China: Emergency Response Law Revised to Enhance Information Reporting, Rights Protection, and Resource Management
On November 1, 2024, the revised Emergency Response Law of the People’s Republic of China took effect. The law was originally enacted in 2007 and revised by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on June 28, 2024.The revision to the Emergency Response Law was prompted by new challenges that have arisen in recent … Continue reading “China: Emergency Response Law Revised to…
Contributor:
Zhang, Laney
Date:2024-10-31
Article
Nicaragua: New Decree Authorizes Entry of Foreign Military Personnel, Vessels, and Aircraft for Humanitarian Action
On June 1, 2023, a decree issued by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on May 29, 2023, allowing humanitarian assistance and military exchanges in the second half of 2023 entered into force. (Presidential Decree No. 05-2023, Diario Oficial [D.O.], June 1, 2023.) The decree, which contains a comprehensive plan for the entry of foreign military personnel, … Continue reading “Nicaragua: New Decree Authorizes Entry of…
Contributor:
Goitom, Hanibal
Date:2023-10-17
Article
Panama: Government Issues Resolution Declaring Environmental Emergency due to Severe Drought
On May 31, 2023, the Panamanian government published a resolution declaring a state of environmental emergency because of a prolonged drought in the country.The resolution explains that the drought has caused a significant decrease in water volume in the country’s main reservoirs that provide drinking water for the population and fresh water for the agriculture … Continue reading “Panama: Government Issues Resolution Declaring Environmental…
Contributor:
Guerra, Gustavo
Date:2023-06-22
Article
Mexico: Government Issues Decree Ending COVID-19 Health Emergency
On May 9, 2023, the Mexican government published a decree declaring the termination of the public health emergency it had instituted by its 2020 Public Health Emergency Declaration (PHED) to address the COVID-19 epidemic.The decree states that the PHED had been issued by Mexico’s health authorities on March 27, 2020, to adopt pertinent emergency measures … Continue reading “Mexico: Government Issues Decree Ending COVID-19…
Contributor:
Guerra, Gustavo
Date:2023-06-11
Article
Turkey: State of Emergency Declared in Provinces Struck by Earthquake
On February 9, 2023, Turkey’s unicameral legislature, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNA), approved a decision by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to declare a state of emergency in the 10 provinces most affected by the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023. The GNA’s approval of the decree was published in the official gazette … Continue reading “Turkey: State of Emergency Declared in…
Contributor:
Cantekin, Kayahan
Date:2023-02-16
Article
China: Management of COVID-19 Downgraded
Effective January 8, 2023, the preventive and control measures for the top Class A infectious diseases under Chinese law will no longer apply to COVID-19, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) announced on December 26, 2022. Previously, on January 20, 2020, the NHC had announced that the State Council had approved listing COVID-19, then called “novel … Continue reading “China: Management of COVID-19 Downgraded”
Contributor:
Zhang, Laney
Date:2023-01-06
Article
Austria: New Law Provides for Partial Reimbursement of Energy Costs to Offset Rising Prices
On October 25, 2022, the Act on a Temporary Energy Subsidy for Households (Energy Subsidy Act) entered into force in Austria. Starting on December 1, 2022, all households will receive a nonrepayable energy subsidy. Low-income households will receive an additional nonrepayable network-connection-charge subsidy. (Energy Subsidy Act § 3.) The subsidies will be paid until June 30, 2024. … Continue reading “Austria: New Law Provides…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-11-09
Article
Norway: Eidsivating Appeals Court Finds Border Restriction Imposed During COVID Pandemic Unlawful
On September 14, 2022, the Appeals Court for Eidsivating issued a decision in favor of a Norwegian citizen who was fined for crossing into Norway illegally during a time when the border from Sweden at Linna, Norway, was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Eidsivating court’s decision reverses a lower court’s judgment and annuls the … Continue reading “Norway: Eidsivating Appeals Court Finds Border…
Contributor:
Hofverberg, Elin
Date:2022-11-06
Article
United States: Federal Government Waives Jones Act Shipping Requirements in Response to Hurricane Fiona
On September 28, 2022, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas approved a temporary and targeted Jones Act waiver to address Puerto Rico’s needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona. The storm hit the island on September 19, 2022, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without basic services like water and electricity.History of the Jones … Continue reading “United States: Federal Government Waives Jones…
Contributor:
Price, Anna
Date:2022-10-31
Article
European Union: Commission Proposes Legislation to Reduce Gas Use to Prepare for Russian Gas-Supply Disruptions
On July 20, 2022, the European Commission published a proposal for a regulation to reduce gas use in Europe by 15% until the spring of 2023. The regulation intends to counter the reliance of European Union (EU) member states on Russian gas by improving the coordination framework for national gas-demand reduction measures. In addition, it … Continue reading “European Union: Commission Proposes Legislation to…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-07-21
Article
Egypt: Prime Minister Cancels COVID Restrictions on Entry of Foreigners and Egyptians into Country
On June 16, 2022, Dr. Mostafa Kamal Madbouly, Egypt’s prime minister and chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Management of the Epidemic and Health Pandemic Crisis (Supreme Committee) issued Resolution No. 2 of 2022, repealing all previous restrictions imposed on the entry of Egyptians and foreigners into the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The … Continue reading “Egypt: Prime Minister Cancels COVID Restrictions…
Contributor:
Sadek, George
Date:2022-07-19
Article
Austria: Amendments to Ensure Adequate Gas Supply Enter Into Force
On June 9, 2022, an amendment to the Energy Steering Act 2012 (Energielenkungsgesetz 2012, EnLG 2012) and an amendment to the Natural Gas Sector Act 2011 (Gaswirtschaftsgesetz 2011, GWG 2011) entered into force in Austria. The amendments are meant to safeguard the security of the gas supply in Austria, which is threatened by the ongoing … Continue reading “Austria: Amendments to Ensure Adequate Gas…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-06-14
Article
Germany: Act to Accelerate Use of Liquefied Natural Gas to Counter Reliance on Russian Gas Enters Into Force
On June 1, 2022, an act to accelerate the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) entered into force in Germany. The act intends to counter Germany’s reliance on Russian gas and ensure an adequate and diversified gas supply. It provides for accelerated procurement procedures and allows forgoing the environmental impact assessments under certain conditions to … Continue reading “Germany: Act to Accelerate Use of…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-06-07
Article
Switzerland: Government Adopts Ordinance to Ensure Adequate Natural Gas Supply During Ukraine Crisis
In its session on May 18, 2022, the Swiss Federal Council (government) adopted an ordinance to prevent a looming natural gas shortage resulting from the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The National Economic Supply Act (NESA) (Landesversorgungsgesetz, LVG), which the ordinance is based on, allows the government to take preparatory measures to ensure the … Continue reading “Switzerland: Government Adopts Ordinance to Ensure…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-05-30
Article
Sweden: Parliamentary Ombudsman Criticizes University for Refusing Access to Public Documents During COVID Pandemic
On April 29, 2022, the Swedish Justitieombudsmän (Parliamentary Ombudsmen) (JO) issued a decision criticizing the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences for refusing a patron in-person access to public documents during the COVID-19 pandemic and for failing to produce a written decision documenting the refusal.The JO is tasked with overseeing the work of the government agencies … Continue reading “Sweden: Parliamentary Ombudsman Criticizes University for…
Contributor:
Hofverberg, Elin
Date:2022-05-23
Article
Brazil: Ministry of Health Ends Public Health Emergency
On April 22, 2022, Brazil’s Ministry of Health enacted Administrative Act No. 913 (Portaria GM/MS No. 913, de 22 de Abril de 2022), which declares the end of the Public Health Emergency of National Importance (Emergência em Saúde Pública de Importância Nacional, ESPIN) instituted to combat COVID-19 infections in the country. Accordingly, the act revokes … Continue reading “Brazil: Ministry of Health Ends Public…
Contributor:
Soares, Eduardo
Date:2022-05-02
Article
Jordan; Saudi Arabia; Egypt: COVID Restrictions Eased during Month of Ramadan
The Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Republic of Egypt have each implemented measures to ease COVID-19 pandemic restrictions during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which started at sundown on Saturday, April 2, and ends at sundown on Sunday, May 1, with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr beginning at … Continue reading “Jordan; Saudi Arabia; Egypt: COVID Restrictions…
Contributor:
Sadek, George
Date:2022-04-29
Article
Equatorial Guinea: Presidential Decree Authorizes Relaxing Some COVID Epidemic Restrictions, including Curfew
On March 18, 2022, the president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, issued a decree, Decreto 23/2022, ordering that certain COVID-19-related restrictions in the country be eased.The preamble of the decree explains that in late January 2022, the COVID-19 transmission rate began decreasing substantially and the trend has been sustained since then. As of … Continue reading “Equatorial Guinea: Presidential Decree Authorizes Relaxing…
Contributor:
Guerra, Gustavo
Date:2022-03-31
Article
Sweden: Parliament Revokes COVID-19 Emergency Legislation
On March 23, 2022, the Swedish parliament voted to revoke the temporary COVID-19 emergency legislation (known as the Pandemic Act), as well as a law on measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in bars and restaurants. In accordance with the decision, the laws will expire on March 31, 2022.In the same decision, the parliament … Continue reading “Sweden: Parliament Revokes COVID-19 Emergency Legislation”
Contributor:
Hofverberg, Elin
Date:2022-03-29
Article
Austria: General COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Suspended
On March 12, 2022, the Austrian government, in agreement with the Austrian National Council (lower house of parliament), suspended the country’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. A general COVID-19 vaccine mandate had entered into force in Austria for every Austrian resident 18 years or older on February 5, 2022. Section 19, paragraph 2 of the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Act … Continue reading “Austria: General COVID-19 Vaccine…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-03-17
Article
Italy: Recent Measures to Tackle the Pandemic
On January 8, 2022, Decree Law No. 1 (D.L. No. 1) of January 7, 2022, on Urgent Measures to Tackle the COVID-19 Emergency, in Particular in Workplaces, Schools, and Higher Education Institutions entered into effect in Italy. (Decreto-Legge 7 gennaio 2022, n. 1, Misure Urgenti per Fronteggiare l’Emergenza COVID-19, in Particolare nei Luoghi di Lavoro, … Continue reading “Italy: Recent Measures to Tackle the…
Contributor:
Figueroa, Dante
Date:2022-03-16
Article
Ukraine: Martial Law Introduced in Response to Russian Invasion
On February 24, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued Decree No. 64/2022 on the Introduction of Martial Law in the entire territory of Ukraine.On the same day, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian legislature) approved the presidential decree allowing imposition of the legal regime of martial law for a period of 30 days. (Decree art. 1.)The presidential decree … Continue reading “Ukraine: Martial Law Introduced in…
Contributor:
Fremer, Iana
Date:2022-03-03
Article
Switzerland: Government Ends Almost All COVID-19 Measures
On February 17, 2022, the Swiss Federal Council (government) terminated almost all measures previously implemented to stop the spread of COVID-19, including mask wearing in most public places, restaurants, and workplaces. The only measures that will remain in place are the requirement for persons 12 years and older to wear a mask on public transportation … Continue reading “Switzerland: Government Ends Almost All COVID-19…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-02-18
Article
Austria: General COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Enters into Force
On February 5, 2022, a general COVID-19 vaccine mandate entered into force in Austria for every Austrian resident 18 years or older. No direct coercion will be used to enforce it, meaning no one will be imprisoned for noncompliance; only administrative fines will be imposed. The COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Act (Act) will be automatically repealed … Continue reading “Austria: General COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Enters…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-02-10
Article
Italy: Declaration of State of Emergency due to COVID-19 Pandemic Extended
On December 25, 2021, Decree Law No. 221 (D.L. No. 221) entered into effect in Italy, extending the declaration of national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing other urgent measures to safeguard human health.Declaration of National Emergency due to COVID-19Considering the health risks associated with the protracted spread of the COVID-19 virus, D.L. … Continue reading “Italy: Declaration of State of Emergency…
