Germany

Recent Articles

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  11/07/2025

  International

  China retaliates against EU by limiting procurement of EU medical devices

  On 6 July 2025, China’s Finance Ministry published the Notice on Taking Relevant Measures Against Medical Devices Imported from the European Union in Government Procurement Activities in response to the European Commission’s 20 June 2025 decision to exclude Chinese companies from EU public procurements of medical devices exceeding EUR 5 million. For details of the EU decision, please refer to our previous Law-Now article: here.The Notice, which also went into force on 6 July 2025, has significantly impacted stakeholders in the life science sector. This article outlines the Notice’s...

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  09/07/2025

  Germany

  The EU Space Act: On a mission for regulation

  The European Commission presented the draft for an EU Space Act on 25 June 2025. This article provides an initial overview.The commercial use of space is increasing, more and more companies are venturing into space, and more and more satellites are in orbit, sometimes giving rise to undesirable consequences such as increasing space debris. With the EU Space Act, the EU Commission is now focusing on the long-overdue regulation of this economic area. The space economy and the EU Space Act one are therefore among the current top priorities of the EU. The aim is to harmonise the legal framework...

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  09/07/2025

  Germany

  New blog series: Legal aspects of commercial space travel

  The commercial use of space is booming and bringing legal challenges with it. Find out all about the billion-dollar space industry in our blog series!Space is increasingly becoming an economic hotspot. What used to be the exclusive domain of government agencies is now a rapidly growing commercial market in which private companies are playing an ever greater role. Since 2010, the space industry has grown by a staggering 70 %  – a boom that is primarily attributable to the immense economic potential of space. This is not only driving space travel itself, but is also set to play a...

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  08/07/2025

  EU, UK

  Ecodesign: A new standard for sustainable products, with a focus on toy safety

  Ecodesign refers to the systemic integration of environmental considerations into the design and development of products, with the aim of minimising their environmental impact throughout their entire lifecycle. The EU Ecodesign Framework for Sustainable Products, established by Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (the “Ecodesign Regulation” 2024), sets out an approach to tackling the environmental sustainability of products placed on the EU market. It encompasses the need for products to be durable, repairable, recyclable and contain less hazardous substances.Against this backdrop the...

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  08/07/2025

  Europe

  Titanium Dioxide (E171) – EU Court Challenges Titanium Dioxide De­clas­si­fic­a­tion as Carcinogen

  Since our previous article regarding titanium dioxide and the EU’s ban on its use as a food additive in August 2022, the regulatory landscape for titanium dioxide (TiO₂, or E-number E171) has continued to evolve, particularly within the EU where there has been renewed judicial scrutiny and disagreement among the EU’s institutions on whether it should be classed as a carcinogen and regulated accordingly. Potted history of titanium dioxide as a food additiveTitanium dioxide is a naturally occurring oxide of titanium. It is a white opaque powder which has a wide range of...

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  07/07/2025

  Europe

  Securing Europe’s digital future: The EU’s strategy for quantum technologies and post-quantum cryptography

  Quantum technologies are rapidly emerging as a potentially transformative force with the power to revolutionise sectors ranging from healthcare and finance to security and defence. Recognising both the opportunities and risks, the EU has set out a comprehensive strategy to position Europe as a global leader in quantum technologies. The recently published European Quantum Technologies Strategy and Implementation Plan outlines the EU’s vision, objectives, and proposed regulatory approach, with a particular focus on fostering a robust quantum industry and addressing the profound implications...

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