Financial penalties on ultrafast-fashion products, targeting Shein, Temu and AliExpress, take effect on 1st September
Since 1 September 2026, the so-called “anti-fast fashion” law has subjected ultra-fast fashion companies, such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress, to a system of financial penalties based on an environmental score that takes into account, among other factors, the volume of products placed on the market and their reparability. The penalty, collected by the eco-organisation Refashion, may reach up to €19.50 per item by 2030. Certain retailers, including Primark, Zara and H&M, remain outside the scope of the scheme, a distinction that has drawn criticism from advocacy groups calling for its extension to the sector as a whole. Following the European Commission’s confirmation that the legislation complies with European Union law, the provisions relating to consumer information and advertising restrictions are expected to enter into force in early 2027. > Read the article.
Digital Markets Act: the General Court upholds the Commission’s decision not to designate Microsoft as a gatekeeper in relation to Edge
On 2 September 2026, the General Court of the European Union dismissed the action brought by Opera Norway against the European Commission’s February 2024 decision not to designate Microsoft’s Edge browser as a “gatekeeper” under the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”). While recognising Opera Norway’s standing to bring the action, the General Court confirmed that, notwithstanding the fact that Edge met the DMA’s quantitative thresholds, it did not constitute an “important gateway”, having regard in particular to its limited use, its dependence on Google’s Blink engine, and the lack of sufficient evidence demonstrating that its pre-installation on Windows conferred a significant competitive advantage. An appeal may be lodged within two months and ten days from notification of the judgment. > Read the article.
Permanent Court of Arbitration Press Release – PCA Case No. 2023-01: The Indus Waters Western Rivers Arbitration (Islamic Republic of Pakistan v. Republic of India)
On 31 August 2026, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued its decision in the dispute between Pakistan and India concerning the Indus Waters Treaty. In its Award on the Status of the Treaty, the Court unanimously found that none of the grounds invoked by India to suspend the Treaty since April 2025 could justify either its suspension or termination. The Treaty therefore remains fully in force and continues to bind India with respect to its hydroelectric projects on the Western Rivers. In its Order on Provisional Measures, the Court directed India to suspend certain construction works until 90 days after the final determination of the Neutral Expert appointed by the World Bank, expected in July 2027. The Court also imposed reporting obligations regarding the progress of the projects, while rejecting certain other provisional measures sought by Pakistan. > Read the press release.
Norway seizes russian cruise ship at Ukraine’s request
On 2 September 2026, the Norwegian authorities seized a cruise vessel owned by the Russian Federation in Svalbard, pursuant to an order issued by a Norwegian court on 31 August 2026 at the request of the Ukrainian state-owned company Naftogaz. This provisional enforcement measure forms part of Naftogaz’s efforts to enforce an arbitral award ordering the Russian Federation to pay approximately USD 4.22 billion in compensation for losses arising from the expropriation of its assets following the annexation of Crimea in 2014. > Read the article.
