The launch of the U.K. Plastics Pact in April 2018 marked a significant, though arguably long overdue, shift in how packaging supply chains were expected to engage with circular economy goals. By November that year, the initial excitement surrounding the initiative had given way to the complex, often messy, work of translating its principles into […]
When NSPM-33 was signed in February 2018, it was framed as a decisive step in securing critical technologies, with domestic semiconductor manufacturing placed squarely at the heart of the national security conversation. For many in the industry, this presidential memorandum marked the culmination of years of quiet concern. But for others—particularly those more focused on […]
The launch of Canada’s digital ESTMA Registry in 2018 signaled a significant shift in how transparency obligations were expected to be met by firms in the extractive sector. For many companies, this transition to a digital-first reporting framework wasn’t just a matter of compliance—it reflected a broader trend toward making financial data more accessible, both […]
The 2018 guidance issued by the European Commission on the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) marked a subtle yet meaningful tightening of expectations around corporate disclosure, particularly in relation to supply-chain transparency. For many firms—especially large retailers operating across multiple jurisdictions—this wasn’t entirely unexpected. The signals had been there for some time. What stood out in […]
When the U.S. Trade and Development Agency launched its Open Data Initiative in 2017, the move was framed as part of a broader effort to promote transparency and encourage U.S. exporters to engage more effectively with emerging markets. For firms operating in cleantech sectors—those engaged in renewable energy, water management, grid modernization, and related technologies—the […]
Canada’s ban on microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics, formalized under Bill C-62 and effective from July 2018, marked a significant shift in how personal care product supply chains were expected to operate. While public focus at the time was largely on the consumer-facing impact—removing visible microplastics from scrubs, cleansers, and toothpaste—the practical implications for manufacturers and […]
The enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on May 25, 2018, introduced sweeping changes to how organizations manage personal data. For the supply-chain sector, and particularly for vendors of supply-chain software platforms, the impact was immediate and multifaceted. Where previous regulatory frameworks may have allowed greater flexibility in the handling of personal data […]
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 […]
When Environment Canada introduced the Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) framework in May 2018, it signaled a major shift in the way oil and gas companies would be expected to account for and report their supply-chain emissions. Designed to drive reductions in the carbon intensity of fuels used across Canada, the CFS placed new obligations on […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
By 2018, as the Czech Republic moved ahead with its pilot program to help domestic firms comply with the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, the policy landscape for electronics supply chains in Central Europe had become noticeably more intricate. While the EU regulation itself, adopted in 2017, aimed at curbing the financing of armed groups via […]
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 […]
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, […]
When the European Union adopted the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) in May 2017, it set in motion one of the most significant overhauls of medical device oversight in decades. By 2018, attention had turned from the text of the regulation to its implementation. That year saw the emergence of early pilot projects across Europe, as […]