SMEs and Start-ups

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

European Commission Draft Delegated Regulation Establishing Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard And Value‑Chain Cap

The European Commission has released a draft delegated regulation creating an EU voluntary sustainability reporting standard for undertakings with up to 1,000 employees and defining the “value-chain cap” that will limit the sustainability data CSRD reporters can request from such suppliers from 2027 financial years. If adopted as proposed, this will standardise ESG questionnaires for smaller undertakings, cap excessive value-chain information demands, and require larger CSRD-reporting groups and financial institutions to realign supplier data collection and reporting processes ahead of the 2027 reporting cycle.

8 May 2026, 09:14eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Commission Reaffirms Better Regulation Targets in Answer on ‘One In, Two Out’ Principle

On 30 April 2026 the European Commission used an answer to a European Parliament question to reaffirm its one-in, one-out better regulation approach, highlighting ambitious targets to cut administrative burdens by at least 25 percent for companies and 35 percent for SMEs and expected net savings of around EUR 15 billion from 2025 simplification proposals. For regulatory and compliance teams this signals a sustained EU-level push for horizontal simplification and “regulatory deep cleaning” that could reshape future legislative workloads and reduce administrative overhead, even though it does not itself create new legal obligations.

5 May 2026, 13:33europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

California Assembly Amends AB 2447 (Nitrogen Pollution Reduction Act) on Agricultural Nitrogen Discharges

California has amended AB 2447 (Nitrogen Pollution Reduction Act), a bill that would require regional water boards to impose quantitative nitrogen limits and public field-level reporting on commercial irrigated agriculture over the 2027–2031 period. If enacted, growers and advisors would face tighter nitrate discharge controls, new monitoring and transparency duties, and a staged compliance trajectory that materially tightens water-quality and soil-health expectations for fertiliser use.

15 Apr 2026, 18:29leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

EU Parliament Briefing on CountEmissionsEU: Near-Final Transport Emissions Accounting Rules

An April 2026 EPRS "EU Legislation in Progress" briefing confirms that co‑legislators have agreed the near‑final CountEmissionsEU regulation, establishing an EN ISO 14083‑based, EU‑wide framework for calculating and disclosing greenhouse gas emissions of freight and passenger transport services, with Parliament’s plenary vote still pending. Once adopted, the framework will make standardised service‑level GHG accounting the default across EU transport and logistics, pushing larger players toward robust data, tools and verification while offering SMEs simplified calculation support and exemptions, and feeding into green procurement, disclosure and anti‑greenwashing regimes.

13 Apr 2026, 12:09europarl.europa.euEuropean 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

EU Member States Issue Non-Paper On European Competitiveness Fund Proposal

Ten EU Member States have proposed a streamlined European Competitiveness Fund for 2028-2034 to accelerate industrial innovation and reduce strategic dependencies. Companies should prepare for a shift toward performance-based EU funding that prioritizes private investment leverage and simplified access for high-growth technology sectors.

3 Apr 2026, 17:53zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlEuropean UnionAustriaDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyIrelandLuxembourgNetherlandsSpainSweden

EU Parliament SANT Committee To Hear Proposal to Amend MDR and IVDR

The European Parliament is set to review a proposal to simplify the Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulations in April 2026. This initiative targets administrative bottlenecks and certification costs, offering a potential pathway for faster market access and reduced compliance overhead for manufacturers.

3 Apr 2026, 09:56europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

Pennsylvania SB 1236 Proposes NPDES Waivers for Eligible Small Construction Sites

Pennsylvania introduced SB 1236 to allow NPDES stormwater permit waivers for small construction projects between one and five acres that meet federal criteria. This alignment with federal standards aims to streamline project timelines and reduce administrative compliance costs for small-scale land development and infrastructure activities.

2 Apr 2026, 08:34legis.state.pa.usUnited States

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

US FSIS Launches Temporary Overtime and Holiday Inspection Fee Reductions for Small and Very Small Establishments

The US FSIS has launched a 20 million dollar program offering 30 to 75 percent reductions on overtime and holiday inspection fees for small meat, poultry, and egg establishments. Eligible businesses should apply immediately to secure retroactive refunds and future credits before the limited funding pool is exhausted.

1 Apr 2026, 14:17federalregister.govUnited States

EU Parliament Budgets Committee Adopts Budgetary Assessment on Proposed ECHA Regulation

The European Parliament's Budgets Committee has endorsed a new financing model for ECHA, proposing a stricter three-year fee review cycle to ensure full cost recovery for regulatory services. Companies should prepare for more frequent and potentially higher administrative fees across REACH, CLP, and Biocidal product applications as the agency moves toward a self-financing model.

31 Mar 2026, 19:34europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

UK Government Clarifies EPR Packaging Data Reporting Deadlines For Large And Small Producers

UK authorities have clarified reporting frequencies and deadlines for Extended Producer Responsibility packaging data, with the next submission for all producers due by April 1, 2026. Businesses must align data collection and internal controls with these specific cycles to ensure accurate fee calculations and avoid compliance gaps in the evolving circular economy framework.

31 Mar 2026, 19:20gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EU EESC Adopts Opinion on CBAM Scope Extension and Temporary Decarbonisation Fund

The European Economic and Social Committee has formally endorsed extending the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to downstream products while proposing a more permanent decarbonization fund. Manufacturers should anticipate broader carbon reporting requirements across complex value chains and potential shifts in export competitiveness as the EU seeks to close carbon leakage loopholes.

29 Mar 2026, 19:02data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Proposes Major Overhaul of MDR/IVDR to Cut Burdens and Protect Device Availability

The European Commission has proposed a comprehensive revision of the MDR and IVDR frameworks to streamline certification and reduce administrative burdens for medical device manufacturers. This shift toward open-ended certificates and risk-based surveillance offers significant operational relief but introduces new reporting complexities for digital health and cybersecurity compliance.

29 Mar 2026, 17:30eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionUnited Kingdom

Peru Adopts Law No. 32570 Amending Law No. 30198 on Street Vending of Medicinal Plant Beverages

Peru has enacted Law No. 32570 to formalize the street vending of medicinal plant and traditional grain beverages as regulated microenterprises. This framework mandates stricter adherence to food hygiene standards and municipal registration, signaling a shift toward professionalized oversight and sanitary compliance in the informal food sector.

29 Mar 2026, 17:05busquedas.elperuano.pePeru

France Announces Immediate Energy-Crisis Support Plan for Transport, Fishing and Agriculture

France has launched a €70 million emergency support package for April 2026 to mitigate energy price spikes for the transport, agriculture, and fishing sectors. This temporary relief is coupled with a strategic push for EU-level CBAM exemptions on fertilizers, indicating a priority to protect domestic industry from carbon-cost volatility.

29 Mar 2026, 06:15presse.economie.gouv.frFrance

Netherlands Parliament Motion Requests National Guidance for PUR Oversight

The Dutch Parliament is reviewing a proposal to establish national guidance for uniform polyurethane oversight and enforcement across all municipalities. This move toward risk-based supervision aims to harmonize compliance expectations and reduce administrative burdens for the construction and insulation sectors.

28 Mar 2026, 20:36zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

EU Commission Publishes Consultation Summary on Revision of Public Procurement Directives

The European Commission has published a consultation summary signaling a major overhaul of EU public procurement rules to prioritize sustainability and regional resilience. Businesses should prepare for a shift toward mandatory green criteria and Made in Europe requirements that move the market away from lowest-cost competition toward strategic value.

28 Mar 2026, 20:35eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Parliament Adopts Position Proposing Delayed Artificial Intelligence Act Application and Ban on Nudifier Apps

The European Parliament has adopted its position on the Digital Omnibus on AI, proposing staggered compliance deadlines through 2028 and a ban on non-consensual AI image generation. Manufacturers of AI-integrated products must prepare for phased enforcement that aligns AI Act obligations with existing sectoral safety frameworks for medical devices, toys, and radio equipment.

28 Mar 2026, 16:02europarl.europa.euEuropean Union