EU to Review Endocrine Disruptor Strategy, Consider Need to Assess Cumulative Effects
August 25, 2011 in International Environment Reporter
EU legislation is inadequate for dealing with the risks posed to the environment and human health by endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol A and phthalates, the European Commission said in a report on the bloc’s approach to the substances…
EU Financial Services Industry Rejects Call for Banking Transaction Tax
August 25, 2011 in BNA's Banking Report
Imposing a financial transaction tax in the European Union will only further impede economic growth and lead to the relocation of some financial service sectors out of the 27 EU member states…
U.S. Taxpayers Said to Fear Disclosing Assets as Foreign Bank Crackdown Continues
August 25, 2011 in BNA's Banking Report
The IRS’s intense effort to get taxpayers to tell the government about their offshore assets may be running into difficulties even as IRS continues its crackdown on foreign banks that help taxpayers hide those assets, numerous practitioners told BNA in a series of recent interviews.
Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus Customs Union Adopts New Regulations on Customs, Safety
August 25, 2011 in WTO Reporter
The governing body of the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia Aug. 16 moved to approve new joint regulations on customs and safety, while Moscow pledged to support its union partner Belarus…
ANALYSIS: European Data Protection Supervisor Tells European Commission To Get Back On Track Over Cookie Compliance
August 25, 2011 in World Data Protection Report
The revised e-Privacy Directive requires organisations running websites in most cases to obtain informed consent from users in order to store or retrieve information on users’ computers via cookies or similar technology…
Japan’s Draft Environment Plan Focuses on Renewable Energy, Recycling, Biodiversity
August 16, 2011 in International Environment Reporter
Japan must overhaul its policies for supplying and consuming energy and other resources in the wake of devastation caused by the March 11 earthquake…
Argentina Issues Preemptive Ban on Sales, Production, Imports of 55 Agrochemicals
August 16, 2011 in International Environment Reporter
Argentina’s Agrifood Quality and Sanitation Service (SENASA, after its Spanish initials) Aug. 13 banned 55 agrochemicals it said were listed as either extremely dangerous (18) or highly dangerous (37) by the World Health Organization…
Russia Moves to Enhance Investor Appeal of High-Risk Mineral Deposit Development
August 16, 2011 in WTO Reporter
The Russian government is offering an attractive tax regime and taking on initial evaluation of potential new fields in order to incentivize development of mineral deposits in areas where harsh climatic conditions, difficult geography, and lack of infrastructure are inhibiting investment in resource extraction…
ANALYSIS: The New UK Bribery Act And Data Protection Issues Involving Associated Persons, Including Suppliers And Employees
August 16, 2011 in World Data Protection Report
The UK Bribery Act 2010 (the “Act”) came into force on July 1, 2011, and brought with it both an extension and a simplification of the previous UK law on bribery and corruption
ANALYSIS: The EU Article 29 Working Party Opinion On The Definition Of Consent: An Unambiguous View Of The Future
August 16, 2011 in World Data Protection Report
On July 13, 2011, the Article 29 Working Party published Opinion 15/2011 on the definition of consent (WP 187) for the purposes of processing personal data in the European Union…