The Bank of Thailand (BOT) intends to strengthen the role of financial service providers in taking responsibility for consumers throughout the loan debt cycle appropriately and comprehensively. The BOT Notification No. Sor Gor Chor. 7/2566 re: Responsible Lending was issued by the BOT and announced in the Government Gazette on 27 December 2023, and became effective on 1 January 2024.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and AI Verify Foundation have announced the draft Model AI Governance Framework for Generative AI (Framework), which adopts a systematic and balanced approach to addressing concerns posed by generative AI (GenAI) while continuing to facilitate innovation. The Framework expands on the Model AI Governance Framework that covered traditional AI, which was last updated in 2020.
On 12 January 2024, the Health Sciences Authority issued an update on products found and reported by overseas regulators to contain potent ingredients that are prohibited and may lead to side effects.
The Singapore Association of Pharmaceutical Industries Code of Conduct has been amended to increase limits for providing hospitality in relation to food and drinks during events, and to clarify that company-branded, single-use, disposable tableware are permitted at third-party events. The revisions are effective from 1 February 2024.
On 9 January 2024, the Parliament of Singapore passed the Significant Investments Review Bill (“Bill”).
This Bill strengthens the Singapore government’s regulatory toolkit for investments in local and foreign entities that are significant to Singapore’s national security interests and ensures greater regulatory flexibility in safeguarding Singapore’s evolving national security interests. At the same time, the Bill has been designed to align with international norms and preserve Singapore’s open and investment-friendly economy.
On 27 December 2023, the BIR published RR No. 16-2023 to amend RR No. 2-1998 and impose withholding tax on the gross remittances by e-marketplace operators and digital financial services providers to sellers/merchants. On 11 January 2024, the BIR issued RMC 8-2024 to provide guidance on the timeline and procedures to implement RR No. 16-2023. According to RR No. 16-2023, e-marketplace operators and digital financial services providers are allowed a transitory period of 90 days from the issuance of RMC 8-2024 to comply with the provisions of RR No. 16-2023.
On 10 January 2024, the Office of the SEC issued guidelines relating to listed company shareholder meetings to enhance good governance, transparency, and efficiency of the meeting, and to allow shareholders’ participation.
On 26 January 2024, China issued significantly higher merger filing turnover-based thresholds, with immediate effect. Notably, China has removed a hybrid threshold proposed in the June 2022 draft, which was based on both revenue and market value of target companies and purported to target high-value “killer” acquisitions.
The Doing Business in the Philippines handbook aims to equip both local and foreign entrepreneurs with a practical guide to navigating the ever-evolving business landscape in the Philippines. It provides information on the requirements needed when setting up and operating a business in the Philippines, including incentives under special registrations, taxation, employment, IP, dispute resolution, and industry-specific regulations.
On 8 January 2024, Commissioner of Internal Revenue Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. issued an advisory regarding the cessation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)’s collection of the Annual Registration Fee (ARF), in compliance with Republic Act (RA) No. 11976 or the “Ease of Paying Taxes Act.”