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Recent Articles

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  31.05.2023

  Hungary

  Hun­gary in­tro­duces new Whis­tleblower Pro­tec­tion Act

  On 25 May 2023, Hungary adopted Act XXV of 2023 on complaints, disclosures in public interest, and related rules on reporting abuses, which is commonly known as the Whistleblower Protection Act and transposes the EU’s 2019/1937 Whistleblower Directive. Organisations in Hungary have 60 days (i.e. until 24 July 2023) to establish or review their whistleblower systems to comply with the Whistleblower Protection Act.Which organisations are required to establish internal reporting channels?The Whistleblower Protection Act obligates organisations to establish internal reporting channels in two...

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  25.05.2023

  United Kingdom

  Ex­pan­sion of UK pro­hib­i­tion of the im­port, ex­port and deal­ing in ivory

  Since its implementation in June 2022, the Ivory Act 2018 (the Act) has banned the import, export and dealing in elephant ivory in the UK. The Act, in its current form, is one of the most stringent bans in the world with those found guilty facing unlimited fines and up to 5 years in jail. On 23 May 2023, DEFRA published its response to the consultation on the possibility of extending the scope of the Act to ban ivory from other species. The consultation was held between July and September 2021. The consultation provided three options: Extend the Act to hippopotamus ivory;Extend the Act to...

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  24.05.2023

  Ukraine

  Coun­cil of Europe Sum­mit es­tab­lishes re­gister of war dam­age for Ukraine

  On 17 May 2023, 41 nations joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine (adopted under the Resolution of the Committee of Ministers CM/Res(2023)3). This is part of the effort to implement Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly A/RES/ES-11/5, acknowledging the need for the establishment of an international reparation mechanism and Russian Federation's legal responsibility for internationally wrongful acts committed in Ukraine. The Resolution of the Committee of Ministers represents an essential...

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  23.05.2023

  Hungary

  Hun­gary launches new re­gistry and re­gis­tra­tion pro­ced­ures for com­pan­ies as of 1 Ju­ly 2023

  A new bill has been recently proposed to the Hungarian parliament, which aims to amend various acts that, among others, include a proposal to postpone the entry into force of Act XCII of 2021 on the Registry and Registration Procedure of Legal Persons from the originally planned date of 1 July 2023 to 1 January 2026. According to the bill's explanatory memorandum, entry into force of the Act is to be postponed to provide more time for legal practitioners to prepare for the systematic reforms the Act intends to introduce. The proposal has not yet been adopted by the Hungarian parliament.Hungary...

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  18.05.2023

  United Kingdom

  A Dia­mond An­niversary: The ASA 2022 An­nu­al Re­port out­lines key pri­or­it­ies after 60 years of reg­u­la­tion

  The Advertising Standards Authority has published its 2022 annual report celebrating 60 years of ASA ad regulation. The report sets out the ways in which the ASA system has changed and evolved over time in response to societal concerns. It focuses on the ASA’s current goals and recent initiatives, including its work using AI and machine learning for proactive regulation and tackling issues including greenwashing, cryptocurrency ads and protecting children from being targeted by age-restricted ads.In 2022 31,227 ads were amended or withdrawn following ASA intervention. This is a significant...

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  18.05.2023

  Romania

  Ro­mani­an Con­sumer Pro­tec­tion Au­thor­ity fines 11 banks for in­cor­rect prac­tices

  In a surprise move on 16 May 2023, the Romanian Consumer Protection Authority fined 11 local banks, claiming that the manner in which the banks set out the repayment calendar for medium- and long-term loans in customer contracts is a misleading and incorrect practice. Specifically, the Consumer Protection Authority alleges that the practice of banks to request that interest be repaid predominantly in the first years of the loan (with only a small amount of the principal being covered by an instalment) represents a misleading and incorrect practice.The President of the Romanian Consumer Protection...

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