With effect from 1 January 2022, the provisions of the recent amendment of Act No. 127/2005 Coll., on Electronic Communications and on Amendment to Certain Related Acts relating to the storing and accessing of cookies and other information on users’ devices and telemarketing, have become effective.
On 25 November 2021 (Case C-102/20), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that displaying advertisements directly in the e-mail inbox, so-called inbox advertising (“Inbox Werbung”), is only permissible with the recipient’s prior consent. The ECJ’s reasoning can also apply to the legal situation in Switzerland on the basis of the provisions of the Federal Act against Unfair Competition.
On 17 September 2021, the Federal Council adopted a partial revision of the Chemicals Control Ordinance, which entered into force on 1 November 2021. With the revision, the licensing procedures for the production of certain chemicals for research, medical and pharmaceutical purposes have been simplified.
On 8 November 2021, the Government issued Decree No. 98/2021/ND-CP on management of medical devices (“Decree 98”). Decree 98 took effect from 1 January 2022 and replaced Decree No. 36/2016/ND-CP, Decree No. 169/2018/ND-CP and Decree No. 03/2020/ND-CP.
The Thai Ministry of Public Health issued the ministerial regulation on the application for and the issuance of the license for the manufacturing, import, export, sale or possession of cannabis.
On 11 October 2021, the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCCS) issued a press release announcing that it had successfully obtained a Court order against a sole proprietor trading under the business name “Fire Safety & Prevention (SG)” for engaging in a series of unfair trade practices.
On 26 November 2021, the Consumers Association of Singapore launched the Standard Dispute Management Framework for E-marketplaces (“Framework”). The Framework serves as a guide for E-marketplaces on how to resolve consumer disputes speedily and fairly, and which would give greater assurance to consumers when they shop online.
Healthtech gained tremendous attention during the past year or so as a result of the pandemic-driven lockdowns and restrictive circumstances. As we discussed in the past, government agencies around the world had invariably leveraged technology to support healthcare delivery and services over the years, and these efforts have accelerated in response to the pandemic. In the case of Thailand, based on its 10 year national health security plan, the Ministry of Public Health has progressed and implemented its policy by working with relevant government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, the Medical Council of Thailand, the Pharmacy Council and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission to develop and issue guidelines for telehealth services.
On 9 December 2021, the Medical Device Coordination Group published a question and answers document concerning obligations applicable to importers and distributors under Articles 13 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices and Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices.
On 25 November 2021, the European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2071 subjecting vaccines against COVID-19 and active substances used for the manufacture of same to export surveillance for a period of 24 months starting from 1 January. This Regulation will replace the existing regulatory framework requiring vaccine exports to be subject to an authorization by Member States.