Launch of PFAS analysis in water discharges from classified facilities

Laure Marolleau, Esq.

Although the scientific community has been warning of the risks associated with the use of poly- or perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) since the early 2000s, there was until now no regulations governing discharges from industrial facilities.

As part of the PFAS 2023 2027 action plan presented earlier this year by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, a ministerial order relating to the analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water discharges from classified facilities that are subject to the so-called authorization regime was published on June 20, 2023.

European Commission presents a new series of measures to boost the competitiveness and resilience of SMBs

Claire Filliatre, Esq.

On September 12, 2023, the European Commission presented a series of initiatives to provide short-term relief to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), boost their long-term competitiveness, and strengthen fairness in the business environment across the Single Market.

The contemplated measures include new proposals for a Regulation on late payments in commercial transactions and for a Directive establishing a head office tax system for SMBs, as well as additional tools to support SMBs throughout their entire business life cycle.

Principle of criminal legality and dumping of asbestos waste

Victor Trouttet, Esq.

“If the power of interpreting laws be an evil, obscurity in them must be another, as the former is the consequence of the latter. This evil will be still greater, if the laws be written in a language unknown to the people; who, being ignorant of the consequences of their own actions, become necessarily dependent on a few, who are interpreters of the laws, which, instead of being public and general, are thus rendered private and particular.”

(Beccaria, On Crimes and Punishments)

International Perspective - Greener competition: New opportunities for commercial cooperations on sustainability

This month, we are pleased to feature a contribution entitled Greener competition: New opportunities for commercial cooperations on sustainability authored by Jesper Kaltoft and William Alexander Tornøe from the leading Danish law firm Bech-Bruun.

Since ESG and sustainability have become increasingly important to both consumers and businesses, a need has arisen for undertakings to work together in contributing to a sustainable future. New guidelines and specific regulation from the EU provide for increased opportunities to cooperate on such matters without infringing the prohibition of anti-competitive agreements.

At the EU-level, guidance from the European Commission and specific regulation has allowed for cooperations on sustainability between both competing and non-competing undertakings. This article deals with the assessment of sustainability cooperations under Article 101(1) TFEU, which prohibits certain anti-competitive agreements.