helped shape a broader supply-chain transparency culture in industries […]
The European Union’s 2022 Textiles Strategy represents a landmark effort to create a circular, sustainable, and fully transparent textiles industry. A core feature of this strategy is the requirement for manufacturers, brands, and retailers to disclose the origins of textile fibers and provide detailed information on chemicals used during production. This regulatory shift responds to […]
Australia’s National Plastics Plan, released in November 2023, marks a significant regulatory advance in the country’s efforts to reduce plastic waste and promote circular economy practices. At its core, the Plan imposes mandatory upstream reporting requirements on producers, importers, and users of plastic packaging materials. The goal is to create full transparency across the plastics […]
The US Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Climate Rule, finalized in September 2023, represents a landmark development in the federal government’s efforts to integrate climate risk and sustainability into its procurement practices. The rule mandates that major federal contractors—defined as entities with more than $50 million in annual federal obligations—disclose their Scope 1, 2, and 3 […]
The EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, which came into full effect on January 1, 2021, marked a critical step in the European Union’s efforts to prevent the financing of armed groups through the trade of tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold (commonly referred to as 3TG minerals). The regulation imposes mandatory due diligence obligations on EU importers […]
The final rule issued under the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Supply Chain Cybersecurity framework, effective January 2022, has reshaped how telecommunications providers manage vendor risk across critical infrastructure. Developed in response to growing threats against US communications networks, this rule compels telecom carriers to systematically assess the cybersecurity posture of their hardware […]
Japan’s 2022 amendment to the Act on Promotion of Transparency in Public Procurement marked a significant shift toward ensuring accountability and sustainability in the construction sector. Effective from April 2023, the amendment introduced new requirements for the disclosure of sources of construction materials in all public works projects. This reform was driven by increasing public […]