Market Transparency

Australia House Of Representatives Passes Unfair Trading Practices Bill 2026 After Second Reading Amendment

Australia’s House of Representatives has agreed a government second reading amendment to the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 and passed the bill to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee, moving major unfair trading, drip pricing and subscription reforms further along the legislative process. Businesses selling goods and services to Australian consumers, particularly via digital and subscription models, should treat these horizontal consumer law changes as increasingly likely and start reviewing pricing transparency, interface design and cancellation pathways ahead of potential commencement.

15 May 2026, 12:02aph.gov.auAustralia

EU Commission Adopts Delegated RTS on ESAP Access to Regulated Information

In May 2026 the European Commission adopted new regulatory technical standards under the Transparency Directive that define how Officially Appointed Mechanisms must connect regulated information on listed issuers to the European Single Access Point from July 2026. This tightening of EU disclosure infrastructure will require OAMs and issuers to align reporting flows, IT connectivity, uptime and cost models with ESAP’s centralised, high-availability and free-of-charge access requirements.

8 May 2026, 07:27data.consilium.europa.euEuropean UnionEuropean Economic Area

US Senate Introduces Bill S.4471 on Transportation Fuel Market Transparency

In April 2026, the US Senate introduced S.4471, a bill to promote transparent and competitive transportation fuel markets and address unwarranted price increases. Until bill text is available, this remains a signal of possible future federal oversight of fuel market practices rather than an immediate change in compliance duties for fuel producers or marketers.

6 May 2026, 19:34congress.govUnited States

UK CMA To Enforce Fuel Finder Registration And 30-Minute Fuel Price Reporting From 1 May 2026

The UK Competition and Markets Authority will transition to active enforcement of mandatory fuel price reporting and registration requirements on May 1, 2026. Retailers must ensure real-time data systems are robust to avoid financial penalties as the regulator shifts from a facilitative to a punitive compliance stance.

5 Apr 2026, 19:41assets.publishing.service.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

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 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

EU Commission Clarifies CRMA Assessment and Competition Rules for High‑Purity Vacuum Salt

The European Commission is assessing high-purity vacuum salt for potential inclusion in the EU Critical Raw Materials list ahead of a May 2027 update. A critical designation would mandate supply diversification strategies and increase antitrust exposure for businesses operating in concentrated salt markets.

31 Mar 2026, 18:40europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

Poland Adopts Maximum Retail Fuel Price Amendment to Oil Stocks Law (Dz.U. 2026/415)

Poland has implemented a mandatory maximum retail price mechanism for liquid fuels effective March 2026 to regulate market pricing during periods of reduced VAT. Major fuel producers and retailers must establish daily reporting and pricing compliance workflows to mitigate the risk of significant administrative penalties.

29 Mar 2026, 19:20dziennikustaw.gov.plPoland

US House Introduces HB8104 To Establish Mandatory Fertilizer Price Reporting

US House Bill H.R. 8104 proposes a mandatory federal price reporting program for fertilizers to enhance market transparency. Fertilizer producers and suppliers should prepare for potential new commercial reporting obligations and increased federal oversight of pricing data.

29 Mar 2026, 17:58congress.govUnited States

PCBL Chemical Ltd Commissions 30,000 MTPA Carbon Black Capacity in Tamil Nadu

PCBL Chemical has commenced commercial production at a new 30,000 MTPA carbon black facility in Tamil Nadu, India. This expansion strengthens regional supply security for carbon black and reflects robust industrial demand across downstream manufacturing sectors.

29 Mar 2026, 17:02bseindia.comIndia

Germany: Bundestag Adopts Fuel Price Adjustment Act, Bundesrat Concludes Deliberation

Germany has adopted the Fuel Price Adjustment Act to restrict fuel price increases to once daily and strengthen antitrust oversight of upstream markets. Fuel retailers and wholesalers must immediately update pricing algorithms and compliance controls to mitigate significant financial penalties and increased regulatory scrutiny.

29 Mar 2026, 06:34dserver.bundestag.deGermany

CJEU Clarifies Selling Price Definition for Flat-Rate Processing Fees Under Directive 98/6 (C-62/25)

The CJEU ruled that small-order processing fees are excluded from a product's selling price under Directive 98/6/EC if they are transparent and avoidable. This provides e-commerce operators with greater flexibility in fee structures while emphasizing that clear disclosure remains critical for compliance with EU price transparency rules.

28 Mar 2026, 16:00eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionGermany

EFRAG Requests IASB To Defer IFRS 20 Effective Date To 1 January 2030

EFRAG has proposed a one-year deferral of the mandatory IFRS 20 effective date to January 1, 2030, to address implementation complexities for rate-regulated industries. This extension provides a critical window for utilities and energy firms to align financial reporting systems with complex regulatory asset and liability accounting requirements.

28 Mar 2026, 09:02efrag.orgEuropean Union

UK Defra Opens Consultation On Reforms To Packaging Waste Recycling Note (PRN) System

UK Defra has launched a consultation on reforming the Packaging Waste Recycling Note system to improve market transparency and data integrity. These proposals signal stricter oversight of recycling evidence and potential shifts in compliance costs as the government seeks to reduce fraud and address market shortages.

26 Mar 2026, 19:23consult.defra.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EU Commission Delegated Regulation 2026/283 Updates ESEF RTS 2019/815 for 2025 Taxonomy

The EU has updated the European Single Electronic Format taxonomy to incorporate 2025 IFRS standards, mandatory for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2026. Companies must now prioritize the technical integration of new IFRS 18 elements into their digital reporting systems to avoid non-compliance with mandatory electronic filing requirements.

26 Mar 2026, 12:14eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

European Commission Opens Call for Evidence on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Rules

The European Commission has launched a review of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation to evaluate deployment targets and market transparency rules through 2026. This initiative signals a likely expansion of infrastructure mandates for road and maritime sectors, requiring operators to anticipate stricter investment and compliance requirements.

26 Mar 2026, 11:44ec.europa.euEuropean Union

US Senate Bill S.4152 Proposes Mandatory Fertilizer Price Reporting Programme

The Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026, introduced in March 2026, proposes mandatory weekly price and volume reporting for NPK fertilizer manufacturers. This shift toward high-frequency market disclosure requires manufacturers to formalize data-sharing workflows and may influence competitive pricing strategies.

25 Mar 2026, 21:33congress.govUnited States

Germany Proposes Fuel Price Adjustment Act and Competition Law Amendments ("Kraftstoffmaßnahmenpaket")

Germany is fast-tracking legislation to limit fuel price increases to once daily and strengthen competition oversight for upstream energy suppliers. This shift reduces retail pricing flexibility and introduces a reversed burden of proof for cost-justification, significantly increasing regulatory and litigation risks for the fuel sector.

24 Mar 2026, 12:05dserver.bundestag.deGermany

UK CMA Launches Market Study Into Domestic Heating Oil Retail Supply

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has initiated a formal market study into the domestic heating oil retail sector to evaluate competition and pricing transparency. Impacted businesses should anticipate heightened regulatory oversight and potential structural or conduct remedies to address perceived market inefficiencies.

24 Mar 2026, 11:41gov.ukUnited Kingdom

US District Court (Colorado) Denies Preliminary Injunction Against Colorado 340B Contract Pharmacy Law

A US District Court has upheld Colorados 340B Contract Pharmacy Protection Act by denying a preliminary injunction against its enforcement. Pharmaceutical manufacturers must maintain unrestricted supply chains to contract pharmacies and limit data-sharing demands as state-level oversight of federal drug pricing programs expands.

23 Mar 2026, 14:14govinfo.govUnited States