The palm oil industry has sometimes been associated with human rights abuses and adverse environmental impacts, including deforestation, soil pollution and erosion, water contamination, and threatening endangered species. However, meaningful efforts are being made to change that. On February 16, 2018, Unilever shared information about its suppliers and mills in order to provide greater transparency … Continue Reading
Our colleague, Nicola A. Smith, brings you the most recent edition of our quarterly food and drink sector newsletter for the UK, Legal NewsBITE. The newsletter includes coverage of a recent focus in the UK on meat processing standards and inspections by the Food Standards Agency, which has had a knock on effect on trade … Continue Reading
Responsible sourcing is a vital consideration for supply chain professionals, however, sourcing valuable minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas is one of the most challenging supply chain concerns. Importers of conflict minerals must meet the obligations of EU Regulation 2017/821, the Conflict Minerals Regulation, requiring third-party audits and disclosures about supply chain due diligence. Our resident conflicts … Continue Reading
On February 1, 2018, the Department of Defense formally disestablished the office of Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics and will begin a four-month effort to reorganize its acquisition directorate, as required under recent reform legislation. Our colleagues from the Defense Public Policy practice, Jack Deschauer and Pablo Carrillo, discuss the key nominations and what is necessary … Continue Reading
We have published our latest legal updates for November-December 2017, highlighting some key commercial and intellectual property developments across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and the US. The update can be accessed by clicking on the document below. … Continue Reading
The Trump administration has formally opposed China’s bid to be recognized as a “market economy.” Aligning itself with the European Union and other countries including Japan, the U.S. submitted a statement to the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) in mid-November and made its decision to oppose public on November 30, 2017. Under a market economy status, … Continue Reading
On October 27, 2017, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) issued a final rule prohibiting children’s toys and child care articles that contain concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of certain phthalates. What’s Prohibited The final rule states children’s toys and child care articles containing concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of diisononyl phthalate … Continue Reading
Putting supply chain sustainability at the forefront is not only ethically sound, it is essential for an organisation’s value and long-term profitability. Supply chain sustainability is the increasing practice of monitoring and guiding suppliers to ensure the business’ sustainability values are honored. In an era where information on businesses’ ethical practices are readily available, customers are holding companies … Continue Reading
We have published our latest legal updates for October 2017, highlighting some key commercial and intellectual property developments across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and the US. The update can be accessed by clicking on the document below.… Continue Reading
We have published our latest legal updates for September 2017, highlighting some key commercial and intellectual property developments across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and the US. The update can be accessed by clicking on the document below.… Continue Reading
The opioid epidemic has reached alarming new heights and states are looking down the pharmaceutical supply chain to share the blame – and the cost. Multiple states have sued the pharmaceutical companies for recovery of government costs associated with addressing addiction. In 2007, Purdue Pharma settled with 26 states and the District of Columbia for … Continue Reading
We have published our legal updates for the month of July, highlighting some key commercial and intellectual property developments across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and the US. The update can be accessed by clicking on the document below.… Continue Reading
Previously (here and here), we discussed the Trump administration’s renegotiation of NAFTA and the steps the President has taken to promote Buy American and Hire American. Now the Department of Defense and the Department of Commerce, together with the White House, are taking steps to ensure enforcement of Buy American Laws. On June 20, 2017, … Continue Reading
Previously, we discussed the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) seven major food safety rules mandated by the Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”). (See previous posts here, here, and here.) Of the seven, the rule for Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (“FSVP”) for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals will have the biggest impact on importers … Continue Reading
Rosemary Coates and Sarah Rathke (authors of Legal Blacksmith: How to Avoid and Defend Supply Chain Disputes) posted an article on International Association for Contract & Commercial Management (IACCM) about Industry 4.0 and its impact on supply chain contracts. The exchange of information and integration of machines is creating sophisticated needs, not to mention leaving an … Continue Reading
We have published our legal updates for the month of April, highlighting some key commercial and intellectual property developments across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and the US. The update can be accessed by clicking on the document below.… Continue Reading
Following up on our previous post on the Trump administration’s renegotiation of NAFTA, the President has taken further steps towards his campaign theme of promoting American industry. On April 18, 2017, President Trump signed the “Buy American, Hire American” executive order. The White House release states the order was promulgated in response to a February 2017 … Continue Reading
The Trump administration has indicated its intention to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”). Currently, a draft letter is being circulated by the U.S. Trade Representative to members of Congress for their review. Stephen Vaughn, acting U.S. Trade Representative, wrote in the draft notification letter that “[t]he persistent U.S. deficit in goods trade … Continue Reading
We have published our legal updates for the month of March, highlighting some key commercial and intellectual property developments across Mainland China, Hong Kong and the US. The update can be accessed by clicking on the document below.… Continue Reading
Squire Patton Bogg’s public policy team produced an analysis of President Trump’s first appearance before a joint session of Congress. Addressing Congress on his 40th day in office, the President set forth his policy goals for what he expects to accomplish in the next 40 days and beyond. In their analysis, our public policy colleagues discuss four … Continue Reading
We have published our legal updates for the month of February, highlighting some key commercial and intellectual property developments across Mainland China, Hong Kong and the US. The update can be accessed by clicking on the document below.… Continue Reading
We have published our legal updates for the month of January, highlighting some key commercial and intellectual property developments across Mainland China, Hong Kong and the US. The update can be accessed by clicking on the document below.… Continue Reading
We have published our legal updates for the month of December, highlighting some key commercial and intellectual property developments across Mainland China, Hong Kong and the US. The update can be accessed by clicking on the document below.… Continue Reading
On November 28, 2016, the Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit launched “Food Crime Confidential”, a reporting facility targeted at those working in or around the UK food industry, where anyone with suspicions about food crime can confidentially report them over the phone or through email. Rob Elvin, Partner in our Manchester office, and Nicola Smith, Senior … Continue Reading
