Archive for the ‘Supply Chain’ Category

Supply Chain

July 15, 2018

The 2018 revision of the U.S. Department of Justice’s guidance on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) marked a significant shift in how manufacturers and exporters were expected to monitor their third-party relationships. The new guidance emphasized the need for companies to take concrete, documented steps in verifying the integrity of overseas agents, distributors, and […]

Supply Chain

June 15, 2018

Vietnam’s June 2018 supplementary decree, designed to bolster enforcement of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), marked a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to assure international markets of the legality of its timber exports. For logging companies and wood product exporters, the decree introduced new obligations that required greater transparency in sourcing and more […]

Supply Chain

June 1, 2018

The May 2017 repeal of the United States’ Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (MCOOL) requirements, following years of dispute at the World Trade Organization, triggered a wave of supply chain adjustments across the meat and produce sectors. By 2018, suppliers and processors were grappling with the operational consequences of this regulatory shift. The repeal removed federal obligations […]

Supply Chain

May 15, 2018

With the impending full implementation of Canada’s Cannabis Act in October 2018, agricultural supply chains in the cannabis sector faced significant operational and compliance challenges. The legislation introduced a national framework that required end-to-end traceability, encompassing cultivation, processing, distribution, and retail sale. Licensed producers were among the first to feel the weight of these new […]

Supply Chain

April 15, 2018

The intersection of pharmaceutical supply chains and financial institution oversight took on a new dimension in 2018, as banks and other lenders began adjusting their due diligence frameworks to account for regulatory shifts in the drug industry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Final Rule under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, known […]

Supply Chain

April 1, 2018

By 2018, the conversation around modern slavery in Canadian supply chains had regained momentum, even though Bill C-383—the proposed Modern Slavery Act introduced as a private member’s bill in 2016—had failed to pass. That legislative defeat did not put the issue to rest. If anything, it created space for new coalitions of lawmakers, industry groups, […]

Supply Chain

March 1, 2018

When the Build Act was signed into law in March 2018, it marked a fundamental shift in how the United States approached development finance, particularly in relation to global supply chain infrastructure. By consolidating and expanding the capabilities of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) into the […]

Supply Chain

February 15, 2018

The European Union’s Plastics Strategy, announced in January 2018, marked a turning point in efforts to reduce environmental harm from plastics while promoting circular economy principles. At its core, the strategy called for systemic changes in the production, use, and disposal of plastic materials. One of its most significant implications for industry was the increased […]

Supply Chain

February 1, 2018

Canada’s Zero Plastic Waste Strategy, announced in December 2017, set in motion a national framework aimed at eliminating plastic waste through collaboration, innovation, and systemic change. For the fast-moving consumer goods sector, the strategy signaled a shift from voluntary recycling initiatives toward structured partnerships that could deliver measurable improvements in plastic recovery and circularity. By […]

Supply Chain

January 15, 2018

The European Timber Regulation (EUTR), implemented in 2013, sought to curb illegal logging and ensure that only legally harvested timber entered the EU market. By 2018, the European Commission had initiated a formal transparency review aimed at assessing the regulation’s effectiveness and identifying areas where digital tools could enhance compliance. The findings of this review, […]

Supply Chain

December 15, 2017

When Canada’s Bill C-63 became law in June 2017, it introduced a suite of maritime security provisions aimed at strengthening the integrity of the nation’s ports and safeguarding the country’s international trade routes. While the legislative text emphasized enhanced regulatory powers, including the ability of officials to board vessels and inspect cargo more efficiently, the […]

Supply Chain

December 1, 2017

The 2017 compliance cycle for the European Union’s recast Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive marked an important milestone in efforts to promote circular economy principles across the electronics industry. As manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment finalized their reporting obligations for the year, many confronted the growing complexity of managing and […]