The US Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which came into effect on January 1, 2024, represents a landmark step in combating illicit financial activity by requiring companies to disclose their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). This centralized registry of ownership information enhances supply chain transparency by helping businesses identify shell companies and […]
The 2023 update to the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), originally adopted in 2013, marks a significant tightening of due-diligence expectations for importers of wood and paper products into the European Union. The revised guidance places greater emphasis on the need for companies to verify the legality of timber origins, prevent deforestation-linked sourcing, and ensure full […]
The EU’s 2022 Regulation on Responsible Mining marked a major step forward in promoting ethical sourcing and environmental stewardship within global mineral supply chains. Designed to address the risks of human rights abuses, environmental degradation, and corruption often associated with mining activities, the regulation places binding due-diligence obligations on all EU importers of mined products, […]
The UK government’s 2024 consultation on strengthening the Modern Slavery Act 2015 represents a significant step towards enhancing corporate accountability for forced labour and human trafficking risks in supply chains. The proposed revisions aim to close gaps in reporting consistency, improve public access to modern slavery statements, and mandate the inclusion of key risk mitigation […]
The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) introduced significant new provisions aimed at strengthening the security and resilience of critical minerals supply chains essential to US defense capabilities. As global competition intensifies and geopolitical tensions threaten the stability of resource flows, the NDAA’s supply-chain security measures underscore the strategic importance of minerals such as rare […]
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 […]