Commercial & General Business Issues

Recent Articles

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  07/10/2024

  Belgium

  The Repairability and Durability Index: a New Challenge for Industry Players

  Inspired by similar initiatives in France and at European level, Belgium is introducing the obligation to display a repairability and durability index for certain products on the market. The Act on the promotion of the repairability and durability of goods was adopted on 17 March 2024 and the first Royal Decrees needed to implement the Act were published last month in the Official State Gazette.The first Royal Decree determines the goods covered by the reparability index, the technical standards for establishing the scores for each of the criteria and the method for calculating the reparability...

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  04/10/2024

  Bulgaria

  Bulgaria offers additional support for wind projects and new BESS regulations

  The Bulgarian Energy Regulator adopted amendments to the Grid Connection Ordinance No 6, introduced earlier this year, which should provide more flexibility in the application process, greater support for wind projects, and further regulation of battery energy storage systems (BESS).The changes, which were promulgated in the State Gazette on 4 October, fall under the following four main topics that together substantially change the existing legal environment.1. According to the changes, grid connection can be initiated on an additional three new grounds:Preliminary land purchase or a right to build...

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  02/10/2024

  Hungary

  Hungary begins implementation of EU AI Act with passage of Resolution

  The Hungarian government has issued Resolution 1301/2024. (IX. 30.), which establishes the foundation for creating the body responsible for implementing the tasks required by the EU AI Act. In issuing this resolution, Hungary has begun preparations for enforcing the regulation, which means that companies should now prepare for compliance by reviewing the AI systems they use, assessing these systems' alignment with the EU AI Act's requirements, and preparing the necessary risk management documentation to ensure transparency, accountability, and safety.Hungary’s new enforcement body will:Operate...

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  01/10/2024

  Romania

  Romania extends MTPL insurance premium cap until 31 December 2024

  On 1 October 2024, the Romanian Government’s Decision no. 1191 went into force to extend once again the period of application of the maximum premium for motor third party liability (MTPL) insurance until 31 December 2024.The cap has been set at the level of the premium rates charged by each MTPL insurer on 28 February 2023. These premium rates may be adjusted by a maximum of 6.8%. Maximum premium rates are set for bonus/malus class B0.In addition, commissions on insurance distribution of MTPL policies remain capped at a maximum of 8% of the net premium distribution expense.The decision to...

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  30/09/2024

  Romania

  Romania publishes draft decision regulating the NUTRI-SCORE label to market foods

  The Romanian government published a draft decision to regulate the nutrition label Nutri-Score, an optional form for declaring the nutritional content of food products.According to Article 35 para. (2) of Regulation No. 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, the energy value and the amount of nutrients may be expressed in other ways, provided that certain requirements are met. These other forms of content declaration include graphic representations or symbols in addition to words or figures. Pursuant to the above Regulation, EU member states can recommend to food business...

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  27/09/2024

  Hungary

  Is the recent Russian sanctions Regulation a violation of the nullum crimen principle or a legal necessity?

  In the aftermath of the 24 June 2024 introduction of Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1745, which delivered the 14th set of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, a debate is underway whether its instruction to prosecute both intentional and negligent violations of the sanctions is a necessary step to ensure compliance or a violation of the principle of legality, specifically nullum crimen sine lege.BackgroundAccording to Hungarian criminal law, any person who violates any economic, commercial or financial restriction ordered in regulations adopted under Article 75 and Article 215 of...

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