The 2022 update to the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s Conflict Minerals Rule brought much-needed clarity to the definitions of “necessary to functionality” and “necessary to production,” terms that have long caused uncertainty for electronics manufacturers and other downstream companies. These clarifications, effective January 2022, directly impact how firms determine whether tin, tantalum, tungsten, and […]
India’s new labour codes, effective January 2024, mark a transformative moment for farm sector transparency by extending formal labor protections to millions of migrant agricultural workers. The consolidation of existing labor laws into four comprehensive codes—the Code on Wages, the Industrial Relations Code, the Social Security Code, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions […]
Canada’s Bill C-13, known as the Child Labour Denial Amendment, took effect in February 2023 and represents a critical step in the nation’s efforts to eliminate child labor from imported supply chains. The legislation prohibits the importation of goods that are mined, manufactured, or produced wholly or in part by child labor. With increasing scrutiny […]
The 2024 updates to the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD), originally adopted in 2018, mark a significant tightening of sustainability obligations for businesses across the European Union. With the revised directive now enforcing higher recycled content targets for packaging, manufacturers, brand owners, and importers must enhance the transparency, traceability, and reporting of their […]
The US CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law in August 2022, represents a landmark initiative to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing while enhancing the security and transparency of chip supply chains. As global tensions and supply disruptions have highlighted the vulnerabilities in critical technology sectors, the CHIPS Act provides substantial federal incentives to encourage the […]
Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz, or LkSG), effective since January 2023, marked a significant shift in corporate responsibility, requiring large firms to monitor and address human rights and environmental risks across their global supply chains. Now, two years into enforcement, clear lessons have emerged for the automotive and textile sectors—the industries most directly […]
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 […]