CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
Significant legal changes occurred in the Hungarian pharmaceutical and food industry in the summer of 2023. According to Government Decree No. 333/2023. (VII. 20.), as of 1 August 2023, the National Public Health Centre (NNK) and the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition (OGYÉI) merged, establishing a new authority, the National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy (Nemzeti Nepegeszsegugyi es Gyogyszereszeti Kozpont, NNGYK).
Kosovo has recently adopted a new law to regulate the pricing of medicinal products (Law on Pricing of Medicinal Products). This marks the first time that Kosovo has taken steps to regulate the pricing of medicinal products, and it is a significant milestone in an upcoming major reform within the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. The reform also includes new laws on medicinal products and medical devices, health insurance, and related areas.
May 2023 marks five years since the application of the General Data Protection Regulation, better known as "GDPR", and its requirements still pose a number of challenges for organizations. On one hand, this is because ensuring compliance with GDPR is not a "one-time exercise" but a continuous process "from within", requiring synchronization with all other activities in the organization. On the other hand, companies must also take into consideration innovations "from the outside", including new regulations and technologies, by promptly addressing data protection risks.
On Friday 21 July 2023, the Albanian Parliament adopted a law which legalizes medical cannabis and industrial hemp (“Cannabis Law”). The Cannabis Law allows licensed companies to cultivate and process cannabis and determines the criteria which must be met to obtain such a permit, but also regulates the cultivation process of the plant and the production of its by-products for medical and industrial purposes.
Bulgaria's outlook is improving, with its elected government working hard to catch up on crucial EU legal updates, while the country continues to attract investments in banking, energy, healthcare, and technology, according to Penkov Markov & Partners Associated Partner Boris Lazarov.
Ondrej Florian has become an Equity Partner at Havel & Partners, while Katerina Slavikova, Jaroslav Baier, Ondrej Curilla, Petr Oplustil, and Miroslav Vozab were appointed as Partners at the firm.
Herbst Kinsky has advised Salzburg-based dietary supplement manufacturer Biogena on a public offering for crowd-investors via the Rockets Investments platform with a total amount of up to EUR 3 million.
