Vietnam’s new Atomic Energy Law (No. 94/2025/QH15), enacted on 27 June 2025 and effective from 1 January 2026, establishes a comprehensive legal framework for peaceful atomic energy development. It covers nuclear power plant development, licensing, radioactive waste management, safety and security, incident response, and compensation. The law replaces the 2008 version, aligns with IAEA standards, and supports future projects like Ninh Thuan’s nuclear plants.
In March 2025, the Home Office issued a revised version of its statutory guidance “Transparency in Supply Chains” following the House of Lords Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee’s report. This marks the first full revision of the guidance in nearly a decade. In an article for Compliance & Risk, Jon Tuck and David Yadid examine the current legal framework under the Act, unpack the key changes introduced by the new guidance, and consider their implications for businesses.
At the Annual Compliance conference recently held in London, the session on ‘Supply chains – Navigating ESG and Trade-related Risks’ examined the intensifying ESG and trade-related risks facing global supply chains, shaped by shifting political priorities and evolving regulatory frameworks.
Companies are navigating a shifting ESG and sustainability regulatory landscape across Europe and the US. The session opened with an overview of deregulatory trends in Europe, including the Omnibus package, evolving CSRD and CSDDD obligations, and the EU Deforestation Regulation. In contrast, the US discussion highlighted the rise of the anti-ESG movement at the federal level, set against California’s continued push for climate disclosure laws impacting both public and private companies.
On 22 May 2025, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a Joint Statement of Interest in a lawsuit led by the State of Texas against three large investment companies. The lawsuit, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has been joined by 10 other states and accuses the asset managers of using their positions in climate-focused investment initiatives to manipulate coal markets, driving up the cost of energy and resulting in higher energy prices for American consumers. This action, as the DOJ publicly notes, is the first formal statement by the Agencies in federal court on the antitrust implications of common shareholdings
The recently introduced obligations on Queensland businesses regarding implementation of a tailored sexual and sex-based harassment prevention plan are particularly significant for employers operating in the construction and renewables industries given the workforce is typically male-dominated and often working in remote environments. Although these changes only apply to Queensland employers, these should be viewed as a prescriptive step for fulfilling existing work, health and safety obligations and the positive duty to eliminate unlawful behavior at work, which apply to all businesses in Australia.
In light of recent developments in the Egyptian market, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic and the devaluation of the Egyptian pound against the US Dollar and a growing interest by prospective investors, the Egyptian government is discussing an amendment to the established FiT rate for waste to energy projects in Egypt to attract more investments for these projects.
Our popular Annual Compliance Conference, which attracts senior in-house legal and compliance professionals every year from across the world, will be held virtually from 3 to 12 June 2025.
The conference will provide you with valuable insights from our international trade, compliance and investigations, regulatory and antitrust lawyers. We will delve into critical topics shaping the future of global businesses such as sanctions, export controls, customs and tariffs, national security laws, antitrust, product regulation, ESG and related enforcement trends.
On 5 March 2025, the European Commission presented an industrial action plan to drive innovation, sustainability and competitiveness in the automotive sector. The plan seeks to offer a comprehensive strategy aimed at maintaining the global competitiveness of the European automotive industry while navigating the transition to clean mobility and digital integration. Simultaneously, it seeks to address challenges such as access to raw materials, uncompetitive trade practices and rising production costs.
The Department of Industrial Works recently introduced the Draft Industrial Waste Management Act (DIWMA), which remained open for public hearing until 1 April 2025. Similar to some other draft waste laws, namely the Draft Sustainable Packaging Management Act and the Draft Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Management Act, the DIWMA adopts the Extended Producer Responsibility principle, obligating operators of industrial establishments to be responsible for the industrial waste they generate until it is fully treated or disposed of.