On 8 November 2024, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, after three readings, adopted the amendedAnti-Money Laundering Law(the "Amended AML Law"), which will take effect on 1 January 2025 and replace the originalAnti-Money Laundering Law(the "Original AML Law"), in effect since 2007 ...
On November 1, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC ("MOFCOM") and five other administrative authorities issued revisions to theMeasures for the Administration of Strategic Investment in Listed Companies by Foreign Investors(the "Measures"), which make significant changes to the original version promulgated in 2005 ...
Recently, the National Medical Products Administration (the "NMPA") issued the "Pilot Work Plan for the Segmented Production of Biological Products" (the "Pilot Plan"), introducing a pilot initiative for the segmented production of biological products. This represents a breakthrough in the regulation of segmented production, a long-awaited achievement in the biopharmaceutical industry ...
The National Financial Regulatory Administration ("NFRA") issued theAdministrative Measures for Syndicated Loan Business("Administrative Measures") on 12 October 2024, which will take effect from 1 November 2024 and shall amend and replace theGuidelines on Syndicated Loan Businessissued by the China Banking Regulatory Commission on 1 August 2011 (the “Business Guidelines”). NFRA released a draft of the Administrative Measures for public consultation on 22 March 2024 ...
We are pleased to present the very first edition of our Trade and Taxation Newsletter. Each month, we will share important updates, key developments, and practical insights on trade and taxation, all tailored to help you stay ahead in an ever-changing regulatory environment ...
On 30 September 2024, China's State Council announced the finalizedRegulation for theAdministration of Network Data Security(《网络数据安全管理条例》, "Network Data Regulation"), which will take effect on 1 January 2025. This regulation provides a framework for personal information (PI) protection, cross-border data transfers, network data security management and the responsibilities of internet platform providers ...
SyCipLaw's Tax Department has prepared Tax Issues and Practical Solutions (T.I.P.S.) for August which covers the following tax issues: 1. What are the options of the taxpayer in case of overpayment of creditable withholding tax ("CWT")? Are these options irrevocable? 2. Does the irrevocability rule under Section 76 of the Tax Code apply to a corporation even if it is already in the process of dissolution? 3 ...
SyCipLaw Senior Partner and Head of Litigation Department Ricardo P.G. Ongkiko, Partners John Christian Joy A. Regalado, and Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba have authored the Philippine chapter in the newly released Chambers International Arbitration 2024 Global Practice Guide (GPG) ...
On September 15, 2023, the DOLE issued Labor Advisory No. 20, Series of 2023, providing new guidelines on the implementation of a Cancer Control and Prevention Policy and Program in the Workplace. Under the Labor Advisory, employers and their employees are required to adopt such program, which shall include the following areas: 1. promotion of a safe and healthy lifestyle, including the mental and social well-being of employees; 2 ...
SyCipLaw's Tax Department has prepared Tax Issues and Practical Solutions (T.I.P.S.) for July which covers the following tax issues: 1. Is a taxpayer always required to make the "payment under protest" under Section 252 of the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, to assail real property taxes? 2. May services rendered to foreign entities outsourcing manpower recruitment in the Philippines qualify for a zero percent rate of value-added tax ("VAT")? 3 ...
On 6 September 2024, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) publicly released feedback regarding an application submitted by Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. (Mizuho Group) for the establishment of Mizuho Securities (China) Co., Ltd. (“瑞穗证券（中国）有限公司”). If approved, Mizuho Group will become the fifth foreign financial group to establish a wholly foreign-owned (WFOE) securities company in China, joining the ranks of J.P ...
Chambers and Partners recently published its Enforcement of Judgments Global Practice Guide 2024. The Philippine chapter was authored by SyCipLaw partners Ramon G. Songco, Anthony W. Dee, Ricardo Ma. P.G. Ongkiko, head of the Firm's Litigation department, and Russel L. Rodriguez ...
Chambers and Partners recently published its Corporate Immigration Global Practice Guide 2024. SyCipLaw senior partner and Employment and Immigration department head Leslie C. Dy and partner Rodelle B. Bolante authored this year’s Philippine chapter ...
SyCipLaw's Tax Department has prepared a double edition of its Tax Issues and Practical Solutions (T.I.P.S.) for May-June. The May-June 2024 issue covers the following tax issues: 1. Under the current VAT regulations, is input tax required to be directly attributable (or a factor in the production chain) to zero-rated sales, i.e., to come from purchases of goods and services that form part of the finished product of the zero-rated taxpayer in order to be creditable or refundable? 2 ...
SyCipLaw's Employment & Immigration Update (Volume XIX, Issue 1) features the latest issuances from the Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE), summaries of Supreme Court decisions, and labor and immigration updates. Please read the full bulletinhereor via thislink. Labor Advisories DOLE Labor Advisory No. 23-23: Guidelines on Minimum Public Health Standards in Workplaces Relative to the Lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19 DOLE Labor Advisory No ...
SyCipLaw's Tax Department has prepared Tax Issues and Practical Solutions (T.I.P.S.) for April. The April 2024 issue covers the following tax issues: 1. In assessing deficiency withholding tax on compensation of employees who were not individually identified, is it proper for the Commissioner of Internal Revenue ("CIR") to use the top withholding tax rate of 32%? 2. Which court has exclusive and original jurisdiction over criminal offenses involving tax claims amounting to PhP 1,000,000 ...
On September 8, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce, together with the National Health Commission and the National Medical Products Administration (hereinafter referred to as the "Three Departments"), publicly issued theNotice on Carrying Out Pilot Programs to Expand Opening-Up in the Healthcare Sector(hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"), announcing that,effective immediately, foreign-invested enterprises are permitted to engage in the development and application of human stem cells, gene diagno
On August 28, 2024, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) released the Medical Device Administration Law (Draft for Comment) (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft") for public comments ...
On 16 August 2024, the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) issued a consultation draft of theMeasures for Compliance Management of Financial Institutions(金融机构合规管理办法) (Draft Measures). The public comment period is open until 17 September 2024. Developing unified compliance management measures for relevant financial institutions can be traced back to the 2022 legislative agenda put forth by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) ...
On July 26, 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources ("MNR") promulgated the Notice of the Ministry of Natural Resources on Strengthening the Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation Security of Intelligent Connected Vehicles ("Notice 139"), reiterating the importance of the security of surveying, mapping and geoinformation ...
China's pharmaceutical industry is witnessing a notable surge in "pipeline spin-off projects", a model commonly referred to as the "Spin-off-NewCo" or "SON" model. Within the past two months, we've been advising on nearly ten SON projects. Leading pharmaceutical companies in China are more frequently adopting the SON model to separate parts of their pipelines into new, independent companies ...
On 26 July 2024, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) released the revisedProvisions on the Administration of Funds of Foreign Institutional Investors for Domestic Securities and Futures Investment(《境外机构投资者境内证券期货投资资金管理规定》, the "Revised Provisions"), which will come into effect on 26 August 2024 and supersede the current version issued on 7 May 2020 (the "Current Provisions") ...
The methods employed by criminals to transfer and conceal proceeds of crime on a global scale are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making effective mutual legal assistance in criminal matters crucial for cross-border asset recovery ...
In a special report prepared with Conventus Law, SyCipLaw partner Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba and senior associate Ramon I. Rocha IV gave updates on the Philippines' enhanced Anti-Money Laundering (AML) enforcement framework, and provided insights for organizations looking to adopt a more proactive approach to AML compliance and risk management ...
On April 12, 2024, the China Securities Regulatory Committee ("CSRC") released a public consultation draft of theProvisions on Program Trading Management in Securities Markets (for Trial Implementation)(《证券市场程序化交易管理规定（试行）（征求意见稿）》, the "Draft Provisions") ...
