Global Scans · Standards · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Improving standards are likely to be driven more by business and technological improvement than governments in the future. The latter will be under severe pressure to cut bureaucracy, speed policy making and improve their nation's productivity performance.

• [New] European Green Deal mandates requiring 55% emissions reduction by 2030 incentivize adoption through retrofit subsidies and building efficiency standards. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Rising enforcement of workplace safety standards, such as NFPA 2112 and EN 11612, is creating significant opportunities for fabric manufacturers, driven by the growing need for protective apparel and the reduction in burn injuries. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The European Union continues to systematically destroy its domestic auto industry with its emission rules, with the goal of being fully electric by 2035. investing.com
• [New] Risks are magnified by the EU's longstanding decision to work independently of and more ambitiously than global standard-setters such as the International Sustainability Standards Board. Bruegel | The Brussels-based economic think tank
• [New] Google DeepMind has introduced an AI Control Roadmap that treats highly capable AI agents as potential insider threats, granting permissions only after verified behaviour and continuously monitoring their actions. MarketingProfs
• [New] If EU rules force more openness, portability, or fairer access terms, it could affect cloud pricing, AI model deployment, and the bargaining power of smaller companies building on top of Amazon and Microsoft. Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] If adopted globally, modernized NGSO/GSO sharing rules could prove even more transformative in developing countries where broadband access remains limited. New America
• [New] If the United States hopes to modernize EPFD limits at the international level, it must build consensus by engaging with countries that currently oppose reform and by demonstrating how updated rules can serve their interests as well. New America
• [New] The Philippines is moving forward with mandatory ESG reporting aligned with ISSB standards, starting in 2026 for large-listed companies and phasing in full compliance by 2030. Lewis Silkin
• [New] China has issued new ESG disclosure guidelines aligned with global standards, with full implementation by 2030. Lewis Silkin
• [New] The European Union's 2025 directive mandates 30% recycled content in food-contact plastic packaging by 2030, whereas India's Plastic Waste Management Rules establish targets that escalate from 30 to 50% recycling to 60 to 80% by 2027-28. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The National Institute of Standards and Technology has published a framework for AI risk management that offers a structured approach to categorizing AI systems by risk level, which provides a useful baseline for organizations building their first inventory. TechBullion
• [New] The CLARITY Act cleared the Senate Banking Committee and could set clear rules for digital assets, helping tokens like XRP draw more institutional capital. TechBullion
• [New] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Standards in 2024, requiring heavy-duty vehicles to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 60% by 2032 compared to 2021 baselines. Persistence Market Research
• [New] While international standards keep changing, Mexican regulators are still weighing the risks and opportunities and seeking to balance consumer protection and digital asset growth. IMARC Group
• [New] For non-residential buildings, such as offices, schools or hospitals, minimum energy performance standards will trigger the renovation of the 16% worst-performing buildings by 2030 and of the 26% worst-performing buildings by 2033. Energy
• [New] The 'Union origin or equivalent' content rules in support schemes risk delaying decarbonization, inflating costs for consumers and firms, and inviting third-country WTO challenges or retaliation. Bruegel | The Brussels-based economic think tank
• [New] An emerging contaminant is a chemical or material characterized by a perceived, potential, or real threat to human health or the environment or by a lack of published health standards. CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website
• [New] Repealing federal clean-vehicle tax credits and EPA tailpipe standards could sharply slow EV adoption, reducing EV sales by about 30% in 2027 and 40% in 2030 relative to a 2025 policy baseline. Brookings
• While compliance and regulatory requirements will continue to be nonnegotiable, success in 2026 will depend on more than meeting minimum standards - it will require strategic thinking and operational excellence. CohnReznick
• As Europe builds a closed defensive data wall around its space assets, Canadian satellite operators and geospatial data providers will face intense pressure to meet strict European data-compatibility standards to remain eligible for transatlantic orbital missions. GoGeomatics
• Policymakers have a meaningful opportunity to provide taxpayers with workable rules, promote compliance, protect privacy, and ensure the United States remains the best place in the world to build. Blockchain Association

Last updated: 02 July 2026