The Australian Government recently introduced new manufacturing, labelling and packaging requirements for medicinal cannabis products manufactured or supplied in Australia, under amendments to the Therapeutic Goods (Standard for Medicinal Cannabis) (TGO 93) Amendment Order 2022 (Amendment Order), effective as of 28 March 2022.
In March 2022, the Health Sciences Authority released its revised Health Supplements Guidelines. This is accompanied by sets of brand new guidelines regarding (i) claims and claims substantiation; (ii) labelling standards; and (iii) safety and quality standards, which were also released on March 2022.
As the development of new technologies and the introduction of new systems and policies aimed at achieving a carbon-neutral society is progressing around the world, Japan has also introduced policies to encourage innovation of private businesses in hydrogen and other technologies with the potential of decarbonizing society.
Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Japan announces which items will be subject to the ban on exports of luxury goods to Russia on 4 April 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.
Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Australia to increase tariffs for products from Belarus and Russia; and introduces new luxury goods export sanctions for Russia on 05 April 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.
The Carbon Tax was introduced in Law No. 7/2021 on Harmonization of Tax Regulation. The Carbon Tax will be imposed on carbon emissions that have a negative impact on the environment. The law stated that the Carbon Tax would be applied starting on 1 April 2022 for coal fired power plants. The law requires an implementing regulation in the form of a Minister of Finance regulation to stipulate the tariff and basis of the Carbon Tax, and a government regulation to stipulate the tax subject and tax object. There has to be consultation on the regulations with the Indonesian parliament.
Amendments to the Employment Act 1955 (“Act”) have been long overdue. On 30 March 2022, the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2021 was passed in Dewan Negara (Senate). The amendments have not come into force and there is currently no indication as to when this might happen.
On 4 March 2022, a Joint Administrative Order No. 22-01entitled Guidelines for Online Businesses Reiterating the Laws and Regulations Applicable to Online Business and Consumers, was published among 6 government bodies. The JAO seeks to increase consumer confidence in business-to-consumer and business-to-business e-commerce transactions by ensuring that e-commerce platforms, electronic retailers and online merchants are guided on the rules, regulations and responsibilities in the conduct of online business. It reiterates existing policies, procedures and guidelines that apply to online businesses, and provides an integrated remedies process for online consumers.
On 18 March 2022, the government announced that it has opened consultation on digital economy regulation settings in Australia. The government is seeking feedback on regulatory frameworks, particularly in relation to automated decision making and artificial intelligence.
The Trade Competition Commission of Thailand has published a new guideline on offenses relating to unfair trade practices under section 57 of the Trade Competition Act 2017. The New Guideline underwent a public hearing in 2021 and has become effective on 19 February 2022. It replaces the first guideline on unfair trade practices which was issued back in 2018.