Compliance Regulations and Guidance Affecting your Industry

In 1994 the European Commission issued a Directive on Deposit Guarantee Schemes that aimed at protecting bank account holders in case of banks failing. After the 2008 financial crisis, the EU member states decided to increase the level of deposit protection and new Deposit Guarantee Scheme requirements were implemented and became effective in 2010.

In July 2011, the European Commission modified its Capital Requirements Directive to strengthen the stability of European banks. Rules under this proposed directive, known as CRD IV, is expected to be in place by the end of 2012 and banks across the EU are expected to comply by 2019.

The European Union’s Transparency Directive or TD was implemented to harmonize the transparency requirements for information about issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market.

The International Safe Container Act, Chapter 805 of Title 46 of the CFR, details the requirements for application and compliance with the International Convention for Safe Containers signed in 1972 in Geneva. The Act also gives the requirements for approval, examination and enforcement of these requirements. It also contains whistleblower protections. It was enacted into law in 1977.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 not only formulated regulations to protect consumers by ensuring safety in the manufacture and production of food, but also includes statutes to protect employees who turn whistleblowers.

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act provides protection against retaliation based on an employee's exercising a variety of rights guaranteed under the Act, such as filing a safety and health complaint with OSHA, participating in an inspection, and so on.

In September 2010, global banking regulators issued new rules that required banks to increase their capital reserves in order to avoid calamitous situations that unfolded after the financial crisis in 2007.

This package deal is known as Basel III.

California's Hazardous Waste Regulations are the nation's strictest. While the categorization of waste follows federal requirements, the state has added additional categories and further specifications about waste categories in its regulations.

The California Online Privacy Protection Act of 2003 or OPPA, which became effective on July 1, 2004, was the first state law that required owners of commercial websites or online services to post a privacy policy.

The Securities Act of 1933 is a federal legislation that regulates the offer and sale of securities. It was enacted after the stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression.

The Federal Travel Regulation or FTR contains the requirements and policies that cover travel by federal employees and others authorized to travel at government expense.

The White House has announced plans for an ambitious regulatory reform across federal departments and agencies. This is the final regulatory reform plan of the Small Business Administration.