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Follow Our Latest COVID-19 Updates

SINGAPORE: COVID-19 and the Journey to Recovery - Exploring the Legal and Practical Issues in the Transport of Vaccines

In recent times, the COVID-19 pandemic has been the unifying and defining experience of the international community. The global journey appears now to be entering smoother waters, with countries headed more confidently towards stabilisation and recovery. One of the key components of the recovery plans being adopted by most countries is a concerted drive to provide vaccinations for their citizens and residents. As such, it should be expected that vaccines will continue to be in high demand across the globe.

The distribution of vaccines remains a profound challenge in the continued fight against COVID-19. How are they being transported? What are the transport requirements of specific vaccines? What are the relevant regulatory and contractual issues that may arise in the transport of vaccines? These are the questions that are of particular relevance to members of the shipping and transport industry, against the backdrop of still fraught supply chains, globally. The transport of vaccines is further complicated by the fact that most vaccines must be stored at very low temperatures, require deft handling, and have limited shelf-life. This not only requires transporters and handlers to be well-versed in cold-chain logistics, it also calls for close cooperation and coordination between those involved at the different stages of the distribution journey.

In this article, we take a look at these issues, particularly from the perspective of the Southeast Asian region from which we have invited invaluable input from the Rajah & Tann Asia network member law practices. The article explores the following: 

1. Transportation requirements for selected vaccines;
2. Practical issues in the various stages of the transport of vaccines;
3. International guidelines or standards governing the transport of vaccines; and
4. Contractual issues which may arise in the transportation process.

SINGAPORE: Further Changes to COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act Concerning Rental Relief, Collective Sales, Construction Contracts and Meetings

On 4 September 2020, the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment No. 2) Bill ("Bill") was passed in Parliament, setting out further proposed amendments. The Bill seeks to strengthen the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act by:

(a) Expanding the powers of rental relief assessors;

(b) Allowing applications for the extensions of deadlines for collective sales;

(c) Clarifying the interaction between Part 8 of the Act (which deals with contracts affected by delay in the performance or breach of a construction contract, supply contract or related contract) and other dispute resolution proceedings; and

(d) Enhancing the certainty of alternative meeting arrangements.

This Update highlights the key features of the Bill.

SINGAPORE: COVID-19 Legal Response Package

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges to many businesses. In the face of a prolonged crisis, companies are forced to adjust to a ‘new normal’ in this era of uncertainty. To guide you through this period, we have specially put together a COVID-19 Response Package which aims to address the current legal issues that are confronting your business.

The COVID-19 Response Package includes business recovery checklists to help your business develop its response plan as you restart operations amid the uncertainties. It also highlights some COVID-19 related measures and responses put in place by the Government in the following areas and how we can assist you to navigate the changes:

1. Banking & Finance
2. Competition & Antitrust
3. Consumer Protection
4. Corporate Real Estate
5. Debt Capital markets
6. Financial Institutions
7. Investment Funds
8. Tax
9. Technology, Media and Telecommunications
10. Trade
11. Workplace & Employment

SINGAPORE: Rajah & Tann Regional Round-Up: Issue 1 - Q1 2020 (Special Edition on COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a deep impact across the globe, affecting all sectors of society. It has fundamentally changed the way we work, the way we live and the way we function.

As governments work to overcome the pandemic and its consequences, policies and measures have been implemented at a swift rate. In this quarterly issue of our Regional Round-Up, we present a special COVID-19 Edition to provide our clients with an overview of the control and support measures put in place in the South-East Asia region and in China. This issue also consolidates Rajah & Tann Asia’s key Client Updates to date on the legal and regulatory developments in response to the pandemic in the respective jurisdictions.

INDONESIA: AHP Covid-19 Dispatch

As countries around the world work to tackle the spread of Covid-19, the threat of business interruption has become real, throwing arrangements into disarray, disrupting workforce, and upsetting the global economy.

In Indonesia, the government has begun issuing various countermeasures and relief for businesses and public alike. In this update, we provide a summary of legislation and government updates issued to navigate the Covid-19 outbreak, specifically with respect to the following areas:

i. Dispute Resolution: Jokowi Declares Covid-19 as a National Disaster: A Force Majeure Trigger?

ii. Technology, Media & Telecommunications: Highlighting Indonesia's E-Signature Framework in Times of Covid-19

INDONESIA: AHP Covid-19 Dispatch

As countries around the world work to tackle the spread of Covid-19, the threat of business interruption has become real, throwing arrangements into disarray, disrupting workforce, and upsetting the global economy.

In Indonesia, the government has begun issuing various countermeasures and relief for businesses and public alike. In this update, we provide a summary of legislation and government updates issued to navigate the Covid-19 outbreak, specifically on the following areas: 

1. Dispute Resolution
2. Capital Markets
3. Competition
4. Tax and Customs
   

INDONESIA: AHP Covid-19 Dispatch

As countries around the world work to tackle the spread of Covid-19, the threat of business interruption has become real, throwing arrangements into disarray, disrupting workforce, and upsetting the global economy.

In Indonesia, the government has begun issuing various countermeasures and relief for businesses and public alike. AHP Covid-19 Dispatch provides a summary of legislation and government updates issued to navigate the Covid-19 outbreak. In this Update, we review the circular letter from the Ministry of Land Affairs (Kementerian ATR-BPN) requiring certain land-related services to be done online, and its potential impact to the current condition of land filings.