Mit der Umsetzung der Richtlinie (EU) 2024/825 zur Stärkung der Verbraucher für den ökologischen Wandel (Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition, EmpCo) gelten ab dem 27.  September 2026 europaweit deutlich strengere Anforderungen an die Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation von Unternehmen. Green Claims geraten unter erheblichen Rechtfertigungsdruck, während Wettbewerber, Verbraucherschutzverbände und Behörden zusätzliche Angriffspunkte erhalten.

Mit der Verordnung (EU) 2024/1781, also der Ökodesign-Verordnung für nachhaltige Produkte (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, ESPR), setzt die Europäische Union neue Standards für den Umgang mit unverkauften Waren. Für große Unternehmen gilt seit dem 19. Juli 2026 ein unionsweit unmittelbar anwendbares Verbot der Vernichtung unverkaufter Bekleidung, Schuhe und Bekleidungsaccessoires.

Zum fünften Mal in zehn Jahren steht das deutsche Kartellrecht vor einer umfassenden Reform. Am 4. Juni 2026 veröffentlichte das Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie seinen Referentenentwurf zur 12. Novelle des Gesetzes gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen (GWB). Ziel ist es, das Kartellrecht effizienter zu gestalten – mit schnelleren Verfahren und stärkeren Durchsetzungsbefugnissen des Bundeskartellamts (BKartA). Unproblematische Zusammenschlüsse sollen aus der Anmeldepflicht herausgenommen werden und die freiwerdenden Kapazitäten für Fälle mit echter Wettbewerbsrelevanz genutzt werden. Ergänzt wird die Neuausrichtung durch Instrumente, die dem BKartA bislang nicht zur Verfügung standen, etwa die systematische Auswertung von Vergabedaten. Was sind also die zentralen Elemente der vorgeschlagenen Reform?

The Commission published its long-awaited simplification review package yesterday (4 May 2026). The headline: the EUDR legal text is not being reopened, and there are new FAQ and Guidance in town. What is changing is Annex I (the list of in-scope products) and the supporting documents. There is a public consultation on the draft Delegated Act revising Annex I running until 1 June 2026. Here is what you need to know.

The European Commission (EC) continues to intensify its scrutiny of territorial supply constraints (TSC). On 13 April 2026, it carried out another set of dawn raids in the consumer goods sector, reportedly at two European premises of one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food producers. The inspections closely follow the EC’s decision in May 2024 to impose a fine of EUR 337.5 million on chocolate giant Mondelēz. The allegation in both cases: anticompetitive TSCs imposed on distributors. Both cases fit into a broader pattern of increased antitrust scrutiny of territorial restrictions in the consumer goods sector. What is at stake and what can suppliers do to stay out of the spotlight?

Recently, the European Commission officially published both its Guidance and FAQs on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). As the PPWR will apply from 12 August 2026 onwards, further guidance on the Regulation’s interpretation has been much anticipated, with now only roughly five months remaining until the first material obligations will apply. This briefing provides an initial overview of key aspects that economic operators should already consider when preparing for compliance. It is intended as a starting point for navigating a Regulation that will affect the vast majority of economic operators.

BLOMSTEIN advised Dragsbæk A/S, a subsidiary of Orkla Food Ingredients and a Danish producer of hybrid dairy products and specialty fats, on merger control and foreign direct investment aspects in connection with its acquisition of Vortella Lebensmittelwerk W. Vortmeyer GmbH.

Digital finance and mobile payments already account for a material chunk of retail financial transactions. Fintech adoption rates are rising in all major markets. With this comes a scramble for a share of the profits, market share and control of technological bottlenecks. In recent years, Big Tech has made steady inroads into financial services. Tech giants are using their ecosystems, technological advantages and access to large amounts of data to increase their foothold in the financial industry. Can the Digital Markets Act (DMA) shift the balance of power in this competition? All signs point to yes: The DMA creates unprecedented commercial opportunities, especially for digital and mobile payment providers and banks. These include access to data and interfaces such as NFC chips in mobile devices, safeguards ensuring non-discriminatory placement and other entry points into the ecosystems of digital gatekeepers. Some notable players are already gearing up to launch new products and reap the 'DMA dividend'. Our briefing explains which doors the DMA opens up for digital finance.

2026 marks the year of implementation and strategic recalibration for many of the regulatory projects initiated under the previous Commission. Key regulations shift from concept to enforcement and transition to practical compliance obligations for the consumer goods and retail industry: Under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, sustainability and transparency requirements will become binding, and the Empowering Consumers Directive imposes stricter standards on packaging design and environmental claims.

The recent “Nexperia crisis” sparked an initiative by the German Automotive Industry Association (VDA) which created a platform enabling carmakers and suppliers to offer and request leftover semiconductor stock. The platform is supposed to mitigate acute chip shortages (notably involving components from Nexperia), which threatens vehicle production in Germany, by effectively connecting players across the industry and efficiently matching supply and demand. The Federal Cartel Office (FCO) gave his blessing with President Andreas Mundt stating that the information exchange implied could improve the allocation of scarce chips and help delay production cuts, ultimately benefiting both the industry and consumers. The VDA semiconductor platform follows a pattern of industry-led digital trading platforms that have sought and received antitrust approval in Germany. This case is interesting as the FCO continues to show its openness for innovative platforms that improve market efficiency, provided certain reliable safeguards are built-in to prevent anti-competitive information exchanges.