Pesticides in soy: regulatory challenges, cost of compliance and effects on Mercosur-EU trade

Purpose This study investigates specific challenges that tech startups in Catalonia face in complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) from the perspective of Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework. It also examines how factors such as startup’s size, age, and sector influence compliance experiences. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining survey data from 107 Catalonian tech startups with in-depth interviews with senior executives from three startups to provide qualitative insights for triangulation. GDPR compliance challenges were analysed using regression analysis and One-Way ANOVA. Findings The results of the study underscore the interconnected nature of GDPR compliance challenges, revealing that staff training mediates the relationship between regulatory and technical complexities and compliance costs. While compliance costs, regulatory complexity, and technical complexity are viewed as significant challenges of equal importance, staff training is not considered a primary concern for Catalonian startups. Additionally, factors such as the startup’s size, age, and sector significantly influence how these challenges are perceived and addressed, with smaller, younger, and non-tech startups experiencing greater difficulties. Research limitations/implications Relatively small sample size and geographic focus on Catalonia potentially limit generalizability of the findings. Practical implications The findings have implications for startups, policymakers, and industry regulators, emphasizing the need for simplified regulatory guidance, accessible technical support, and tailored compliance training programs for startups. Originality/value This study fills a literature gap by applying the TOE framework to explore regulatory adoption challenges by tech startups. It reveals how staff training mediates the effect of regulatory and technical complexities on compliance costs highlighting the role of organizational capabilities in regulatory adoption.

Citing numerous examples, this paper explores several of today’s key regulatory reporting challenges, including: • The regulations and directives driving the agenda; • The impact and uncertainty the UK’s exit from Europe (Brexit) may have on regulators; • The costs of compliance weighed against regulatory fines and reputational damage; • The potentially contradictory interpretation and application of regulations; • The role and recent decisions of the regulators themselves; and • The existing gaps between regulatory rules, and organisations’ processes and controls. More crucially however, this paper links the common theme underpinning all these regulatory challenges – data. From data integrity and management information (MI) to the benefits of workf low management tools and achieving a comprehensive audit trail, this paper challenges what ‘good’ looks like, and explains why the creation of a consistent ‘golden source’ of data will increase both confidence and performance in firms’ ongoing regulatory reporting and compliance challenges.

This research investigates the interplay between startup ecosystems and regulatory frameworks, examining how legal agility impacts the scaling process of new ventures. Using a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative interviews with founders and quantitative analysis of regulatory impact data across multiple jurisdictions, this study identifies critical regulatory challenges faced by startups during different growth phases. The research applies novel feature selection techniques to reduce the dimensional of complex regulatory compliance datasets, revealing key variables that significantly influence startup success rates. Findings indicate that regulatory complexity creates disproportionate burdens for resource-constrained startups, with compliance costs accounting for 15-30% of early-stage operational expenses. The study further demonstrates that jurisdictions with adaptive regulatory frameworks show 37% higher startup survival rates after three years. This paper contributes to the literature by establishing a comprehensive framework for understanding regulatory challenges in startup scaling and proposes recommendations for developing more agile regulatory environments that balance innovation with necessary oversight.

The rapid evolution of Fintech has transformed financial services, boosting efficiency and inclusivity. Yet, regulatory challenges abound for Fintech firms and traditional institutions. This chapter delves into Fintech regulation's historical context, global frameworks, and key regulations like licensing, data security, and AML compliance. It examines how regulations affect innovation, compliance costs, and competition. Solutions range from regulatory sandboxes to RegTech adoption. Case studies illustrate effective strategies, while future trends anticipate regulatory evolution and tech impact. Overall, the chapter offers insights into navigating the intricate relationship between regulations and the financial sector's dynamics.

This paper develops a conceptual framework for integrating Natural Language Processing (NLP) into Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulatory compliance processes. The objective is to automate and optimize AML procedures, enhancing detection capabilities and reducing manual intervention. The research utilizes a qualitative methodology, analyzing existing literature on NLP applications in financial regulations and AML. Key findings indicate that NLP can significantly improve the efficiency of transaction monitoring, entity recognition, and anomaly detection by processing large volumes of unstructured data. The proposed framework outlines strategies for integrating NLP tools into existing AML systems, such as automated analysis of customer communication, transaction patterns, and regulatory documents. It identifies critical challenges, including data privacy concerns, the need for continuous model training, and potential regulatory hurdles. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of robust data governance and collaboration between financial institutions and regulatory bodies to ensure effective implementation. The paper concludes that adopting NLP in AML compliance can lead to substantial efficiency gains, improved accuracy in identifying suspicious activities, and reduced compliance costs. However, addressing technical and regulatory challenges is crucial for maximizing these benefits. The proposed framework serves as a guide for organizations aiming to leverage NLP for enhanced AML compliance, providing insights into strategic implementation, potential implications, and future research directions. This study contributes to the growing field of AI-driven regulatory compliance, offering a roadmap for organizations to navigate the complexities of NLP integration in AML processes. Keywords: Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Compliance Automation, Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), Financial Services, Customer Behavior Analysis, Information Extraction, Regulatory Compliance, Transaction Monitoring, Unstructured Data Analysis, Machine Learning, Risk Management, Financial Crime Detection, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD).

Spices, integral to culinary traditions worldwide, significantly contribute to global trade and India's agricultural economy. India, the leading producer and exporter of spices, accounts for 7.7% of country’s agricultural export earnings and exports to over 185 countries. Despite impressive growth in production and exports, export rejections remain a critical challenge, with over 200 consignments rejected annually due to factors such as pesticide residues, microbial contamination and poor labelling. These rejections, which vary by export destinations, compromise India’s reputation and economic interests, particularly affecting smallholder farmers who dominate spice production. As a global supplier of spices, India's food safety and spice quality have global ramifications. This study uses data from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Knowledge Hub (2010-2022) to analyses export rejections of Indian spices under HS code 09. It focuses on trends, underlying causes and mitigation strategies. Although aggregate rejection rates have declined by 53 % over the past decade, the number of export rejections is still significant. Mitigation strategies, including adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) protocols, traceability systems and capacity building, are crucial. Addressing export rejections requires an integrated approach involving all stakeholders in the spice value chain. Strategic investments in technology, training and research, along with proactive engagement with trade partners, are essential for sustaining India’s dominance in the global spice trade. Further research is necessary to evaluate compliance costs and their implications for both producers and consumers, paving the way for more sustainable trade practices.

Asynchronous regulatory approval and commercialization of new GM traits in a range of extensively traded food crops can cause significant trade disruptions. The adventitious presence of a number of unapproved or incompletely approved traits in canola, corn, rice and flax has been associated with economic harm. Market losses from diversion to second-best markets, increasing marketing costs for securing quality assured supplies, added regulatory compliance time and costs as well as costly and often destructive litigation have been linked to such events. Fears of similar events in wheat, soybeans and other staple crops have generated significant concern. This chapter examines the root of the regulatory challenge, evaluates the immediate impacts on the market, assesses the long-term implications on research and investment in advanced crop varieties and considers the global impacts on consumers and food security.

The authors’ research objective was to investigate the use of blockchain technology in the financial industry, considering its associated costs. They conducted a systematic literature review in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews) guidelines, selecting 74 relevant articles. Using thematic keyword analysis with VOSviewer, they developed a Conceptual Framework for Blockchain Cost Impact in the Financial Industry and categorized the costs into three categories: Technology Development and Maintenance Costs, Testing and Quality Assurance, and Compliance and Legal Costs. This framework aims to facilitate future research and practical applications by identifying cost efficiencies and navigating regulatory challenges, ultimately supporting informed decisions on blockchain’s integration in the financial sector.

Entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in fostering economic growth, job creation, and social innovation. However, its development remains inseparable from complex legal challenges. Regulations often serve an ambivalent role: they provide legitimacy and protection, yet at the same time may hinder entrepreneurship through excessive bureaucracy and high compliance costs. This article seeks to examine the key legal issues in entrepreneurship, explore the nexus between regulation, innovation, and sustainability, and propose conceptual recommendations for developing an adaptive and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Employing a normative–conceptual approach, the study draws upon secondary sources including national regulations, recent international scholarly publications, and institutional reports from the OECD, UNCTAD, and the World Bank. Comparative and thematic analyses were undertaken to map legal issues, assess their implications for innovation, and evaluate their impact on business sustainability. The findings highlight six major legal domains: licensing and bureaucracy, intellectual property rights, business contracts, taxation, labor regulations, and digital and e-commerce law. Regulations are shown to act dually as both enablers and barriers to entrepreneurial innovation. Cross-country evidence further illustrates that developed economies tend to design more adaptive legal frameworks, while developing countries continue to face significant regulatory implementation challenges. In Indonesia, reforms such as the Online Single Submission system, the Omnibus Law on Job Creation, and the Personal Data Protection Law represent important steps forward, yet remain in a transitional stage. The article contributes theoretically by integrating Institutional Theory, Innovation Theory, and the Triple Bottom Line, and provides practical recommendations emphasizing regulatory simplification, stronger intellectual property protection, adaptive digital and green regulations, and greater international policy harmonization Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Legal Framework; Innovation; Sustainability; Regulatory Reform.

Purpose: This study examines the impact of Digital Services Taxes (DSTs) on multinational tech companies and explores the geopolitical tensions arising from fragmented digital tax policies. It aims to assess how DSTs influence corporate strategies and contribute to regulatory and economic challenges in the global digital economy. Research Design and Methodology: A qualitative systematic literature review (SLR) was employed to analyze secondary data from peer-reviewed articles, policy documents, and international frameworks. The study integrates corporate strategy, international relations, and tax governance perspectives to understand DSTs' complexities comprehensively. Findings and Discussion: The findings reveal that DSTs significantly affect investment allocation, operational efficiency, and pricing strategies of multinational tech firms. Increased compliance costs and risks of double taxation challenge profitability and global competitiveness. Geopolitical tensions between countries implementing DSTs and those opposing them highlight the need for collaborative international tax reforms. The OECD’s Two-Pillar Plan emerges as a critical framework to address regulatory fragmentation and foster fiscal equity. The discussion underscores the role of stakeholder theory in bridging conflicting interests among governments, corporations, and societies to create sustainable solutions for digital taxation. Implications: This study highlights the importance of multilateral approaches to digital taxation and collaboration between policymakers and tech companies. Practical implications include developing transparent and inclusive tax frameworks that support innovation and global economic stability. For managers, adopting proactive compliance strategies and engaging in policy reforms are essential to navigate the challenges DSTs pose.

This chapter examines the Belgian credit intermediation sector, focusing on its regulatory framework, licensing requirements, and supervisory authorities. It analyzes the role of the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) and the Federal Public Service Finances (FPS - Service public fédéral Finances). Particular attention is given to the licensing system under Belgian law, the distinction between mortgage and consumer credit intermediation, and transparency obligations toward consumers. The chapter also discusses the evolution of regulatory oversight and challenges linked to compliance costs and digitalization.

Emerging technologies such as drones create a range of regulatory challenges. Any proposed regulatory approach needs to cover the complex web of airspace integration, safety, security, noise, environment, privacy, safe and efficient electric take-off and landing vehicles, infrastructure, technology trials and central coordination. These are all important issues and are integral to the development of a comprehensive regulatory framework that will allow countries to benefit from the considerable opportunities provided by drones. This chapter provides an overview of the evolving regulatory environment in which drones operate. The skills of the regulator or regulators must adjust beyond traditional aviation to address the operation and deployment of drones in contexts such as the maritime environment or high-density-population inner city areas. Moreover, the interplay between national, state and often local laws, in areas like noise control, adds complexity to the regulatory oversight of operators and to costs of compliance. These issues and others, such as transnational uniformity, registration and licencing, and technology issues, are introduced and expanded upon in subsequent chapters.

Technology has revolutionised the financial sector, but while it opens up opportunities it also creates regulatory challenges. RegTech helps keep pace with the evolving landscape, as well as reducing the operational cost of compliance.

Regulatory Technology, or RegTech, is a rapidly evolving field that utilizes technology to create more agile, efficient, and effective compliance processes in an environment where firms face ever-increasing regulatory scrutiny and the burden of compliance costs. RegTech includes a broader subset of technological innovations that directly address regulatory challenges, which utilize regulatory requirements as inputs to an innovative solution, or which produce compliance as a by-product of the services they offer. Moreover, like FinTech, the term RegTech is used by a wide set of institutions and broadly refers to the use of technology in the compliance function of financial and capital markets. The issue of compliance in financial services is in urgent need of a technological solution. De-risking is a result of the obligation of financial institutions to carry out anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing checks on their customers and to report any suspicious or even just complex transactions to the relevant authorities. To meet these requirements, banks are required to identify and verify the identity of their customers, the beneficial ownership of their customers, and anyone acting on behalf of their customers. Risk-based principles permit banks to avoid excessively intrusive checks on low-risk customers, but sometimes the risks of being wrong mean the banks are excessively cautious. The argument is further supported by the current CEO of a cryptocurrency exchange, in the world of cryptocurrency regulation, no country is standing still. That makes things particularly complex for anyone who is trying to operate on a global scale. Ensuring compliance with every region's kaleidoscope of laws and guidelines is not just complex; it is time-consuming and it is expensive.