A series of briefings that take a bite-size look at international trends in different jurisdictions, drawing on Baker McKenzie’s expert financial services practitioners with local market knowledge. This edition takes a bite-size look at the latest environment, social and governance developments in Brazil, the European Union, Belgium, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

Two new regulations were published on 13 February 2023. The regulations, which directly impact the business sector, are the following: (i) Federal Decree No. 11,413/2023, which established three new reverse logistics credit certificates at the federal level: the Reverse Logistics Recycling Credit Certificate, the Certificate of Structuring and Recycling of Packaging in General and the Future Mass Credit Certificate; and (ii) Federal Decree No. 11,414/2023, which reinstituted and reformulated the pro-scavengers program, subject of former Federal Decree No. 7,405/2010, revoked in 2020.

On 1 February 2023, State Decree No. 112/20231 was published, establishing the take-back requirements system for packaging in the state of Mato Grosso. The decree is the first specific regulation on the subject in MT, regulating the state policy for solid waste (Law No. 7,862/2002) in this regard.

On 17 January 2023, State Decree nº 16,089/20231 was published, establishing and updating the take-back requirements system for packaging in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. In summary, the decree becomes the new regulatory standard on the take-back requirements system for packaging in the state.

Federal decree No. 10.936/2022, which regulates the National Solid Waste Policy, was published on 13 January 2022.. The new regulation institutes the National Reverse Logistics Program, integrating the National Information System on Solid Waste Management and the National Solid Waste Plan.

On 6 October 2021, the CETESB (environmental agency of the state of São Paulo) published Board Decision No. 105/2021/P/C of 29 September 2021, which altered Board Decision No. 114/2019/P/C, establishing the “procedure for the incorporation of reverse logistics in the scope of environmental licensing”.

In November 2021, the city of Glasgow in Scotland will host the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference. In Brazil, the Commission of Foreign Affairs and National Defense held a public hearing on 21 June to discuss the projects that Brazil will present at COP26 after members of the Congress Camilo Capiberibe, David Miranda and Paulo Fernando dos Santos had presented a requirement, for that matter.