Climate and environment In November 2023, SVW assisted Greenpeace and Nature and Youth Norway in a new climate case before the District Court of Oslo. The plaintiffs challenge the validity of three new oil field approvals on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and ask for a temporary injunction ...
By: Daniel Silva, Sanjay Bhandari, and Manisha Malhotra The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) emerged as a lifeline for small businesses grappling with the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lenders navigated a landscape of regulations that Congress quickly drafted in response to the pandemic. These regulations and obligations evolved, subtly yet materially, from the first and second rounds of PPP “draws ...
On December 15, 2023, the Comptroller General of the Republic confirmed Supreme Decree No. 30/2023, which amends the Regulations of the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) in order to adapt said regulation to the requirements of the Framework Law on Climate Change and the Escazú Agreement. The approved modifications include, among others, the following: Modification of the minimum contents of Environmental Impact Declarations (DIA) and Environmental Impact Studies (EIA) ...
Updated on 8 January 2024.Food law is extensively harmonized throughout the EU, but national law still has a role to play. In this short article, we look at three developments in Belgian food law that have taken place in 2023: the amendments to the Food Safety Agency’s administrative fining regime, the introduction of nutrivigilance, and the announced revision of the food hygiene legislation.1 ...
Both the Belgian legislator and government have played an active role in 2023 when it comes to pharma legislation, which has led to a number of changes in the legal framework. In this article, we look back and discuss five noteworthy developments in Belgian pharma law. 1 ...
Introduction The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (“MARPOL” or the “Convention”) was promoted by the International Maritime Organisation (“IMO”). It was adopted on the 2nd of November 1973 to tackle the menace of marine pollution by oil, chemicals, and other hazardous materials from ships through operational or accidental causes ...
Renewable energy projects affecting the environment, such as wind and solar projects, currently require multiple permits from different authorities, which may make the permitting processes rather burdensome and unpredictable. To tackle this, the government is looking to streamline and standardize the permitting process by developing a "one stop shop" in order to boost new investments in Finland and make the processes more predictable ...
Module 6 of the UK’s Covid-19 Public Inquiry opened on 12 December 2023, with public hearings set to begin in Spring 2025. This article explores what Module 6 will examine and explains how and why members of the Care Sector may want to become involved ...
There was considerable anticipation regarding whether the negotiations would be successfully concluded during this meeting. Without an agreement, there was a risk of significant delays in the adoption of the framework. This was undesirable for EU institutions that have invested considerable prestige in leading the regulation of AI globally. Read more about the most contentious issues leading up to the last negotiation meeting in this article ...
The Environment Agency has been found in breach of the Regulators’ Code by failing to provide a proper appeal mechanism for challenging Compliance Assessment Reports. It must now decide how to provide permit holders with a new appeal mechanism ...
By means of Exempt Resolution No. 1,268 dated November 20, 2023, published in the Official Gazette on November 30 (the "Resolution"), the Ministry of the Environment (the "MMA") opened a public information period to receive background information to regulate photovoltaic panels in the draft Supreme Decree that will establish collection and recovery goals and other obligations associated with piles and electrical devices (the "Decree"). As a context, by means of Exempt Resolution No ...
1. How do you foresee the evolving regulatory landscape in offshore jurisdictions impacting Asia-based clients in 2024, and what strategies is your firm considering to navigate these changes effectively? Anthony McKenzie (AM): Asia is the world's largest and most populated continent, comprised of many different economies, cultures and laws. The use of Cayman, BVI and Bermuda structures has a long track record throughout Asia and it is this familiarity which has contributed to their popularity ...
On November 15, 2023 the Ministry of Industry and Trade has submitted to the authorized departments for approval a draft governmental decree (“Decree”) banning the use of polymer goods and packaging waste from which is not recyclable or inefficiently extracted. In case the draft Decree receives positive feedback, it will undergo further consideration in the Russian government and subsequently adopted ...
Bringing together leading developers, agents, operators, design specialists, as well as policy and legal experts, Shoosmiths hosts a roundtable discussion on meeting the real estate demands of the UK’s life sciences sector ...
On 22 September 2023, the Royal Decree of 13 September 2023 establishing specific rules on the public procurement of biological medicinal products was published in the Belgian State Gazette (“Royal Decree”) ...
By means of Agreement No. 33/2023 dated November 3, 2023, the Council of Ministers for Sustainability and Climate Change approved the proposed Supreme Decree that establishes collection and recovery goals and other obligations associated with the priority product lubricating oils (the "Decree") prepared by the Ministry of the Environment (the "MMA") ...
Interest in the development of offshore wind power projects in Finland has increased significantly in recent times. As project developers are exploring the opportunities to construct wind farms in the exclusive economic zone ("EEZ") of Finland, many find themselves wondering how the permitting process will be arranged and how the final project developer with the exclusivity over an area will be selected ...
Background In the lead up to the entry into force of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation, sustainable dismantling of vessels was put higher on the agenda for shipowners and stakeholders, and authorities in EEA tested cases on ship recycling under the waste regulations prohibiting export of waste from the EEA ...
On November 7, 2023, Ohio voters passed Issue 2, a measure that will legalize the purchase and use of recreational marijuana. By passing this initiative, Ohio becomes the 24th state to legalize recreational marijuana. Issue 2 creates Chapter 3780 of the Ohio Revised Code. This new law will become effective on December 7, 2023 ...
In its priorities note for 2023, the Belgian Competition Authority (“BCA”) listed the pharmaceutical and health care sector as one of it major interests. It noted that “in the coming months, the BCA will also devote additional attention and resources to the continued consolidation in the hospital sector ...
