Consumer Protection

Italian Competition Authority Investigates Sephora and Benefit Over Cosmetics Marketing to Minors

Italy’s competition authority has opened two investigations into Sephora and LVMH’s Benefit Cosmetics over alleged covert marketing of adult cosmetic products to children and adolescents. The move signals tougher scrutiny of influencer-led campaigns and age-appropriate product warnings in the cosmetics sector, raising compliance expectations for how brands target and communicate with minors.

15 Apr 2026, 18:02en.agcm.itItaly

Louisiana SB 511: Transparency Requirements for Automobile Repairs

Louisiana has introduced SB 511 to curb insurer steering and mandate clearer disclosure and consent around the use of non‑OEM parts in automobile repairs, with a proposed effective date of 1 August 2026. If enacted, insurers and repair shops in Louisiana would face tighter rules on customer choice, documentation, and liability for substandard repairs, requiring updates to claims handling, repair authorisation processes, and supplier relationships ahead of the effective date.

15 Apr 2026, 15:24legis.la.govUnited States

South Carolina Bill H5444 Would Limit Product Liability Claims Against Distributors and Retailers

South Carolina has introduced House Bill H5444 to redefine product liability actions and significantly narrow the circumstances in which distributors, retailers, and other downstream sellers can be sued for defective products. If enacted, this shift would concentrate litigation risk on manufacturers, reduce exposure for intermediaries in South Carolina, and may influence contracting, insurance, and product-compliance strategies for companies selling into the state.

15 Apr 2026, 13:32scstatehouse.govUnited States

Italy AGCM Secures Removal of 24Bottles Green Claims via Moral Suasion

In April 2026 Italy’s competition authority used moral suasion to make 24Bottles remove “zero impact”, “climate neutrality”, and similar offset-based green claims from its online marketing. This signals growing enforcement pressure on unsubstantiated climate-related claims and highlights the legal and reputational risks of relying solely on carbon offset projects in consumer communications.

15 Apr 2026, 11:03agcm.itItaly

Ireland Adopts Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Regulations 2026

Ireland has adopted the European Union (Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition) Regulations 2026, transposing Directive (EU) 2024/825 and aligning national consumer law with new EU rules on green claims, durability information, and harmonised guarantee notices from late 2026. This will require brands, retailers, platforms, and comparison services selling to Irish consumers to tighten substantiation of environmental claims, adjust pre-contract information and labelling systems, and manage greater enforcement and litigation risk around misleading sustainability and obsolescence practices.

13 Apr 2026, 16:49irishstatutebook.ieIreland

New York Senate Introduces Bill S9769 on Electronic Marketplace Strict Liability

New York introduced legislation in April 2026 to hold electronic marketplace providers strictly liable for defective products sold by third-party sellers on their platforms. This shift would significantly expand litigation risk for e-commerce operators, likely necessitating more rigorous seller vetting and proactive product safety compliance monitoring to mitigate liability.

9 Apr 2026, 14:22nysenate.govUnited States

New York Senate Bill S9765: Sunshine in Litigation Act on Public Hazards

New York is proposing the Sunshine in Litigation Act to prevent court orders and settlements from concealing information about public hazards related to products or property. This move toward mandatory transparency will increase legal and reputational risks for manufacturers by limiting the use of non-disclosure agreements in liability cases.

9 Apr 2026, 14:21nysenate.govUnited States

EU Commission Delivers Comments on Luxembourg Draft Labelling and Packaging Rules for Nicotine Pouches

Luxembourg is advancing new labelling and packaging requirements for nicotine pouches following feedback from the European Commission. Companies should anticipate mandatory presentation standards that will define market access and compliance obligations for novel nicotine products in the region.

4 Apr 2026, 11:03ec.europa.euLuxembourgEuropean Union

Alabama HB 663 Proposes Nicotine-Based Excise Tax and Vapor Product Labelling Rules

Alabama HB 663 proposes a shift to nicotine-based excise tax tiers and mandatory labeling for vapor products, effective October 1, 2026. Manufacturers must align product labeling and tax strategies with nicotine concentration levels to mitigate high-frequency fines and retail distribution risks.

4 Apr 2026, 11:01alison.legislature.state.al.usUnited States

Netherlands Parliament Motion Seeks Research Into Statutory Aftercare Duty for Large-Scale Personal Data Breaches Under NIS2 Implementation

The Dutch Parliament has commissioned research into a statutory aftercare duty for large-scale data breaches with findings expected by the third quarter of 2026. This initiative signals a potential shift toward expanded corporate liability and mandatory victim support frameworks that exceed current European cybersecurity and data protection standards.

4 Apr 2026, 10:57zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlandsEuropean Union

Australia Introduces Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026

Australia has introduced legislation to prohibit unfair trading practices and mandate transparency for subscriptions and drip pricing starting July 2027. Businesses must audit digital customer journeys and contract cancellation workflows now to mitigate substantial enforcement risks and civil penalties.

3 Apr 2026, 19:36aph.gov.auAustralia

Japan Implements Food Labelling Standards Amendment on Allergens, Use-By Dates and Heating Instructions

Japan implemented updated Food Labelling Standards on April 1, 2026, tightening requirements for allergen declarations, use-by dates, and safety-critical heating instructions. Companies must ensure immediate packaging compliance to mitigate the risk of mandatory product recalls and business suspension under strengthened enforcement powers.

3 Apr 2026, 19:27kanpo.go.jpJapan

Oregon Enacts SB 1571 Expanding Definitions of Nicotine and Tobacco Products

Oregon has enacted SB 1571, expanding the legal definitions of nicotine and tobacco products to include synthetic nicotine and non-combustible delivery systems. Manufacturers of nicotine pouches and synthetic products must now align with state tobacco-control regulations, including mandatory child-resistant packaging and labeling requirements.

3 Apr 2026, 19:24olis.oregonlegislature.govUnited States

Germany BGH Rules Internet Platform Advertising for Medical Cannabis Breaches § 10 HWG

Germany's highest civil court has ruled that internet platforms promoting prescription medical cannabis treatments violate strict national advertising prohibitions. Digital health and pharmaceutical providers must restructure patient-matching and lead-generation workflows to ensure compliance with bans on consumer-facing promotion for prescription medicines.

3 Apr 2026, 18:55rechtsprechung-im-internet.deGermany

Ofwat Issues Remuneration And Governance Rules For Water Companies

Ofwat has finalized binding governance and remuneration rules for water companies, mandating executive pay restrictions and director fitness tests starting April 2026. These measures shift regulatory oversight directly into the boardroom, requiring companies to institutionalize consumer feedback and formalize integrity assessments to maintain operational licenses.

3 Apr 2026, 18:46ofwat.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

US FDA Seeks Public Input on Market Name Change for Certain Rockfish (Sebastes spp.)

The US FDA is evaluating a potential market-name change for 18 Sebastes rockfish species with public comments due by May 1, 2026. A revision would necessitate significant updates to product labeling, allergen disclosures, and HACCP food-safety plans to maintain compliance and avoid misbranding.

3 Apr 2026, 10:12federalregister.govUnited States

Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce Backs Draft Law PL 8648 Transposing Directive (EU) 2024/825 on Green Claims and Durability Information

Luxembourg is advancing the transposition of EU rules on greenwashing and product durability, with new national requirements set to apply from September 2026. Businesses must validate environmental claims and update consumer disclosures to include repairability and software support data to mitigate litigation and enforcement risks.

3 Apr 2026, 09:55cc.luLuxembourg

Japan Promulgates Ordinance Amending Enforcement Regulations of Act Against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations

Japan promulgated an ordinance on March 31, 2026, to strengthen enforcement of consumer protection rules against misleading marketing and unjustifiable premiums. Companies should audit digital advertising and promotional strategies to ensure compliance with heightened transparency requirements for online marketing and consumer incentives.

1 Apr 2026, 19:47public-comment.e-gov.go.jpJapan

France National Assembly Bill Proposes Mandatory Nutri-Score Labelling on Food Products and Advertising

France is moving to mandate Nutri-Score labelling for pre-packaged food and advertising by January 2027. This shift to compulsory disclosure introduces significant financial risk with non-compliance penalties reaching two percent of annual turnover.

29 Mar 2026, 17:39assemblee-nationale.frFrance

Viet Nam Ministry Of Industry And Trade Draft Circular On Product Traceability

Vietnam has proposed a mandatory traceability framework for high-risk industrial and consumer goods with a comment deadline in April 2026. Manufacturers must prepare for increased supply chain transparency and digital tracking requirements to ensure continued market access and compliance with safety standards.

12 Feb 2026, 16:14docs.wto.orgVietnam