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In Environment

Egypt: A voluntary carbon market

by and 3 Mins Read

A recent Prime Ministerial Decree No. 4664 of 2022 was published on 25 December 2022, incorporating new provisions to the executive regulations of the Capital Markets Law No. 95 of 1992. The Decree provides for the establishment of a voluntary carbon market platform within the Egyptian Stock Exchange for the trading of carbon emissions reduction certificates (CERs). The CERs are tradeable financial instruments for greenhouse gases and are to be issued in favor of entities establishing projects reducing greenhouse gas emissions after obtaining the approval of the relevant authorities which are not currently specified. Each CER unit shall represent the equivalent of one metric ton of carbon dioxide reduced.

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UAE: Key highlights of the corporate tax law

by , , and 5 Mins Read

The issuance of Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses on 9 December 2022 provides businesses operating in the UAE with a framework for understanding how the corporate tax regime will impact their business model. The Corporate Tax law is broadly in line with the public consultation document that was issued in April 2022, however, one of the notable changes is the release of the conditions to be satisfied by UAE Free Zone entities to be eligible for the 0% rate (rather than being taxed at the headline 9% rate).

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In Antitrust / Competition

Egypt adopts a new Pre-Merger Notification Regime

by and 5 Mins Read

The Egyptian Parliament has approved amendments to the Law number 3 of 2005 on the Protection of Competition and the Prohibition of Monopolistic Practices (ECL), introducing for the first time a mandatory pre-merger notification regime in Egypt. Until now, the ECL had only a post-merger notification system which did not give the Egyptian Competition Authority any powers to assess, approve or block a transaction. The amendments are expected to be published in the Official Gazette and enter into force during December 2022.

In Sanctions

Canada imposes additional sanctions on the Iranian regime

by and 3 Mins Read

On 2 December 2022, Canada announced further amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations in response to the Iranian regime’s “gross and systematic human rights violations and actions that continue to threaten international peace and security”. These amendments list an additional four individuals and five entities under Schedule 1 of the Regulations and took effect on 29 November 2022.

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South Africa: SARS’ right to intervene in review applications stemming from criminal proceedings

by 5 Mins Read

This article explores the scope of the South African Revenue Service’s (SARS) direct and substantial interest in the case of “Commissioner: South Africa Revenue Service: In re: Cyril and Another v Additional Magistrate, Magistrates Court for Region of Alexander.” This case confirms that SARS has a direct and substantial interest in the evidence admitted in a review application stemming from criminal proceedings under the Customs and Excise Act. It further confirms that there is no time limit for intervention applications.

In

Saudi Arabia: Public consultation launched on proposed amendments to Personal Data Protection Law

by , and 2 Mins Read

On 20 November 2022, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to the Personal Data Protection Law, promulgated by Royal Decree No. M/19, dated 09/02/1443H, which was originally published on 24 September 2021.
The public consultation will remain open up until 20 December 2022 and all organizations are invited to submit their comments by that date.

In AML & Financial Services Regulatory

South Africa: Financial Action Task Force’s potential greylisting

by 6 Mins Read

In October 2021, the Financial Action Task Force published its Report on South African Anti-money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Measures. The Report concluded that South Africa is partially compliant with 17 of the FATF technical Recommendations and totally non-compliant with three of them, putting into doubt the country’s ability to ensure safeguards in accordance with international standards. FATF places countries that are not technically compliant with their Recommendations under increased scrutiny and monitoring. These states are considered “Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring,” and the list of these states is referred to as the ‘greylist.’

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