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In Antitrust / Competition

Australia: ACCC releases guidance on transition to new mandatory merger regime

by , and 5 Mins Read

On 4 March 2025, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released transitional guidelines to help businesses navigate the transition to the new mandatory and suspensory merger control regime which comes into force on 1 January 2026.
The Guidelines set out details on key dates and processes for how the ACCC will manage merger clearance reviews during the transition period. The ACCC is encouraging businesses to voluntarily notify transactions under the new regime from 1 July 2025 to avoid the potential need for re-notification if the ACCC is unable to complete its review in time.

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In Cybersecurity, Data and Tech

China: CAC issued detailed rules on personal information protection compliance audit

by and 3 Mins Read

On 12 February 2025, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) issued the Measures for the Administration of Personal Information Compliance Audit (“Audit Measures”), which will take effect from 1 May 2025. The draft of the Audit Measures was first released for solicitation of public comments on 3 August 2023, and it took a year and a half for CAC to finalize the Audit Measures. In the final version of the Audit Measures, there are a few notable changes compared with the draft version, which reflect the evolving and more relaxed data protection regulatory stance of the CAC.

In Cybersecurity, Data and Tech

Singapore: New AI safety initiatives announced, including the Global AI Assurance Pilot

by , , , and 3 Mins Read

On 11 February 2025, the Singapore government announced new AI safety initiatives, namely: (i) the Global AI Assurance Pilot for best practices around technical testing of generative AI applications; (ii) the Joint Testing Report with Japan; and (iii) the publication of the Singapore AI Safety Red Teaming Challenge Evaluation Report. These initiatives aim to enhance AI governance, innovation and safety standards.

In AML & Financial Services Regulatory

Australia: Easing compliance – ASIC’s proposed reporting measures for licensees relief

by , , and 3 Mins Read

On 18 February 2025, ASIC commenced consultation on proposals to:
1. provide additional relief for Australian financial services and credit licensees from reporting certain breaches of the misleading and deceptive conduct (MDC) provisions and certain contraventions of civil penalty provisions (CPPs); and
2. consolidate this additional relief and the relief in ASIC Corporations and Credit (Breach Reporting — Reportable Situations) Instrument 2024/620 (ASIC Instrument 2024/620) into a single instrument.
The proposals, as further described in CS 16, aim to reduce the reporting burden on Australian financial services and credit licensees. ASIC’s rationale for the changes is, under the current reportable situations regime, some reports of MDC and CPP breaches have been of minimal intelligence value to ASIC.

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In Antitrust / Competition

Australia: ACCC Compliance and Enforcement Priorities in 2025/26

by , and 1 Min Read

On 20 February 2025, the Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Gina Cass-Gottlieb, announced the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement priorities for 2025/26 at the annual address to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia. Ms Cass-Gottlieb identified a range of industry sectors, as well as specific competition and consumer law issues that will be the focus of the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement activities for 2025/26. Many of these areas continue from last year.

In Antitrust / Competition

China’s new guidelines offer a prescriptive roadmap for horizontal merger review

by , , , , and 9 Mins Read

On 20 December 2024, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) officially released the final version of its Guidelines on the Review of Horizontal Mergers (the “Guidelines”), which came into effect on the same day. The Guidelines provide a comprehensive framework of the key regulatory considerations under China’s merger control regime, setting out potential competition law concerns arising from M&A transactions between actual or potential competitors, and outlining possible arguments to mitigate these concerns.

In ESG

Thailand: Climate Change Bill – Aligning with international standards

by , and 4 Mins Read

The Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE) launched the second draft of the Climate Change Bill (“Bill”) in November 2024 for a public hearing. Some of the key revisions include provisions similar to the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, adjustments made on the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and carbon tax provisions under the Bill. The Bill is expected to be submitted to Parliament for approval in 2025.

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In ESG

Thailand: JCM – An opportunity for Thai companies to accelerate decarbonization efforts

by , , , and 6 Mins Read

The Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) initiative, led by Japan, offers a significant opportunity for Thailand to advance its decarbonization efforts through financial support for cutting-edge technologies. By participating in JCM projects, Thai companies can obtain financial support from the Japanese government, enhancing efforts towards implementing effective greenhouse gas mitigation and removal measures, which in turn aids in achieving Thailand’s declared GHG reduction targets.

In AML & Financial Services Regulatory

Australia: AUSTRAC seeks industry feedback on proposed new AML/CTF rules

by , , and 1 Min Read

Following the recent adoption of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2024 (Cth) (“AML/CTF Amendment Act”), AUSTRAC has now turned its attention to amending the current AML/CTF Rules in order to provide clarity and guidance in relation to the significant changes to the AML/CTF regime.
AUSTRAC has released the first Exposure Draft, which details the proposed amendments to the AML/CTF Rules (“New Rules”) and have invited industry feedback on the contents of the Exposure Draft. AUSTRAC has aimed to construct the New Rules in a way which provides clarity to reporting entities with regard to their AML/CTF obligations and removes overly prescriptive and rigid requirements, as well as granting reporting entities with flexibility in the way they comply with their AML/CTF obligations.

In Cybersecurity, Data and Tech

Singapore: Personal Data Protection Commission clarifies use of National Registration Identity Card numbers

by , , , and 2 Mins Read

In December 2024, privacy concerns were raised after the new Bizfile portal of the Accounting, Corporate and Regulatory Authority of Singapore displayed names and full National Registration Identity Card numbers for free in its search results.
The Personal Data Protection Commission has since clarified the appropriate use and misuse of NRIC numbers.

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